Premenstrual Syndrome in Traditional Chinese Medicine
Understanding different premenstrual syndrome patterns according to TCM theory
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Condition Categories
Condition Categories
Premenstrual Syndrome, widely known as PMS, describes a group of symptoms that occur in women one to two weeks before their menstrual period. These symptoms can range widely in both type and severity, including emotional stress, irritability, breast tenderness, bloating, and changes in appetite or sleep patterns.
Synonyms like symptoms before menstruation encapsulate the essence of PMS, highlighting its timing in relation to the menstrual cycle. Sub-symptoms such as pre-menstrual tension, breast distension, and the perimenstrual common cold further detail the myriad ways PMS can manifest, affecting each woman uniquely.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) approaches Premenstrual Syndrome as a signal of imbalance within the body’s energy systems, particularly involving the Liver and Spleen. TCM posits that PMS results from disruptions in the smooth flow of Qi and Blood, emphasizing the interconnectivity of emotional well-being and physical health.
This holistic perspective underscores the need to identify specific patterns of disharmony, enabling tailored treatments that address both the root cause and its manifestations, diverging from the symptom-focused approach of Western medicine.
TCM Patterns for Premenstrual Syndrome
Qi Stagnation
Blocked or disrupted flow of vital energy causing distending pain, emotional distress, and symptoms that worsen with stress
Causes: Pre-menstrual tension, Premenstrual tension, Premenstrual breast distension
Qi Stagnation is a fundamental pathological pattern in Traditional Chinese Medicine where the smooth flow of vital energy becomes obstructed, creating areas of pressure, pain, and dysfunction throughout the body.
Liver Qi Stagnation
Pre-menstrual tension, Premenstrual tension, Premenstrual breast distension
Along with: Hypochondriac distention, Chest distension, Upper abdominal distension, Abdominal distention, Sighing, Melancholia, Depression, Mood swings, Irregular periods, Globus sensation, Pre menstrual breast distension, Anxiety, Anger, Melasma
Qi And Blood Stagnation
Pre-menstrual tension
Along with: Chest distension, Chest pain, Stabbing fixed pain, Dark face, Purple lips, Purple nails, Irritability, Mood swings, Depression, Mottled skin, Foot edema, Abdominal masses, Melena black tarry stool, Menstrual cramps, Amenorrhea, Dark menstrual clots, Dark menstrual blood, Prolonged lochia, Irregular periods, Melasma
Stagnant Liver Qi turning into Fire
Premenstrual tension, Premenstrual breast distension
Along with: Hypochondriac distention, Upper abdominal distension, Stifling sensation in the chest, Irritability, Melancholia, Depression, Mood swings, Globus sensation, Feeling of heat, Flushed face, Thirst, Anger, Pre menstrual tension, Irregular periods, Pre menstrual breast distension, Excessive menstruation
Qi Stagnation
Premenstrual breast distension
Along with: General fullness, Moving pain, Depression, Irritability, Mood swings, Sighing
Heat
Intense, ascending pathogenic force that consumes body fluids, disturbs the mind, and accelerates all physiological processes
Causes: Premenstrual tension, Premenstrual breast distension, Pre-menstrual breast distention
Heat is a major pathogenic factor in Traditional Chinese Medicine that can arise from external invasion or internal generation. Heat has the characteristics of burning intensity, rising upward, consuming qi and fluids, and generating wind and disturbing blood. In TCM philosophy, normal physiological warmth is called "minor fire" (少火) which maintains life functions, while pathological heat is "major fire" (壮火) which damages the body.
Stagnant Liver Qi turning into Fire
Premenstrual tension, Premenstrual breast distension
Along with: Hypochondriac distention, Upper abdominal distension, Stifling sensation in the chest, Irritability, Melancholia, Depression, Mood swings, Globus sensation, Feeling of heat, Flushed face, Thirst, Anger, Pre menstrual tension, Irregular periods, Pre menstrual breast distension, Excessive menstruation
Heat in the Blood
Pre-menstrual breast distention
Along with: Feeling of heat, Red skin eruptions, Thirst, Frequent bleeding, Bloody sputum, Hematochezia, Hematuria, Vomiting blood, Cough of blood, Nosebleeds, Excessive menstruation
Blood Stasis
Blood that is no longer flowing smoothly through the vessels
Causes: Pre-menstrual tension
Blood Stasis represents blood that is no longer flowing smoothly through the vessels, either moving too slowly, pooling in certain areas, or congealing into clots. It's one of the most important pathological conditions in Traditional Chinese Medicine and can be both a result of disease and a cause of further illness.
Qi And Blood Stagnation
Pre-menstrual tension
Along with: Chest distension, Chest pain, Stabbing fixed pain, Dark face, Purple lips, Purple nails, Irritability, Mood swings, Depression, Mottled skin, Foot edema, Abdominal masses, Melena black tarry stool, Menstrual cramps, Amenorrhea, Dark menstrual clots, Dark menstrual blood, Prolonged lochia, Irregular periods, Melasma
Herbal Formulas for Premenstrual Syndrome
Traditional Chinese Medicine formulas used to address premenstrual syndrome
Xiao Yao San
Addresses these premenstrual syndrome patterns:
Main Actions
- Harmonizes the function of Liver and Spleen
- Relieves Liver Qi stagnation
- Nourishes the Blood
Addresses These Premenstrual Syndrome Pattern Variations
Liver Qi Stagnation
How it manifests:
Pre-menstrual tension, Premenstrual tension, Premenstrual breast distension
Accompanying symptoms:
Hypochondriac distention, Chest distension, Upper abdominal distension, Abdominal distention, Sighing, Melancholia...
Qi And Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Pre-menstrual tension
Accompanying symptoms:
Chest distension, Chest pain, Stabbing fixed pain, Dark face, Purple lips, Purple nails...
Qi Stagnation
How it manifests:
Premenstrual breast distension
Accompanying symptoms:
General fullness, Moving pain, Depression, Irritability, Mood swings, Sighing
Chai Hu Shu Gan San
Addresses these premenstrual syndrome patterns:
Main Actions
- Disperses Stagnant Liver Qi and Blood
- Alleviates pain
- Harmonizes Blood
Addresses These Premenstrual Syndrome Pattern Variations
Liver Qi Stagnation
How it manifests:
Pre-menstrual tension, Premenstrual tension, Premenstrual breast distension
Accompanying symptoms:
Hypochondriac distention, Chest distension, Upper abdominal distension, Abdominal distention, Sighing, Melancholia...
Qi Stagnation
How it manifests:
Premenstrual breast distension
Accompanying symptoms:
General fullness, Moving pain, Depression, Irritability, Mood swings, Sighing
Jia Wei Xiao Yao San
Addresses these premenstrual syndrome patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Liver and Spleen Qi Stagnation
- Tonifies Spleen
- Clears Deficient Heat
- Nourishes the blood
- Clears Liver Fire from Stagnant Liver Qi
Addresses These Premenstrual Syndrome Pattern Variations
Liver Qi Stagnation
How it manifests:
Pre-menstrual tension, Premenstrual tension, Premenstrual breast distension
Accompanying symptoms:
Hypochondriac distention, Chest distension, Upper abdominal distension, Abdominal distention, Sighing, Melancholia...
Heat in the Blood
How it manifests:
Pre-menstrual breast distention
Accompanying symptoms:
Feeling of heat, Red skin eruptions, Thirst, Frequent bleeding, Bloody sputum, Hematochezia...
Wu Yao Tang
Addresses these premenstrual syndrome patterns:
Main Actions
- Pacifies the Liver
- Moves Qi
- Stops pain
- Nourishes Liver Blood
- Eliminates Stagnation
Addresses These Premenstrual Syndrome Pattern Variations
Liver Qi Stagnation
How it manifests:
Pre-menstrual tension, Premenstrual tension, Premenstrual breast distension
Accompanying symptoms:
Hypochondriac distention, Chest distension, Upper abdominal distension, Abdominal distention, Sighing, Melancholia...
Qi Stagnation
How it manifests:
Premenstrual breast distension
Accompanying symptoms:
General fullness, Moving pain, Depression, Irritability, Mood swings, Sighing
Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San
Addresses these premenstrual syndrome patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Liver Fire from Stagnant Liver Qi
Addresses These Premenstrual Syndrome Pattern Variations
Stagnant Liver Qi turning into Fire
How it manifests:
Premenstrual tension, Premenstrual breast distension
Accompanying symptoms:
Hypochondriac distention, Upper abdominal distension, Stifling sensation in the chest, Irritability, Melancholia, Depression...
Di Gu Pi Yin
Addresses these premenstrual syndrome patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Heat
- Stops bleeding
Addresses These Premenstrual Syndrome Pattern Variations
Heat in the Blood
How it manifests:
Pre-menstrual breast distention
Accompanying symptoms:
Feeling of heat, Red skin eruptions, Thirst, Frequent bleeding, Bloody sputum, Hematochezia...
Ge Xia Zhu Yu Tang
Addresses these premenstrual syndrome patterns:
Main Actions
- Invigorates Blood
- Eliminates Blood Stagnation below the diaphragm
- Stops pain
- Promotes Qi movement
Addresses These Premenstrual Syndrome Pattern Variations
Qi And Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Pre-menstrual tension
Accompanying symptoms:
Chest distension, Chest pain, Stabbing fixed pain, Dark face, Purple lips, Purple nails...
Liang Di Tang
Addresses these premenstrual syndrome patterns:
Main Actions
- Nourishes Yin
- Cools Blood
- Stop bleeding
Addresses These Premenstrual Syndrome Pattern Variations
Heat in the Blood
How it manifests:
Pre-menstrual breast distention
Accompanying symptoms:
Feeling of heat, Red skin eruptions, Thirst, Frequent bleeding, Bloody sputum, Hematochezia...
Qing Jing San
Addresses these premenstrual syndrome patterns:
Main Actions
- Clears Blood-Heat
- Stops bleeding
Addresses These Premenstrual Syndrome Pattern Variations
Heat in the Blood
How it manifests:
Pre-menstrual breast distention
Accompanying symptoms:
Feeling of heat, Red skin eruptions, Thirst, Frequent bleeding, Bloody sputum, Hematochezia...
Tao Hong Si Wu Tang
Addresses these premenstrual syndrome patterns:
Main Actions
- Tonifies Blood and regulates the Liver
- Moves Qi and Blood in the lower abdomen
- Stops pain
Addresses These Premenstrual Syndrome Pattern Variations
Qi And Blood Stagnation
How it manifests:
Pre-menstrual tension
Accompanying symptoms:
Chest distension, Chest pain, Stabbing fixed pain, Dark face, Purple lips, Purple nails...
Yi Guan Jian
Addresses these premenstrual syndrome patterns:
Main Actions
- Enriches the Yin
- Spreads the Liver Qi
Addresses These Premenstrual Syndrome Pattern Variations
Liver Qi Stagnation
How it manifests:
Pre-menstrual tension, Premenstrual tension, Premenstrual breast distension
Accompanying symptoms:
Hypochondriac distention, Chest distension, Upper abdominal distension, Abdominal distention, Sighing, Melancholia...
Yue Ju Wan
Addresses these premenstrual syndrome patterns:
Main Actions
- Promotes the movement of Qi
- Releases all types of Stagnation (Qi, Blood, Phlegm, Fire, Food and Dampness)
Addresses These Premenstrual Syndrome Pattern Variations
Liver Qi Stagnation
How it manifests:
Pre-menstrual tension, Premenstrual tension, Premenstrual breast distension
Accompanying symptoms:
Hypochondriac distention, Chest distension, Upper abdominal distension, Abdominal distention, Sighing, Melancholia...
Ping Wei San
Traditional formula for premenstrual syndrome
Main Actions
- Dries Dampness
- Improves the Spleen's transportive function
- Promotes the movement of Qi
- Harmonizes the Stomach
Si Ni San
Traditional formula for premenstrual syndrome
Main Actions
- Regulates Liver and Spleen
- Eliminates Internal Heat
Xiao Chai Hu Tang
Traditional formula for premenstrual syndrome
Main Actions
- Treats the Lesser Yang Channels (Gallbladder and Triple Warmer)
- Regulates the Liver and Spleen functions
- Addresses combined Yin-Yang symptoms of External and Internal, Excess and Deficiency, and Hot and Cold
Gan Mai Da Zao Tang
Traditional formula for premenstrual syndrome
Main Actions
- Nourishes the Heart
- Calms the Mind
- Harmonizes the middle burner
- Relaxes tension
Cong Bai Qi Wei Yin
Traditional formula for premenstrual syndrome
Main Actions
- Nourishes the Blood
- Release the Exterior