The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Sticky menstrual blood can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like sticky menstrual blood here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here sticky menstrual blood is often associated with heavy periods, flooding suddenly before schedule and flooding and leaking in the pattern “Heat in Uterus Blood”. As you will see below, we have in record two patterns that can cause sticky menstrual blood.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of sticky menstrual blood we’ve identified three herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the five medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat sticky menstrual blood.
The two "patterns of disharmony" that can cause sticky menstrual blood
In Chinese Medicine sticky menstrual blood is a symptom for 2 patterns that we have on record. Below is a small explanation for each of them with links for more details.
Baikal Skullcap Roots (Huang Qin) is the king ingredient for Qing Re Gu Jing Tang, a formula used for Heat in Uterus Blood
Heat in Uterus Blood
Pulse type(s): Rapid (Shu), Wiry (Xian)
In addition to sticky menstrual blood, other symptoms associated with Heat in Uterus Blood include heavy periods, flooding suddenly before schedule and flooding and leaking.
Heat in Uterus Blood is often treated with Qing Re Gu Jing Tang, a herbal formula made of 11 herbs (including Baikal Skullcap Roots - Huang Qin - as a key herb). Qing Re Gu Jing Tang belongs to the category of "", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Clears Empty Heat".
Crow-Dipper Rhizomes (Ban Xia) is the king ingredient for Er Chen Tang, a formula used for Phlegm
Phlegm
Pulse type(s): Slippery (Hua), Wiry (Xian)
Tongue coating: Sticky coating, Thick coating
Tongue shape: Swollen
The concept of Phlegm is much wider and important in Chinese Medicine than in the West. Broadly speaking, Phlegm is a substance produced when the body fails to handle Body Fluids properly.
In addition to sticky menstrual blood, other symptoms associated with Phlegm include late period, scanty periods and dizziness.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Phlegm is associated with health issues such as Low Breast Milk Supply, Late Menstruation or Scanty Menstruation.
Phlegm is often treated with Er Chen Tang, a herbal formula made of 5 herbs (including Crow-Dipper Rhizomes - Ban Xia - as a key herb). Er Chen Tang belongs to the category of "formulas that dry dampness and transform phlegm", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Dries Damp and dispels Phlegm".
Three herbal formulas that might help with sticky menstrual blood
Qing Re Gu Jing Tang
Source date: 1988
Number of ingredients: 11 herbs
Key actions: Clears Empty Heat. Tonifies the Kidney Yin. Stops bleeding. Supplies Body Fluids.
Why might Qing Re Gu Jing Tang help with sticky menstrual blood?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Heat in Uterus Blood' of which sticky menstrual blood is a symptom.
Other symptoms characteristic of Heat In Uterus Blood include heavy periods, flooding suddenly before schedule and flooding and leaking.
Xiong Gui Er Chen Tang
Source date: 1575 AD
Number of ingredients: 7 herbs
Key actions: Resolves Damp-Phlegm. Nourishes Blood.
Why might Xiong Gui Er Chen Tang help with sticky menstrual blood?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Phlegm' of which sticky menstrual blood is a symptom.
According to Chinese Medicine, Phlegm can contribute to many health issues, including Late Menstruation.
Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang
Source date: 1675 AD
Number of ingredients: 9 herbs
Key actions: Tonifies Spleen and Stomach Qi. Removes Dampness. Moves Qi. Alleviates pain.
Why might Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang help with sticky menstrual blood?
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Phlegm' of which sticky menstrual blood is a symptom.
According to Chinese Medicine, Phlegm can contribute to many health issues, including Late Menstruation.
The five Chinese Medicinal herbs most likely to help treat sticky menstrual blood
Why might Liquorice (Gan Cao) help with sticky menstrual blood?
Because Liquorice is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat sticky menstrual blood as a symptom, like Qing Re Gu Jing Tang or Xiong Gui Er Chen Tang for instance.
Liquorice is a Neutral herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Stomach, the Heart and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Basal Qi and nourishes the Spleen Qi. Clears Heat and dispels toxicity. Moistens the Lungsexpel phlegm and stop coughing. Relieves spasms and alleviates pain. Harmonizes and moderates the effects of other herbs.
Why might Fresh Ginger (Sheng Jiang) help with sticky menstrual blood?
Because Fresh Ginger is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat sticky menstrual blood as a symptom, like Xiong Gui Er Chen Tang or Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang for instance.
Fresh Ginger is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent. It targets the Spleen, the Stomach and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Relieves the Exterior and disperses Cold. Warms and circulates Qi in the Middle Burner. Calms a restless fetus and treats morning sickness. Treats seafood poisoning.
Why might Dong Quai (Dang Gui) help with sticky menstrual blood?
Because Dong Quai is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat sticky menstrual blood as a symptom, like Huai Jiao Wan or Xiong Gui Er Chen Tang for instance.
Dong Quai is a Warm herb that tastes Pungent and Sweet. It targets the Spleen, the Heart and the Liver.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Blood. Lubricates the Intestines. Relieve constipation. Promotes circulation and dispels Bi Pain. Reduce Dysmenorrhea and help with irregular menstruation.
Why might Baikal Skullcap Root (Huang Qin) help with sticky menstrual blood?
Because Baikal Skullcap Root is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat sticky menstrual blood as a symptom, like Qing Re Gu Jing Tang or Huai Jiao Wan for instance.
Baikal Skullcap Roots is a Cold herb that tastes Bitter. It targets the Gallbladder, the Spleen, the Heart, the Large intestine, the Lung and the Small intestine.
Its main actions are: Expels Heat and Dampness. Clears Upper Burner Heat, especially of the Lung. Clears Heat and stops reckless movement of Blood. Clears pathogenic Heat which is upsetting the fetus. Cools the Liver, reducing Liver Yang rising syndrome.
Why might Tangerine Peel (Chen Pi) help with sticky menstrual blood?
Because Tangerine Peel is an ingredient in several formulas indicated to treat sticky menstrual blood as a symptom, like Xiong Gui Er Chen Tang or Xiang Sha Liu Jun Zi Tang for instance.
Tangerine Peel is a Warm herb that tastes Bitter and Pungent. It targets the Spleen and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Warms the Spleen and regulates the Middle Burner Qi. Dries Dampness and disperses Phlegm from the Lungs and Middle Burner. Reduces the potential for Stagnation caused by tonifying herbs.
Conditions associated with sticky menstrual blood
Other symptoms often associated with sticky menstrual blood
Late period Scanty periods Dizziness Pale menstrual blood Palpitations Lower abdominal pain Heavy periods Flooding suddenly before schedule Flooding and leaking Red face