Patient's question:
Female, 28 years old, has been experiencing lower back pain and abdominal cramps during menstruation. She wants to improve this condition. What foods are recommended for women with menstrual cramps?Doctor's answer:
Women suffering from menstrual cramps should maintain a varied diet and avoid being overly picky about food. They should frequently consume vegetables and fruits that have the effects of regulating qi and promoting blood circulation, such as chrysanthemum greens, daylily roots, coriander, carrots, oranges, (fó shǒu - fragrant orange), and ginger. Those with weak constitutions and insufficient qi and blood should regularly eat foods that replenish qi, liver, and kidneys, such as chicken, ducks, fish, eggs, milk, animal livers and kidneys, and legumes. During the menstrual period, it is advisable to eat warm foods, such as brown sugar and red dates, eggs, and chives. Avoid extremely cold foods, such as cold dishes, cold drinks, snails, clam meat, and vinegar. Due to emotional depression, poor dietary and living habits, or the invasion of six pathogenic factors and insects, the (chōng rèn - conception and governing channels) may become obstructed, or the meridians may be congealed by cold, causing poor circulation of qi and blood and hindering the supply of blood to the uterus. "No flow means pain," leading to menstrual cramps.