Patient's question:
Detailed medical condition and consultation purpose: Menstruation has been irregular for a long time, causing great distress.Duration and persistence of the current illness: Half a year
Current general condition: Light menstrual flow, prolonged period
Medical history: Menstruation has been irregular since the first period at the age of 12. Adults said it would improve in two years, but at that time, I didn’t pay much attention and didn’t avoid cold or raw foods, so the dates remained irregular. The amount of flow was relatively moderate. After turning 20, I started working and had a boyfriend, engaging in normal sexual activity. I began to care about appearance and took weight-loss pills, using various weight-loss medications. Last year, for a period of time, I had light bleeding about a week before my period.
Doctor's answer:
Hello, this is a condition of decreased menstrual flow in traditional Chinese medicine theory, which refers to: the menstrual cycle is basically normal, but the amount of menstrual flow is significantly reduced, or it may be so minimal that it stops after a few drops, or the menstrual period is shortened to less than two days with a small amount of flow. It can also be called excessive menstrual flow reduction.It is divided into: blood deficiency syndrome, kidney deficiency syndrome, blood stasis syndrome, and phlegm-dampness syndrome.
Blood Deficiency Syndrome:
Clinical characteristics: menstrual flow is minimal or stops after a few drops, pale without clots. General symptoms: dizziness, blurred vision, palpitations, a hollow feeling in the lower abdomen, pale pink tongue, and thin pulse. Treatment: nourishing blood and regulating menstruation. Prescription: Zixue Decoction.
Kidney Deficiency Syndrome:
Menstrual flow is minimal, pale red or dark red, thin in texture. General symptoms: lower back and knee weakness, heel pain, dizziness and tinnitus, cold lower abdomen, frequent nighttime urination, pale tongue, and deep, weak pulse. Treatment: tonifying the kidneys, nourishing blood, and regulating menstruation. Prescription: Guixin Pills.
Blood Stasis Syndrome:
Clinical characteristics: menstrual flow is minimal, dark purple or black with blood clots. General symptoms: lower abdominal pain and tenderness, reduced menstrual pain after blood clots are expelled, purple or dark tongue with petechiae, and wiry or thready pulse. Treatment: promoting blood circulation and resolving stasis to regulate menstruation. Prescription: Taohong Siwu Decoction (modified).
Phlegm-Dampness Syndrome:
Clinical characteristics: menstrual flow is minimal, pale red, and sticky like phlegm. General symptoms: obesity, stuffy chest, nausea, or excessive sticky leukorrhea, pale tongue with greasy white coating, and slippery pulse. Treatment: resolving phlegm, drying dampness, and regulating menstruation. Prescription: Cangfu Daotan Pills.
However, traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes syndrome differentiation and treatment. It is best to consult a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner for a comprehensive clinical diagnosis (the four diagnostic methods) to prescribe the correct treatment for effective recovery. Wishing you a speedy recovery.