Patient's question:
Detailed medical condition and consultation purpose: Irregular menstruation has been a constant problem, causing great distress.Duration and persistence of the current illness: Half a year
Current general condition: Reduced menstrual flow, prolonged period duration
Medical history: Menstruation has been irregular since the first period at the age of 12. Adults had said it would improve within two years, but at that time, I paid little attention and consumed cold foods without restraint. As a result, the menstrual cycle remained irregular, though the flow was relatively moderate. After turning 20, I started working and had a regular boyfriend, engaging in sexual activity, and began to care about appearance. I took weight-loss pills and consumed various weight-loss medications. Last year, for a period of time, I experienced light spotting 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 blood flow is significantly reduced, or it may be so minimal that it stops almost immediately, or the menstrual period is shortened to less than two days with a small amount of blood flow. It can also be called "excessive reduction in menstrual flow."It is divided into: blood deficiency syndrome, kidney deficiency syndrome, blood stasis syndrome, and phlegm-dampness syndrome.
Blood Deficiency Syndrome:
Clinical features: Decreased menstrual flow, or it may be so minimal that it stops almost immediately, with pale color and no clots. General symptoms: Dizziness, blurred vision, palpitations, a hollow feeling in the lower abdomen, pale pink tongue, and thin pulse. Treatment method: Nourishing blood and regulating menstruation. Prescription: Zixue Decoction.
Kidney Deficiency Syndrome:
Menstrual flow is decreased, with pale pink or dark red color and thin 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 method: Tonifying the kidneys, nourishing blood, and regulating menstruation. Prescription: Guishen Pills.
Blood Stasis Syndrome:
Clinical features: Decreased menstrual flow, dark purple-black color with blood clots. General symptoms: Painful and resistant lower abdominal distension, reduced menstrual pain after blood clots are expelled, purple or dark tongue with petechiae, and wiry or thready pulse. Treatment method: Promoting blood circulation and resolving stasis to regulate menstruation. Prescription: Taohong Siwu Decoction (modified).
Phlegm-Dampness Syndrome:
Clinical features: Decreased menstrual flow, pale pink color with sticky and phlegmy texture. General symptoms: Obesity, stuffy chest, nausea, or excessive sticky leukorrhea, pale tongue with greasy white coating, and slippery pulse. Treatment method: 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: inspection, auscultation/olfaction, inquiry, and palpation) to prescribe the correct medication for effective treatment. Wishing you a speedy recovery.