Patient's question:
How to treat primary dysmenorrheaDoctor's answer:
Hello, in traditional Chinese medicine theory, menstrual pain is divided into: Qi stagnation and blood stasis syndrome. Characteristics of symptoms: lower abdominal pain before or during menstruation that is resistant to pressure, reduced menstrual volume, difficult menstruation, dark purple menstrual blood with clots, pain relief after clot expulsion, and pain disappearance after menstruation ends. Treatment should focus on regulating Qi, resolving blood stasis, and relieving pain. Medication: Modified Geshen Xuyu Decoction.Cold Congealing in the Uterus Syndrome:
- Yang deficiency internal cold: Characteristics of symptoms: lower abdominal cold pain before or during menstruation, pain relief with pressure, and relief with warmth, reduced menstrual volume, and dark pale menstrual blood. Treatment should focus on warming the meridians and the uterus to relieve pain. Medication: Wenyi Decoction with aconite, mugwort, and fennel.
- Cold damp congelation: Characteristics of symptoms: lower abdominal cold pain before or during menstruation, pain relief with warmth, increased pain with pressure, reduced menstrual volume, and dark pale menstrual blood with clots. Treatment should focus on warming the meridians, dispelling cold and dampness, resolving blood stasis, and relieving pain. Medication: Shaofu Xuyu Decoction with atractylodes rhizome and poria.
Damp-heat Lowering Syndrome: Characteristics of symptoms: lower abdominal pain before menstruation that is resistant to pressure with a burning sensation, or increased abdominal pain during menstruation, dark red menstrual blood with clots and a viscous texture. Treatment should focus on clearing heat, removing dampness, resolving blood stasis, and relieving pain. Medication: Qingre Tiaoxue Decoction with polygonum multiflorum and patrinia.
Qi and Blood Deficiency Syndrome: Characteristics of symptoms: lower abdominal pain before or after menstruation that is dull and subtle, or a sense of emptiness and heaviness in the lower abdomen and vulva, preference for massage, reduced menstrual volume with pale, thin menstrual blood. Treatment should focus on replenishing Qi and blood to relieve pain. Medication: Shengyu Decoction with rehmannia removed, plus white peony root, safflower, and croton.
Liver and Kidney Deficiency Syndrome: Characteristics of symptoms: lower abdominal pain before or after menstruation that is dull and continuous, dark pale menstrual blood with reduced volume and thin texture. Treatment should focus on tonifying the kidneys and nourishing the liver to relieve pain. Medication: Tiaogan Decoction with modifications.
However, traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes syndrome differentiation and treatment. It is best to consult a traditional Chinese medicine department and combine the four diagnostic methods (inspection, auscultation/olfaction, inquiry, and palpation) for accurate diagnosis and treatment to achieve the best results. Wishing you a speedy recovery!