Patient's question:
I got married last year, and recently I've been experiencing lower abdominal pain. It's especially bad during my period, and I'm very worried it might affect my fertility. I also feel extremely cold and afraid of the cold. What can I eat to relieve the pain during my period?Doctor's answer:
Your condition may be caused by cold deficiency, leading to menstrual cramps. During the menstrual period and its surrounding days, you may experience pain in the lower abdomen or lower back, sometimes even radiating to the lumbar-sacral region. The pain recurs with each menstrual cycle. In severe cases, it may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting, profuse cold sweat, cold hands and feet, or even fainting.Consideration of treatments such as acupuncture, physiotherapy, and massage may be beneficial. Your condition could also be due to cold deficiency with menstrual irregularity or delayed menstruation, caused by insufficient blood nourishment and a deficiency of Qi and blood in the Chong and Ren meridians. After menstruation, the blood sea becomes empty, and combined with Qi deficiency and blood stagnation, there is a lack of circulation, leading to menstrual irregularity.
Herbs such as Angelica sinensis (Danggui), white peony root (Bai shao), and prepared rehmannia (Shu di huang) are used to nourish blood and regulate menstruation. Salvia miltiorrhiza (Hong hua), Ligusticum chuanxiong (Chuan xiong), Curcuma zedoaria (E Zhu), and Cyperus rotundus (Xiang fu) are used to activate blood circulation. It is recommended to use modified Wen Jing Tang (Warm Stomach Decoction) for treatment.