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: Reduced menstrual flow, prolonged period duration
Medical history: Menstruation has been abnormal 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 menstrual flow was relatively moderate. After turning 20, I started working, had a boyfriend, and had a normal sex life. I began to care about appearance and took weight-loss pills, using various weight-loss medications. Last year, there was a period when I had light bleeding about a week before my period.
Doctor's answer:
Hello, this is a condition of reduced 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 characteristics: Reduced menstrual flow, or it may be so minimal that it stops almost immediately, with pale color and no clots. General symptoms: Dizziness and 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 reduced, 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: Nourishing the kidneys, blood, and regulating menstruation. Prescription: Guixin Pill.
Blood Stasis Syndrome:
Clinical characteristics: Reduced menstrual flow, dark purple or black color, with blood clots. General symptoms: Painful and distended lower abdomen, reduced menstrual pain after blood clots are expelled, purple or dark tongue with blood stasis spots, 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 characteristics: Reduced menstrual flow, pale pink color, with sticky and greasy texture like phlegm. 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 Pill.
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 right medicine for effective treatment. Wishing you a speedy recovery.