Patient's question:
I have been married for 2 years (not yet pregnant), but my menstruation has always been quite irregular, often delayed by several months. I need to take traditional Chinese medicine to induce it, and then it happens again after some time. I had my endocrine checked, but there was nothing wrong, so I don't know what to do.Doctor's answer:
Hello, this is referred to as "delayed menstruation" in traditional Chinese medicine theory: Delayed menstruation refers to menstruation being delayed by more than 7 days, or even 40 or 50 days, and is also known as "menstruation occurring later." It is divided into: blood deficiency, blood cold, deficiency-cold, and qi stagnation.Blood Cold Syndrome:
Clinical characteristics: Delayed menstruation, reduced amount, dark color with clots.
General symptoms: Cold pain in the lower abdomen, pain alleviates with warmth, aversion to cold, cold limbs, white tongue, and deep, tight pulse.
Treatment method: Warming the channels, dispelling cold, and regulating menstruation.
Prescription: Warming the Channels Decoction.
Deficiency-Cold Syndrome:
Clinical characteristics: Delayed menstruation, reduced amount, pale red color, thin and watery quality, without clots.
General symptoms: Mild pain in the lower abdomen, preference for warmth and pressure, lower back soreness and weakness, clear and copious urine, loose and watery stools, pale tongue with white coating, and deep, slow or weak pulse.
Treatment method: Supporting yang, dispelling cold, and regulating menstruation.
Prescription: Ai Fu Nu Gong Wan (Moxa and Fu Zi Warming Palace Pill).
Blood Deficiency Syndrome:
Clinical characteristics: Delayed menstruation, reduced amount, without clots.
General symptoms: Empty pain in the lower abdomen, dizziness and blurred vision, pale or sallow complexion, pale red tongue with weak pulse.
Treatment method: (Supplementing blood and regulating menstruation).
Prescription: Da Bu Yuan Jiao (Greatly Nourishing Origin Decoction).
Qi Stagnation Syndrome:
Clinical characteristics: Delayed menstruation, reduced amount, dark red color with small clots.
General symptoms: Distending pain in the lower abdomen, or distending pain in the chest, abdomen, both sides of the waist, and breasts, normal tongue coating, and wiry pulse.
Treatment method: Harmonizing qi and regulating menstruation.
Prescription: Wu Yao Tang (Cinnamon Twig Decoction).
However, traditional Chinese medicine emphasizes syndrome differentiation and treatment. It is best to consult a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, combining 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!