Patient's question:
I have mentioned that on September 25th, I visited a doctor and was diagnosed with pelvic effusion, with a size of 2.5x1.1. Is this amount of fluid excessive?Doctor's answer:
Pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) is a relatively common gynecological condition, mostly caused by hygiene issues (personal hygiene, unclean sexual intercourse, etc.). Acute PID is characterized by: lower abdominal pain, fever. If the condition is severe, it may include high fever, chills, headache, and loss of appetite. Chronic PID is characterized by: low-grade fever, fatigue, and during prolonged courses, symptoms of neurasthenia such as lack of energy, general discomfort, and insomnia. It may also include lower abdominal heaviness, pain, and lower back and sacral pain, which often worsen after exertion, sexual intercourse, or around the menstrual period. Additionally, patients may experience increased menstrual flow and leukorrhea.### 1) Home Treatment Measures
1. Maintain Personal Hygiene
Pay attention to personal hygiene during menstruation, postpartum, and after miscarriage. Change underwear and sanitary pads frequently, avoid catching colds, and avoid overexertion.
2. Eat Light Foods
The diet should be primarily light. Consume nutrient-rich foods such as eggs, tofu, red beans, and spinach. Avoid raw, cold, and irritating foods.
3. Avoid Sexual Intercourse During Menstruation
Refrain from sexual intercourse during menstruation to prevent infection. Menstrual pads should be kept clean and disinfected sanitary paper is recommended.
4. Drink More Water
PID can easily cause body fever, so it is important to drink more water to lower body temperature.
5. Avoid Unnecessary Gynecological Examinations
Minimize unnecessary gynecological examinations to prevent the spread of infection and exacerbation of inflammation.
6. Medical Staff Must Strictly Adhere to Sterile Procedures
During childbirth or miscarriage-related uterine procedures, medical staff must thoroughly disinfect and strictly follow sterile operation protocols to prevent infection and PID. As a precaution, antibiotics may be taken after surgery to prevent infection.
### 2) General Treatment
1. Home Self-Treatment
① Massage
- The patient lies supine with knees bent. Use both hands to lift the lower abdomen several times, applying more pressure to painful areas. Then, straighten the legs and use the palms to massage the inner thighs several times. In a seated position, use the palms to massage the lower back and sacral region, lifting the bilateral Guanyu (belt channel) points. Press Qihai, Guanyuan, Xuehai, and Sanyinjiao points for 1 minute each.
② Cupping
- Main points: Guilai and Guanyuan. Secondary points: Sanyinjiao, Zusanli, and Hegu. First, apply cupping to the main points for 4–5 cups and to the secondary points for 4–6 cups. The retention time is 10–20 minutes.
③ Bloodletting Therapy
- For Qi stagnation and blood stasis type: Guanyuan, Sanyinjiao, Da Zhui, Shen Shu, Daxi Sheng, and Yao Yan. For cold congelation and damp stagnation type: Shen Shu, Daxi Sheng, Yao Yan, Guanyuan, Qihai, and Sanyinjiao. Select 2 points per day for treatment, with a 14-day course.
④ Health Preservation Exercises
- Adopt the supine posture: Lie flat on the bed with the head slightly forward, the torso straight, arms naturally extended with fingers spread, palms facing inward, placed on the sides of the body. Legs are straight with heels together and toes slightly apart. Close the eyes slightly.
- Breathing: Use the "inhale-exhale-hold" method. Inhale with the tongue touching the roof of the mouth, silently reciting "inhale." Exhale with the tongue down, silently reciting "exhale." Hold the breath with the tongue still, silently reciting "hold."
- Focus on the lower Dantian (Qihai point), visualizing it as a circular area on the surface of the lower abdomen or a spherical volume within the abdomen. Practice for 30 minutes daily before bed.
2. Home Remedies and Proven Formulas
① Motherwort (Yimucao) 12g, Angelica Sinensis (Danggui) and Cyperus (Xiangfu) each 9g.
- Decoction, 1 dose daily.
② Fructus Linderae (Baijiucao) 15g, Peach Kernel (Taoren) and Black Moss (He'erzi) each 10g.
- Decoction, 2 times daily.
③ Fennel (Xiao Huixiang) and Gentian (Zhi Zi) each 30g, Licorice (Gan Cao) 10g.
- Grind into powder, take 2–3g per dose, 2–3 times daily.
④ Astragalus (Huang Qi) 50g, Angelica Sinensis (Danggui) 15g, Jujubes (Da Zao) 10 pieces, and appropriate amount of brown sugar.
- Decoction.
⑤ Phellodendron (Huang Bo), Hedyotis Diffusa (Bai Hu She She Cao), Polygonum (Hong Teng), Fructus Linderae (Baijiucao), and Forsythia (Yin Hua) each 30g, Moutan (Dan Pi), Paeonia (Chi Shao), Dipsacus (Chuan Dun), and Euonymus (Yin Zhi) each 15g, Coptis (Huang Lian) 10g.
- Decoction, 1 dose daily, divided into 2 doses. 10 days per course. May also be concentrated into 100ml, used for retention enemas at 37–42°C, 1 time daily, 10 days per course. For acute PID.
⑥ Salvia Miltiorrhiza (Dan Shen) 1g, Paeonia (Chi Shao and Bai Shao) each 12g, Cyperus (Xiangfu), Sparganium (San Ling), Curcuma (E Zhu), Achyranthes (Ni Xun), and Fructus Linderae (Baijiucao) each 12g, Bupleurum (Chai Hu), Atractylodes (Zhi Shi), and Rheum (Da Huang) each 10g, Licorice (Gan Cao) and Carthamus (Hong Hua) each 6g.
- Decoction. For PID abscesses.
⑦ Dandelion (Pu Gong Ying) 30g, Forsythia (Er Hua) 24g, Paeonia (Bai Shao) 18g, Polygonum (Ci Xian) 15g, Angelica Sinensis (Danggui) and Acorus (Mu Tong) each 12g, Cinnamon Bark (Gui Zhi) 9g, Licorice (Gan Cao) 6g, and Asarum (Xixin) 3g, Jujubes (Da Zao) 3 pieces.
- Decoction, 1 dose decocted twice to obtain 400ml, taken in the morning and evening, 1 dose daily, 10 days per course. For chronic PID.
⑧ Job's Tears (Yi Mi Ren), Fructus Linderae (Baijiucao), and Motherwort (Yimucao) each 30g, Cyperus (Zhi Xiangfu), Paeonia (Bai Shao) each 15g, Prepared Aconite (Shu Fu) 10g, Angelica Sinensis (Danggui) 6g, Amber (Hupu) 1g, and Rhinoceros Horn Powder (Shan Jia Fen) 1g (the last 2 are taken with the decoction, avoid during menstruation).
- Decoction, 1 dose decocted twice to obtain 400ml, taken in the morning and evening, 2 times daily. 4 weeks per course, may be taken for 1–3 courses. For chronic PID.
### 3) Diet and Medicinal Cuisine
① Goji Berries (Gou Qi Zi) and Angelica Sinensis (Danggui) each 20g, lean pork as needed.
- Season and cook into soup, eat the meat and drink the soup.
② Sonchus (Ku Xue Cai) 60g, Haws (Shan Zha) 30g, and Citron (Fu Shou) 15g.
- Boil together with water, 1 dose daily, for 7–8 doses.
③ Fructus Linderae (Baijiucao) 30g, Citron (Fu Shou) and Rose (Meng Hua) each 10g.
- Decoction, 1 dose daily, for 5–6 days.
④ Rehmannia (Sheng Di) 30g and glutinous rice (Jing Mi) 30–60g.
- Wash and slice rehmannia, decoct twice with water to obtain 100ml. Cook glutinous rice into porridge, add the medicinal juice when it is 80% cooked, and cook together until done. Eat the porridge, may be taken for several days.
⑤ Ejiao (Aijiao) 30g and pigeon eggs 5.
- Place Ejiao in a bowl with an appropriate amount of water and melt over low heat. Add pigeon eggs and mix while hot. Divide into 2 doses for morning and evening consumption. May be taken continuously until recovery.
⑥ Chives Root (Jiu Cai Gen) 50g, eggs 2, and sugar 50g.
- Boil together with water and eat for several days.
⑦ Walnut Kernel (He Tao Ren) 20g, Euryale (Qian Shi) and lotus seeds (Li Zi) each 18g, glutinous rice (Jing Mi) 60g.
- Cook into porridge and eat regularly.
⑧ Lean Pork 100g, Poria (Fu Ling) 50g, Euryale (Qian Shi) 30g, Rosehip (Jin Ying Zi) 15g, and Acorus (Shi Chang Pu) 12g.
- Boil with water over low heat, add salt for seasoning, drink the soup and eat the meat.