I experience menstrual cramps every month after my period, and the blood is dark red.

Patient's question:

No

Doctor's answer:

The menstrual blood is dark, which is often considered to be due to qi stagnation and blood stasis, where the menstrual blood accumulates in the uterus for a long time, which is related to dysmenorrhea.
Three to five days before the onset of menstruation, the diet should be light and easy to digest. It is advisable to consume easily digestible and absorbable foods, avoiding overeating. In particular, it is best to avoid cold and raw foods, as they can stimulate the contraction of the uterus and fallopian tubes, thereby inducing or exacerbating dysmenorrhea.
Once menstruation has begun, it is even more important to avoid all cold, difficult-to-digest, and irritating foods, such as chili peppers, raw scallions, raw garlic, pepper, and strong alcohol. During this period, patients can appropriately consume some sour foods, such as pickled vegetables and vinegar, as sour foods can help alleviate pain.