Many women experience menstrual pain during their menstrual periods, characterized by pale complexion, cold sweat on the forehead, cold hands and feet, and nausea. This condition, known as dysmenorrhea or menstrual abdominal pain, is believed to be caused by liver stagnation, qi stagnation and blood stasis, or cold congealing in the meridians and poor circulation of qi and blood. The treatment approach in traditional Chinese medicine focuses on promoting blood circulation, resolving blood stasis, and warming the meridians to relieve pain. Here are several herbal porridge recipes that have significant therapeutic effects on dysmenorrhea.
Yuanhu Pain Relief Porridge: 10 grams each of Yuanhu, Bai Zhi, Yimucao, and safflower, 100 grams of rice, and an appropriate amount of white sugar. Clean the herbs and put them in a pot with enough water to soak for 5 to 10 minutes. Then, decoct the herbs in water and extract the juice. Add rice and cook the porridge. When the porridge is ready, add white sugar and boil it for another one or two times. Take it twice a day, starting 3 to 5 days before the menstrual period and continue for 5 to 7 days. This porridge can promote blood circulation, dissolve blood stasis, and relieve pain. It is suitable for patients with abdominal pain before or during the menstrual period, who are unwilling to be pressed, or accompanied by distending pain in the breasts and ribs, scanty and dark menstrual flow with blood clots, relief of pain after blood clots are discharged, limb coldness, and loose stools.
Jia Ai Four Substances Porridge: 10 grams each of donkey-hide gelatin, mugwort leaves, prepared rehmannia, Sichuan lovage rhizome, baked licorice, Chinese angelica, white peony root, codonopsis root, and astragalus root, 100 grams of rice, and an appropriate amount of white sugar. Clean the herbs and put them in a pot with enough water to soak for 5 to 10 minutes. Then, decoct the herbs in water and extract the juice. Add rice and cook the porridge. When the porridge is ready, add donkey-hide gelatin and white sugar, and boil it for another one or two times. Take it twice a day, starting 3 to 5 days before the menstrual period and continue for 5 to 7 days. This porridge can warm the meridians, dispel cold, eliminate dampness, and relieve pain. It is suitable for abdominal pain during the menstrual period, which is relieved by warmth, accompanied by scanty menstruation, dark color, blood clots, and limb coldness and frequent urination.
Gui Pi Porridge: 10 grams each of codonopsis root, white atractylodes rhizome, astragalus root, longan aril, sour jujube kernel, saussurea, Chinese angelica, polygala root, and poria, 5 red dates, 5 grams of licorice, 3 slices of ginger, 50 grams of rice, and an appropriate amount of brown sugar. Clean the herbs and put them in a pot with enough water to soak for 5 to 10 minutes. Then, decoct the herbs in water and extract the juice. Add rice and cook the porridge. When the porridge is ready, add brown sugar and boil it for another one or two times. Take it twice a day during the menstrual period, and continue for 5 to 7 days. This porridge can tonify qi, nourish blood, nourish the uterus, and relieve pain. It is suitable for hidden pain during or after the menstrual period, preference for pressing, scanty and thin menstruation, cold limbs, sore and weak waist and knees, dizziness, tinnitus, palpitations, and shortness of breath.
Ba Zhen Porridge: 10 grams each of Chinese angelica, Sichuan lovage rhizome, white peony root, prepared rehmannia, codonopsis root, poria, baked licorice, and white atractylodes rhizome, 100 grams of rice, and an appropriate amount of white sugar. Clean the herbs and put them in a medicine pot with enough water to soak for 5 to 10 minutes. Then, decoct the herbs in water and extract the juice. Add rice and cook the porridge. When the porridge is ready, add white sugar and boil it for another one or two times. Alternatively, mix one bottle of Ba Zhen oral liquid with the porridge and take it twice a day during the menstrual period, and continue for 5 to 7 days. This porridge can tonify qi, nourish blood, and regulate the menstrual cycle to relieve pain. It is suitable for dysmenorrhea due to blood deficiency.
Placenta and Deer Meat Porridge: an appropriate amount of placenta, deer meat, 10 grams of Cistanche, 100 grams of rice, and an appropriate amount of seasonings. Clean the placenta and deer meat, chop them into a paste, and mix them with soy sauce, starch, cooking wine, and vinegar. Cook the Cistanche and rice porridge first, and then add the placenta and lean meat paste when boiling. Cook until the porridge is ready, and season it with Sichuan pepper powder, salt, monosodium glutamate, green onion, and ginger. Take it twice a day during the menstrual period, and continue for 5 to 7 days. This porridge can tonify the liver and kidneys, warm the meridians, and relieve pain. It is suitable for hidden abdominal pain after menstruation, light and scanty menstrual flow, sore waist and spine, dizziness, tinnitus, pale red tongue, thin coating, and deep and thready pulse.
Fish Maw Kidney-Nourishing Porridge: 10 grams each of goji berries, red dates, jujube peel, and fish maw, 50 grams of rice, and an appropriate amount of seasonings. Soak and clean the fish maw, then cut it into fine pieces. Stir-fry it with sesame oil, and then put it in a pot with goji berries, two red dates, and rice. Add enough water and cook it into a thin porridge. When the porridge is ready, season it with green onion, ginger, Sichuan pepper, salt, and monosodium glutamate, and boil it for another one or two times. Take it twice a day during the menstrual period, and continue for 5 to 7 days. This porridge can tonify the liver and kidneys, warm the meridians, and relieve pain. It is suitable for abdominal pain after menstruation.
