With the accelerated pace of life, intense competition, environmental pollution, work pressure, irregular lifestyles, and unhealthy behaviors, the number of women with menstrual disorders is increasing rapidly, and the age of onset is gradually decreasing... In traditional Chinese medicine, if the menstrual cycle is basically normal, but the amount of blood is significantly less than before, or even just a few drops, it is called "scanty menstruation". If scanty menstruation occurs before the age of 45, it is necessary to be alert to the possibility of premature ovarian failure and use traditional Chinese medicine to regulate it.
"Clues" Indicating Premature Ovarian Failure
Symptoms of scanty menstruation include decreasing menstrual flow year by year, lumbago and weakness, decreased energy, loose skin, palpitations and dizziness, excessive sweating and fatigue, insomnia and early awakening, hair loss and graying, decreased vaginal discharge, dryness of the genital area, and decreased sexual desire.
The Yellow Emperor's Inner Canon states, "At the age of seven, the kidney qi is abundant, teeth are replaced and hair grows; at the age of 14, the menstruation arrives, the Ren meridian is open, the Tai Chong meridian is abundant, and the menstruation occurs regularly, leading to the possibility of having children... At the age of 49, the Ren meridian becomes deficient, the Tai Chong meridian declines, the menstruation ceases, the Ren meridian is blocked, and the possibility of having children is lost." In other words, most women's menstruation should not stop until after the age of 49.
Menstruation is an Indicator of Women's Health
Traditional Chinese medicine believes that the normality of menstruation directly reflects a woman's blood and qi balance, the strength of her organs, and the balance of yin and yang. With a normal menstrual cycle, women can conceive life, reproduce offspring, and withstand unexpected blood loss better than men, enhancing their ability to resist diseases.
From a modern medical perspective, menstruation indirectly reflects a woman's ovarian function. Ovaries are important reproductive organs in women, responsible for cyclic ovulation, secretion of estrogen and progesterone, ensuring fertility and maintenance of female characteristics. If menstrual flow decreases, it can cause a series of gynecological diseases and increase the incidence of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases.
Congenital deficiencies, external pathogenic factors, emotional disturbances, imbalanced work and rest, and improper diet can all lead to dysfunction of organs, imbalance of qi and blood, and damage to the Chong and Ren meridians. Changes in environment, work pressure, emotional distress, unhealthy diet, induced abortion, and night shifts can all disrupt hormone secretion in women and lead to scanty menstruation. Common types of scanty menstruation include kidney deficiency, blood deficiency, blood cold, and blood stasis.
Traditional Chinese Medicine Prescriptions for Scanty Menstruation
Kidney deficiency type:
Main symptoms: Scanty menstrual flow, cessation of flow in a few days or even just a few drops, pale and thin blood, lumbago and weakness, dizziness and tinnitus, frequent urination, pale tongue with thin coating, and thin and weak pulse.
Traditional Chinese medicine prescription: Liu Wei Di Huang Wan, Zuo Gui Wan, You Gui Wan with modifications.
Blood deficiency type:
Main symptoms: Scanty menstrual flow, cessation of flow in a few days or even just a few drops, pale red blood, dizziness and blurred vision, palpitations and insomnia, dry skin, sallow complexion, pale tongue with thin coating, and weak pulse.
Traditional Chinese medicine prescription: Si Wu Tang, Gui Pi Wan with modifications.
Blood cold type:
Main symptoms: Scanty menstrual flow, dark red color, cold and painful lower abdomen, pain relieved by warmth, aversion to cold and cold limbs, pale complexion, dark tongue, white coating, and deep, tight pulse.
Traditional Chinese medicine prescription: Wen Jing Tang, Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang with modifications.
Blood stasis type:
Main symptoms: Scanty menstrual flow, purple-black color with clots, stabbing pain in the lower abdomen, pain relieved after passing clots or distension and pain in the chest and hypochondrium, purple or dark spots on the tongue, and rough, forceful pulse.
Traditional Chinese medicine prescription: Xue Fu Zhu Yu Tang, Tao Hong Si Wu Tang with modifications.
It is important to note that the above prescriptions should be taken under the guidance of a professional physician.
Dietary Adjustments for Scanty Menstruation
In daily diet, it is recommended to consume peanuts, walnuts, jujubes, longan, rose flowers, brown sugar, soy milk, red beans, melon seeds, carrots, black fungus, black sesame, bean paste, purple rice, hawthorn, and other foods in moderation.
