Menstruation is a unique physiological phenomenon in women. The arrival and cessation of menstruation occur in a cyclical manner, similar to the waxing and waning of the moon and the ebb and flow of the tides. It happens once a month, repeating the cycle over and over again. Those few days each month can be quite troublesome for women. If it passes regularly and without pain, it is considered normal. However, if it deviates from the regular pattern, it can cause anxiety and disrupt sleep and appetite.
Beware of early menstruation, Sheng Shu Di Huang can help
When menstruation comes, there may be symptoms such as back pain, leg cramps, and bloating in the lower abdomen. It can also cause general discomfort when the menstruation arrives unexpectedly early. So why does this happen?
In traditional Chinese medicine, menstruation is believed to be the result of the coordinated action of kidney qi, chongren, zangfu, and qi and blood on the uterus, allowing it to store and discharge on a regular basis. The Huangdi Neijing states, "At the age of seven, a woman's kidney qi is abundant, and her teeth grow; at the age of 14, her menstrual blood flows, the tai chong meridian is abundant, and menstruation occurs regularly, resulting in pregnancy; at the age of 21, kidney qi is balanced, and permanent teeth grow to their maximum length; at the age of 28, the tendons and bones are strong, hair grows to its maximum length, and the body is strong; at the age of 35, the Yangming meridian declines, the face begins to wither, and hair begins to fall; at the age of 42, the three Yang meridians decline further, the face withers completely, and hair turns white; at the age of 49, the ren meridian becomes deficient, the tai chong meridian declines, the heavenly river (menstrual blood) is depleted, and the earthly pathway (vagina) is blocked, resulting in physical decline and infertility." This means that the main organ responsible for the entire reproductive process is the "kidney". The origin of menstruation is directly related to the kidneys. Therefore, Fu Qingzhu summarized a very classic principle: "Menstruation originates from the kidneys." The "kidneys" here refer not only to the specific organs in our body but also to a function. In the Five Elements theory, the kidneys belong to water and are the foundation of the human body's innate nature. They contain the fire of the life gate and are therefore known as the water-fire organ. The water and fire in the kidneys coexist in harmony, balancing yin and yang, and only when the body is strong and healthy can menstruation occur normally. If there is excessive fire in the kidneys, it can cause blood heat, leading to early menstruation.
For women who experience early menstruation, Sheng Shu Di Huang can be helpful for regulation. Before regulating, it is necessary to determine whether the menstruation is heavy or light. If it is heavy, Shu Di Huang can be used to nourish the blood and nourish yin. Shu Di Huang has a sweet and warm taste and is often used in combination with Dang Gui and Bai Shao to treat conditions such as excessive uterine bleeding. In the "San Yin Ji Yi Bing Zheng Fang Lun," there is a formula called Jiao Ai Tang, which consists of 30 grams each of Shu Di Huang, Ai Ye, Dang Gui, Gan Cao, Shao Yao, E Jiao, and Huang Qi. The ingredients are crushed, decocted in water, and taken on an empty stomach after removing the residue. These ingredients are simple yet effective. E Jiao, Ren Shen, and Lu Rong are known as the three treasures for nourishing and tonifying the body, especially for nourishing yin, nourishing blood, stopping bleeding, and moistening dryness. This formula can also be tried for women who experience heavy menstruation and early onset.
If menstruation comes early but with a small amount of blood, some people may not pay attention to it and think it's just a sign that their period is about to come. However, this can be even more troublesome than heavy early menstruation. Early menstruation is caused by excessive kidney fire, while the amount of menstruation is a reflection of the balance of water and qi. A small amount of menstruation indicates excessive heat and insufficient moisture in the body. In this case, we need to extinguish the fire and replenish the water. This is where Sheng Di comes in. Although Sheng Di and Shu Di are made from the same herb, they have different functions. Sheng Di has a sweet and cold taste and enters the heart, kidney, and spleen meridians. It can clear liver and kidney heat, nourish the true yin water, and is specifically used for cooling the blood and replenishing water. If the menstrual period is often early and light, you can make a homemade cool blood drink to help regulate it. Take 30 grams of Sheng Di, 30 grams of Di Gu Pi, and 10 grams of Dan Pi, put them in a pot with 500 grams of water, boil and simmer for 20 minutes, then add honey and drink it as a tea. This formula, called Liang Di Tang, was developed by Fu Qingzhu. In simpler terms, it uses the cold nature of Sheng Di to nourish yin and generate water to regulate early and light menstruation. If you don't like the taste of Di Huang or if you have a spleen and stomach cold-damp constitution, you can use 500 grams of dried celery, boil it in water, and drink it as a tea. It has a mild taste and also has the effect of clearing heat and cooling blood, which is suitable for assisting in the treatment of heavy menstrual bleeding during the menstrual period.
It is important to note that women with early menstruation should have a light and bland diet. They should avoid raw and cold foods and eat more vegetables and fruits. They should also avoid greasy, high-fat, and high-calorie foods, as well as spicy ingredients such as chili peppers, onions, peppers, and Sichuan peppercorns. These ingredients have a strong dispersing nature and can easily lead to heavy menstrual bleeding.
Delayed menstruation is due to deficiency and coldness, Cinnamon and lamb can warm and tonify the body
When menstruation arrives unexpectedly early, it can be quite surprising. If "Aunt Flo" doesn't show up for a long time, it can cause even greater panic.
When menstruation does not arrive on time, it is important not to be careless. In traditional Chinese medicine, when the menstrual cycle is delayed by more than a week, it is considered the later stage of menstruation. It is often accompanied by light bleeding, back pain, cold limbs, and lower abdominal pain with a sense of sagging. Applying a hot water bottle or pressing with hands can bring relief. These are symptoms of deficiency and coldness. The female body is delicate like a flower, preferring warmth and fearing cold. When the body is deficient and cold, all the organs lose their warmth and nourishment. The spleen is responsible for transformation and transportation, and when it is not functioning properly, the liver, which controls blood circulation, becomes congested, leading to stagnation of menstrual blood. The origin of menstruation is related to the kidneys, which become deficient and cold. The blood sea cannot overflow on time, leading to delayed menstruation. In ancient times, during the era of cold weapons, the most important aspect of war was the supply of food and provisions. It was said that before the army moved, the supply of food and provisions had to be secured. If the food and provisions were not delivered on time, it could easily delay the progress of the war. Similarly, menstruation can be considered as food and provisions. If the spleen is deficient, the transportation route is blocked, and there are no strong soldiers to transport the food and provisions, and if the kidneys are deficient, it is like cutting off the food supply. How can the food and provisions overcome obstacles and arrive on time? Therefore, we must find a top-notch general to solve this urgent matter.
This top-notch general is Cinnamon. Cinnamon has a hot nature, spicy taste, and a warming effect. It enters the heart, spleen, and kidney meridians, can tonify fire and assist yang, dispel cold and relieve pain, promote blood circulation and regulate menstruation, warm the spleen and stomach, remove extreme coldness, and promote blood circulation. You can make a homemade Dang Gui Cinnamon wine to regulate delayed menstruation. Take 50 grams of Dang Gui, 5 grams of Cinnamon, and 500 grams of sweet wine. Soak the Dang Gui and Cinnamon in the wine for 6-7 days, and drink 30 grams daily. Cinnamon also has unexpected benefits. If you have a headache and feel hot, you can grind Cinnamon and Xixin into powder and take it with warm water. This formula, called Gui Xin San, comes from the book "Sheng Ji Zong Lu." It is used to treat postpartum abdominal pain in women. Grinding Cinnamon into powder and taking it with warm wine three times a day can lead to complete recovery.
Cinnamon and lamb are the best combination for treating delayed menstruation. Take 200 grams of lamb, 8 grams of Du Zhong, 1.5 grams of Cinnamon, 5 grams of ginger, a few jujubes, appropriate amount of cooking wine, refined salt, and monosodium glutamate. Wash the lamb, marinate it with cooking wine, vegetable oil, and a little salt. Put Du Zhong, Cinnamon, and ginger in a pot, boil them in water, filter the liquid, add the lamb and jujubes, and stew until the meat is tender. Eat the meat and drink the soup. Lamb is warm and mellow, warming the liver and spleen and promoting growth, relieving urgent pain, and replenishing warm qi. It is most suitable for women with deficiency of blood and qi, as it is warm in nature and not drying. Du Zhong is warm in nature and has a sweet taste. It can tonify the liver and kidneys, strengthen the tendons and bones, and alleviate the back pain caused by deficiency and coldness. It is worth noting that Cinnamon is very hot and should not be used excessively, as excessive use can damage the yin of the kidneys. This medicinal diet can tonify qi, nourish blood, relieve pain, and is most suitable for women with delayed menstruation or weakness due to coldness in the uterus.
If a woman experiences delayed menstruation, there is no need to panic immediately. If there are no obvious discomforts, there is no need to rush to self-treatment. Do not use strong medications after the menstrual period has passed, as this can easily damage the body. Increased menstrual flow can deplete yin and blood, and some women may overlook the possibility of pregnancy and use blood-activating medications, which can lead to miscarriage. Pay attention to diet, eat less cold foods such as watermelon, lily, and mung beans, and avoid sour and astringent foods such as black plum and pomegranate. Also, reduce sexual activity and give the uterus time to rest and recover.
