Menstruation is the periodic shedding of the uterine lining, a physiological phenomenon unique to women. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), menstruation is seen as a process accomplished through the coordinated efforts of the body's five internal organs, and menstruation can provide a general understanding of a woman's health.
Menstrual blood color: Normal menstrual blood is dark red and does not clot, sometimes with a little mucus from the cervix. If the color is too bright red for several consecutive months, it may indicate uterine fibroids; if there are blood clots in the menstrual blood, it indicates blood stasis and requires blood-activating methods; if the menstrual blood is thin, it indicates blood deficiency and requires blood-tonifying methods.
Menstrual cycle duration: The normal menstrual cycle lasts 5-7 days. If it shortens to 3-4 days or even 2-3 days by age 30 or 40, it indicates premature menopause, which is a serious endocrine disorder. It is necessary to adjust the endocrine system in time; otherwise, menopause will occur in 1-2 years.
Menstrual flow: Normal menstrual flow is between 80-100 ml. Generally, the flow is lighter on the first day of menstruation, heaviest on the 2nd-3rd day, and gradually decreases from the 4th day until it is completely stopped on the 6th or 7th day. If menstruation is intermittent or barely perceptible after it begins, it is a typical sign of endocrine imbalance and needs to be addressed promptly.
Menstrual cycle: A normal menstrual cycle is 28-35 days. Although it varies from person to person, the length of each month should be roughly the same—28 days is 28 days, 30 days is 30 days. Occasionally, a delay or advancement of a week is considered normal. It is particularly important to note that if you experience non-menstrual bleeding three times within six months, you should have an ultrasound examination immediately. This is the most typical early symptom of uterine fibroids and should not be ignored.
Premenstrual syndrome (PMS): During menstruation, women may experience symptoms such as lower back pain, abdominal pain, and irritability. Some women still in puberty may also experience vomiting, cold hands and feet, and unbearable menstrual cramps. This is PMS. Generally, PMS should gradually lessen after adulthood. If there are still significant symptoms after age 30, especially after childbirth, it may be a sign of endocrine imbalance.
Women's unique physiological structure causes them to bleed once a month, so it's easy to understand why they need to replenish their Qi and blood. This is especially true for those who experience pale complexion, cold hands and feet, scanty menstruation, or even blood clots in their menstrual blood—these are typical signs of blood deficiency and blood stasis. The most effective remedy for replenishing Qi and blood is "Siwu Tang" (Four-Substance Decoction). "Siwu Tang" consists of four Chinese herbs: Angelica sinensis, Rehmannia glutinosa, Paeonia lactiflora, and Ligusticum chuanxiong. It's a classic formula for addressing blood deficiency and blood stasis in women. Taking 2-3 doses during the menstrual period, depending on individual circumstances, will quickly alleviate symptoms such as cold hands and feet and scanty menstruation, and will also rapidly improve complexion, making it rosy and radiant.
Menstrual bleeding is a normal physiological phenomenon. Generally, most people don't need to deliberately replenish their blood. On the contrary, endocrine disorders are more common among women. Traditional Chinese medicine has stated that, by its standards, almost 100% of women over 30 years old today have varying degrees of endocrine disorders. It notes that 20-30 years ago, although resources were scarce, women's skin was better than it is now. This is indeed true; how many women over 30 today dare to go out without makeup? When media reports on a celebrity's beauty, netizens often quip: "Try going makeup-free!" Medically speaking, from puberty to menopause, a woman's appearance and even health are largely controlled by her endocrine system. Every woman knows that her skin starts to deteriorate in the week before her period, reaching its worst point the day before menstruation begins, and peaking in the two weeks following menstruation. Then, the skin gradually becomes rougher again, preparing for the next menstrual cycle. This is the most typical manifestation of the endocrine system's influence on the skin.
Hormonal imbalances can cause menstrual irregularities in mild cases, and more severe cases can lead to dull skin, enlarged pores, and even age spots. In the most severe cases, it can cause breast cysts, uterine fibroids, or infertility. For simple menstrual irregularities, evening primrose oil can be taken. If symptoms such as dull skin, enlarged pores, and age spots are also present, Yaoyuan Baochun capsules should be taken. Both evening primrose oil and Yaoyuan Baochun capsules generally regulate menstruation within one or two menstrual cycles, and the skin becomes smooth and radiant – a smoothness and radiance that cannot be achieved by spending money at a beauty salon. As for breast cysts and uterine fibroids, these are the result of long-term hormonal imbalances. If one's endocrine system remains relatively balanced, the chances of developing cysts and fibroids will naturally decrease significantly.
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