Treatment of Dysmenorrhea by TCM Syndrome Differentiation

Dysmenorrhea seriously disrupts women's normal life and work, and may even cause other serious gynecological diseases. Traditional Chinese medicine can effectively relieve dysmenorrhea through syndrome differentiation and analysis.

Weak Qi and blood

Analysis: Pain in the lower abdomen during or before and after menstruation, lighter menstrual color and less menstrual flow. Weakness in the waist and knees, fatigue, poor appetite, bloating in the flanks and abdomen, loose stools, dizziness and tinnitus, palpitations and shortness of breath, thin white tongue coating, fat tongue with teeth marks, and weak and deep pulse.

Treatment: The treatment should be aimed at invigorating Qi and nourishing blood, harmonizing the collaterals and relieving pain. The reference prescription is Bazhen Decoction combined with Taohong Siwu Decoction with modifications.

Medication: Astragalus, Codonopsis, Atractylodes, Poria, Rehmannia, White Peony, Cuscuta, Dioscorea, Licorice, Angelica, Peach Kernel, Safflower, Polygonatum, Chicken Gizzard Stone, etc.

Qi stagnation and blood stasis

Analysis: Stagnation of Qi and blood, pain if not flowing. The patient has abdominal pain and waist pain before or during menstruation, distension and pain in the lower abdomen that refuses to be pressed, distension and pain in the chest and flanks, irregular menstruation, purple and dark clots, pain and saltiness under the clots, normal cycle and menstrual volume, thin tongue coating, dark and ecchymotic tongue, and stringy pulse.

Treatment: The treatment should be aimed at regulating qi and activating blood circulation, removing blood stasis and relieving pain. The prescriptions of Chaihu Shugan San and Taohong Siwu Tang can be modified.

Medication: Medicinal bupleurum, cyperus rotundus, curcuma, toosendan fruit, angelica, ligusticum chuanxiong, peach kernel, safflower, raw rehmannia root, white peony root, eucommia bark, luffa loofah, rehmannia root, etc.

Cold and dampness stagnation

Analysis: The main symptom is cold pain in the abdomen, which is unbearable during or before and after menstruation, and is relieved by heat, pale complexion, cold sweats, and nausea.

Treatment: The treatment should be aimed at warming the meridians and dispelling cold, removing blood stasis and relieving pain. The prescription of choice is Danggui Sini Decoction with added ingredients.

Medication: Medicinal cassia twig, dried ginger, cinnamon, asarum, processed aconite, angelica, white peony, licorice, akebia, mugwort, fennel, cyperus, toosendan fruit, ligusticum chuanxiong, etc.