Understanding the symptoms of vulvar leukoplakia and vulvar pain from the perspective of traditional Chinese medicine

Vulvar leukoplakia is a disease caused by nutritional deficiency of the vulva. As the disease progresses, patients may experience varying degrees of vulvar pain symptoms. The characteristics of the pain vary depending on the different syndromes of traditional Chinese medicine.

Liver Qi Stagnation Type

Liver qi is stagnant, and if it is blocked, it will cause pain. Patients experience paroxysmal pain in the vagina during sexual intercourse, which may even radiate to the sides of the lower abdomen and the inner side of the lower limbs. They are often accompanied by irritability, chest and flank pain, dizziness, headache, insomnia, red tongue, thin white fur, and tight pulse. Treatment should be aimed at soothing the liver and regulating qi, unblocking the meridians and relieving pain.

Liver depression and fire type

Liver qi stagnation for a long time turns into fire. This type of patients often have burning pain in the genitals, short yellow urine, dry mouth, red face and eyes, irritability, distension and pain in the flanks, red tongue with thin yellow fur, and thin pulse. Treatment should be to clear the liver and release heat, soothe the liver and regulate qi. Dietary therapy can include Jieyuxiang aged wine, bergamot fennel, Shouwu cornus fruit boiled eggs, etc.

Liver and kidney yin deficiency

Patients often experience vaginal dryness and pain or even a burning sensation in the vagina, and may also be accompanied by dizziness, tinnitus, dry mouth and throat, yellow urine and dry stools, red tongue with little coating, and a stringy, thin and rapid pulse. Treatment should be aimed at tonifying the kidney and liver, nourishing yin and moistening dryness.

Damp-heat type

Most patients with vulvar leukoplakia of damp-heat type have already developed an infection and feel pain in the vagina, accompanied by a large amount of vaginal discharge, which is yellow like pus or foamy rice water with a fishy odor, as well as symptoms such as irritability and insomnia, a bitter and greasy taste in the mouth, yellow and red urine or burning pain in the urethra, a yellow tongue coating, and a slippery and rapid pulse.