Irregular menstruation refers to abnormal changes of cycle and quantity of menstruation. The changes of cycle manifest in early menstruation, delayed menstruation, irregular menstruation and menostaxis, etc. The changes in quantity manifest in profuse menstruation and scanty menstruation.
Irregular menstruation is often due to emotional factors, or attack by exogenous, cold, heat and dampness in Chinese Medicine that impair the chong and conception vessels and affect the functions of the viscera and the balance between qi and blood as well as that between yin and yang. Clinically changes of cycle and quantity usually appear simultaneous in irregular menstruation. Early menstruation is usually profuse and delayed menstruation is often scanty. Syndrome differentiation of irregular menstruation for deciding treatment is based on the period, quantity, color and nature of menses as well as the conditions of the tongue and pulse.
Treatment based on Syndrome Differentiation:
Early Menstruation:
-Syndrome of Liver Stagnation and Blood Heat (Blood Heat Syndrome) -> tx: soothing the liver, clearing away heat and regulating menstruation; Formula: Danzhi Xiaoyao San
-Syndrome of Predominant Yang and Blood Heat (Blood Heat Syndrome) -> tx: clearing away heat, cooling blood and regulating menstruation; Formula: Qingjing San
-Syndrome of Yin Deficiency and Blood Heat (Blood Heat Syndrome) -> tx: nourishing yin, clearing away heat and regulating menstruation; Formula: Liangdi Tang
-Qi Deficiency syndrome -> tx: nourishing qi and supplementing the spleen, controlling blood circulation and regulating menstruation; Formula: Buzhong Yiqi Tang
Delayed Menstruation:
-Blood Deficiency syndrome -> tx: supplementing blood, nourishing qi and regulating menstruation; Formula: Dabuyuan Jian
-Cold Deficiency syndrome -> tx: supporting yang, eliminating cold and regulating menstruation; Formula: Aifu Nuangong Wan
-Blood Cold syndrome -> tx: warming meridians to dispel cold and regulating menstruation; Formula: Wenjing Tang
-Qi Stagnation syndrome -> tx: regulating qi and eliminating stagnation combined with activation of blood; Formula: Chaihu Shugan San
Irregularity of Menstrual Cycle:
-Liver Stagnation syndrome -> tx: soothing the liver and regulating qi, nourishing blood and regulating menstruation; Formula: Xiaoyao San
-Kidney Deficiency syndrome -> tx: nourishing the kidney and harmonizing the spleen, nourishing blood and regulating menstruation; Formula: Guishen Wan
Profuse Menorrhea
-Qi Deficiency syndrome -> tx: invigorating qi and lifting the sinking, controlling blood and strengthening the thoroughfare vessel; Formula: Juyuan Jian
-Blood Heat syndrome -> tx: clearing away heat and cooling blood, nourishing yin and stopping bleeding; Formula: Guijing Wan
Scanty Menstruation
-Blood Deficiency syndrome -> tx: nourishing blood, invigorating qi and regulating menstruation; Formula: Zixue Tang
-Kidney-Deficiency syndrome -> tx: reinforcing the kidney, nourishing blood and regulating menstruation; Formula: Guishen Wan
-Blood Stasis syndrome -> tx: activating blood to resolve stasis and nourishing blood to regulate menstruation; Formula: Taohong Siwu Tang
-Phlegm-Dampness syndrome -> tx: resolving phlegm, drying dampness and regulating menstruation; Formula: Cangfu Daotan Wan
