Heavy Periods

Diagnosis of Heavy Periods:

The amount of menstrual bleeding is significantly increased during period to around or over 100 ml/day (normal 30-80ml). Although, there may be a regular, early, or late cycle.

Colour of Menstrual Blood – pale, dark, or purple red.

Consistency of Menstrual Blood – thick sticky, or, thin, or clotted. Sometimes there may be pain.

Etiology (causes) of Heavy Periods:

1. Qi deficiency - Spleen Qi deficiency = can’t keep blood in vessels = heavy bleeding. Long term Heart and Spleen deficiency (both Qi and blood), or Spleen and Kidney Qi deficiency (can cause Yang deficiency cold)

2. excess Heat – whole body dry Heat (spicy foods, Liver Qi stagnation turns to heat, or exterior Wind/Heat invasion), Heat enters blood = heavy bleeding

3. deficiency Heat – Yin deficiency, or febrile late stage turns to deficiency Heat, work in high temperatures can also lead to deficiency Heat, long term emotional stress consumes Yin fluids, excess sex injures Yin-Essence. Deficiency Heat attacks Ren and Chong = heavy bleeding.

4. Blood Stasis – emotional depression leads to Qi stagnation which leads to Blood stasis. During menses or after delivery it is easy to be attacked by Cold which may cause Blood Stasis.

Abortions, or after surgery that was not quite done careful enough may create toxic local Heat = Blood stasis in Ren and Chong, this keeps old blood in the uterus which then mixes with new blood = heavy bleeding (with pain) 

Chinese Medicine Differentiation and Treatment of Heavy Periods:

Qi deficiency pale-red to normal blood colour, thin watery, clotted, T-pale P-thin-weak Plus – Spleen Qi deficiency symptoms (see Appendix 1)

Principle of Treatment: – nourish mid-Jiao Qi, keep blood in Chong Mai

Herbal Medicine Formula:– Gui Pi Tang

excess Heat in Blood VERY heavy, bright-red, sticky-thick, blood feels warm, maybe clots, low abdominal distension relieved when blood comes, T-red with yellow coat P-rapid-slippery Plus – excess Heat symptoms (see Appendix 1)

Principle of Treatment: – Clear Heat – cool blood to stop bleeding

Herbal Medicine Formula: Shu Yu Qing Gan Yin

deficiency Heat Yin deficiency leads to hyper Yang with deficiency Fire, deep-red sticky blood, prolonged cycle (i.e.: 70 days), early period is common, T-red w/ scanty coat P-thin-rapid Plus – Yin deficiency symptoms (see Appendix 1)

Principle of Treatment: – nourish Yin, clear deficiency Heat to stop bleeding

Herbal Medicine Formula:– Bao Yin Jian

Blood Stasis dark purple blood with clots, low abdomen excess pain that subsides when clots pass, T-purple dots P-uneven Plus – Blood Stasis symptoms (see Appendix 1)

Principle of Treatment: – promote circulation, remove Stasis to stop bleeding.

Herbal Medicine Formula:– Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang (low Jiao)