TCM Treatments for Dysmenorrhea

Introduction

• Presenter: Clara
• Topic: Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) views on dysmenorrhea (menstrual cramps)
• Focus: Causes, patterns, symptoms, and treatments (acupuncture, herbal formulas, food)
• Personal Note: Clara experienced dysmenorrhea herself, found relief in Chinese medicine.

Types of Dysmenorrhea

• **Primary Dysmenorrhea: **
  • Typically occurs in teenage girls during initial years of menstruation.
  • Commonly due to primary issues.
• Secondary Dysmenorrhea:
  • Associated with other conditions like endometriosis, fibroids, infections, uterine disorders.

Symptoms

• Range from mild to severe.
• Include low back pain, lower abdominal cramping, nausea, vomiting, severe pain, low energy, inability to participate in activities.

Western Treatments

• Over-the-counter medications, prescription drugs.
• Birth control methods (IUD, birth control pill) to mitigate pain.

TCM View on Causes

• External Pathogens: Cold and damp (can come from diet).
• Emotional Factors: Stress, trauma.
• Physical Causes: Overwork, intense intercourse.
• Associated Disorders: Endometriosis, fibroids, other uterine conditions.

TCM Patterns

Excess Patterns

• Qi and Blood Stagnation:
  • Stabbing, fixed pain, large clots, dark blood, PMS.
  • Tongue: Pink to purple; Pulse: Wiry.
• **Internal Cold: **
  • Stabbing pain, small dark clots, scanty blood, cold body parts.
  • Tongue: Bluish to pale; Pulse: Tight and choppy.
• Damp Heat:
  • Heavy, burning pain, sticky discharge, thirst, irritability.
  • Tongue: Yellow coat, red; Pulse: Slippery, rapid.
• Liver Qi Stagnation Turning into Fire:
  • Strong heat symptoms, dry stools, anger, heavy flow.
  • Tongue: Red with dry yellow coat; Pulse: Wiry, rapid.

Deficiency Patterns

• Qi and Blood Deficiency:
  • Dull hypogastric pain, better with massage, fatigue, pale face.
  • Tongue: Pale; Pulse: Weak, choppy.
• Spleen Yang Deficiency with Liver Blood Deficiency:
  • Dull pain, better with warmth and massage, cold body, dizziness.
  • Tongue: Swollen; Pulse: Deep, thin.
• Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency:
  • Dull pain, worse with heat, sore lower back, scanty red blood.
  • Tongue: Red with scanty coat; Pulse: Thin, rapid.

Treatment Approaches

Herbal Formulas

• Qi and Blood Stagnation: Tao Hong Si Wu Tang.
• Internal Cold: Yang Tong Formula.
• Damp Heat: Qing Re Tiao Chong Tang.
• Liver Qi Turning into Fire: Dan Zhi Xiao Yao San.
• Qi and Blood Deficiency: Ba Zhen Tang.
• Spleen Yang with Liver Blood Deficiency: Shen Ling Bai Zhu San.
• Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency: Liu Wei Di Huang Wan.

Acupuncture Points

• Qi and Blood Stagnation: Sp4 (right) + PC6 (left), Lv3, Sp6, St29, Sp10.
• Internal Cold: Lu7 (right) + KD6 (left), St28, CV4, CV6, Sp6 (with moxa).
• Damp Heat: Sp9, CV9, LI11, Sp10, Lv3, Bl32, Lu7 + Kd6.
• Liver Fire: Lv3, SJ6, LI11, Lv2, Sp8, Sp10, CV4, CV6, Lv14.
• Qi and Blood Deficiency: St36, Bl20, Bl17, Sp6, Bl18.
• Spleen Yang Deficiency with Liver Blood Deficiency: Lu7 + Kd6, Lv8.
• Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency: Bl18, Bl23, Sp6, Bl54, Bl32, Kd3.

Additional Treatments

• Ear Seeds: Liver, Spleen, Kidney, Sympathetic, Endocrine points.
• Plum Blossom Technique: Tap sacrum, useful for breaking down scar tissue, endometriosis treatment.
• Physical Exercise: Yoga, Tai Chi, Qigong, walking in nature.
• Diet Recommendations: Avoid inflammatory foods (alcohol, coffee, processed food, sugar), consume omega-3 fatty acids, use spices.
• Heat Application: Heating pad/moxa (only if no excess heat).
• Teas: Ginger, Turmeric, Cinnamon; Golden Milk.