Plant Ecology and TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine) - Lecture Notes

Introduction

• Focus on plant ecology and TCM, with an emphasis on women's health.
• Experience with TCM in treating various women's health issues: fertility, pregnancy, menopause.
• Aim: To understand and utilize TCM in treating women's health problems.
• Divided into three parts to facilitate understanding.
• Lecturer's trademark: Matching PowerPoint colors with outfit.

Topics Covered

1. Introduction to Gynecology and TCM
2. Women's Physiology in TCM
3. Menstruation
4. Fertility and Pregnancy
5. Menopause
6. Causes of Imbalance in Women's Bodies
7. Prevention of Health Issues in Women with TCM
8. Comparison of Male and Female Physiology in TCM

Women's Physiology in TCM

• Women more associated with yin (blood), men with yang (Qi).
• Women prone to blood stasis/deficiency; men to Qi stagnation (e.g., liver Qi rising).
• Eight vs. Seven Life Cycle:
  • Men: rooted in the number 8 (e.g., teenagers at 16, optimal reproduction at 32).
  • Women: rooted in the number 7 (e.g., teenagers at 14, optimal reproduction at 28).

Organs and Their Roles

• Women: Spleen, Liver, Kidney, Heart.
  • Spleen: Produces blood, prevents uterine prolapse.
  • Liver: Stores blood, moves Qi.
  • Kidney: Essence and root for reproductive health.
  • Heart: Blood circulation.
• Men: Mainly Liver and Kidney.

Extraordinary Meridians and Their Role

• Ren Meridian: Sea of all yin meridians, controls hormones and reproductive organs.
• Du Meridian: Sea of all yang meridians, controls movement fire, vital for conception.
• Chong Meridian: Carries blood and essence, regulates menstruation.
• Dai Meridian: Girdle meridian, prevents prolapse.

Menstruation in TCM

• Menarche: Normal onset 12-15 years. Early onset indicates spleen deficiency; late onset indicates kidney deficiency.
• Cycle Length: Normal is 26-32 days, duration should be 4-6 days. Blood should be dark red, no clots, no pain, no PMS.

Uterus and Organ Relationship in TCM

• Spleen: Produces blood, prevents uterine prolapse.
• Liver: Moves Qi, stores blood.
• Kidney: Stores essence, vital for reproduction.
• Heart: Circulates blood.
• Stomach: Connects to uterus via Chong meridian, important for breastfeeding.

Diagnosis in TCM: Menstrual Blood

• Color:
  • Bright red: Heat in blood.
  • Pink/light: Blood deficiency.
  • Purple: Blood stasis.
  • Dark burgundy: Blood stasis with internal cold.
  • Crimson red: Yin deficiency.
  • Watery: Yang deficiency.
• Consistency:
  • Clots: Indicate blood stasis or cold.
  • Stringy clots: Damp/phlegm.
• Pain Patterns:
  • Before menstruation: Qi stagnation.
  • Beginning of menstruation: Blood stasis.
  • End of menstruation: Blood deficiency.

Basic Treatment Principles: Menstruation in TCM

• During Menses: Move or stop bleeding.
• Post-Menses: Nourish blood and kidney yin.
• Ovulatory Mid-Cycle: Nourish essence, tonify kidney yang, harmonize Chong and Ren meridians.
• Pre-Menses: Move liver Qi gently, avoid inducing sweating.

Herbal Formulas in TCM

• Post-Menses: Nourish blood with formulas (Soo-dong, Ba zhen tang, Gui pi tang).
• Ovulatory Cycle: Tonify kidney essence (You gui wan, Zuo gui wan).
• Pre-Menstruation: Move liver Qi (Chai hu shu gan san, Xiao yao san).

Vaginal Discharge in TCM

• Color and Consistency:
  • White, thin: Damp-cold.
  • Yellow: Damp-heat or phlegm heat.
  • Green: Liver damp-heat.
  • Yellow with pus: Toxic heat.
  • Watery: Yang deficiency.
  • Thick, sticky: Damp-heat.
  • No smell: Cold.
  • Strong smell: Excess heat.

Conclusion

• Upcoming parts will cover conception, fertility, pregnancy, and menopause.
• Aim: Use TCM to improve patient's health, one patient at a time.