This is a yin and blood building time, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, which is well-illustrated by the growth of new endometrial tissue. Skin-related issues can be a real nuisance and may affect your confidence in social settings. THERE ARE FOUR phases that make up the menstrual cycle (which lasts an average of 28 days), each with a different purpose. Caution is warranted when interpreting cholesterol and triglyceride blood test results that traverse menstrual cycle phases. Acupuncture helps fertility by balancing the energy within the body. The journey to parenthood may not always be smooth sailing for couples facing fertility issues. As blood collects or stagnates in the uterus, signs of qi stagnation may be experienced such as emotional mood swings, irritability, depression, distended and painful breasts, cramps before or during the period, among other symptoms. And heat. Each phase supports the one that follows, and in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which I practice as a licensed acupuncturist and herbalist, herbs are believed to be warming or cooling, and can also be used to move qi (the body’s life force). Decreased Qi (which can be thought of as a form of energy), not enough blood, heat in the blood, and cold in the body can lead to blood stasis. The time around ovulation is the time to move qi and blood (and warm the yang, if deficient). Depending on where you fall in the colour spectrum, you’ll be able to understand your body better and allow the TCM physicians to prescribe necessary treatments specific to your fertility concerns. This is the second post in a series of three. Though soup is a great choice during this time, as are all Spleen-nourishing foods and activities. In addition to flow irregularities, menstrual blood can run the spectrum of hues, from watery pink, crimson red, bright red, dark red and even dark purplish red. Conversely, if your basal body temperatures are too low, your menstrual blood can take on a darker red colour. Consider Stasis in the Lower Palace formula with Free and Easy Wanderer formula. Women with very dark menstrual blood may have difficulties with fertility and conceiving, and may also put the mother at a greater risk for clotting problems that can affect the placenta in pregnancy. This biomedical explanation of what is happening overlaps nicely with the Traditional Chinese Medicine theory of the menstrual cycle. Need TCM treatment but unable to make it to the clinic? TCM fertility treatment can assist to nourish and tonify the blood to ensure the endometrial lining is thick and blood-rich in order for embryo implantation to take place for a successful pregnancy. BBT is low. If you find that your symptoms are aggravated during this phase, there is a good chance that an underlying blood and/or yin deficiency needs to be addressed. And on and on and on. Confinement can be a particularly stressful period as you have to take care of the baby while your body is recovering from the toils of the delivery process. Why is that? If your basal body temperatures are too high in the early part of your cycle (above 36.6 °C), your blood will have a tendency to be brighter than normal. From a TCM perspective, pale red blood with watery consistency usually comes from a deficiency in Spleen Qi. The word “yin” is associated with growth, form, and substance. #18-11/12 (via Lobby F), Some patients report that they feel the strongest, mentally and physically, around ovulation. Singapore 828761. Well, first of all, the liver channel runs through the pelvis and through the uterus. The following are common menstrual blood odors: Metallic. Blood phase (menstrual phase) is during days 1-7. What the Colour of Your Period Tells About Your Health and Fertility. I had one patient say to me once: “I feel like the sky is falling. Below is a list of frequently asked questions about menstrual cycles and blood thinners. TCM treatments help to improve blood circulation and boost oxygen supply to the brain and also helps to dissipate blood clots for faster recovery. If you haven’t read the first one yet, here it is. Wildwood | 83 India Street, Portland ME 04101, as are all Spleen-nourishing foods and activities, The Menstrual Cycle According to Biomedicine, Are You Bloated Most of the Time? In small amounts, the following are potent qi movers: horseradish, wasabi, coffee, red wine, citrus, and vinegar (mmmm… pickles). Acupuncture and herbs can help with both. Heavy menstrual bleeding and prolonged menstrual cycles can also be indications of Blood Stagnation. Etc. WTF, LIVER??!!! Vitamin D. Vitamin D levels can also be affected by cycle phase—in fact, vitamin D has consistently shown to be higher during a woman's period than other phases of the menstrual cycle… If you were already blood deficient to begin with, the first couple days after your period ends can leave you feeling depleted and exhausted. On the other hand, if your period arrives later than your date, this may be an indication of blood deficiency or blood stagnation. Also a good time for friends who are nice and funny and like to feed you. Actually, no. Children have vastly different body constitutions from adults and are prone to falling sick due to weaker immune systems. If you haven’t noticed, the liver seems to be implicated in most problems involving menstruation and the menstrual cycle. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) can work as a complement to IVF and IUI or as an alternative treatment to improve your chances of conceiving. The menstrual cycle can be broken down into four main phases. If you have a heavy period on blood thinners, please talk to your doctor. TCM treatments are effective in restoring your health to optimal levels by treating the symptoms and fortifying your body on a holistic level. Any form of blood stagnation in the uterus can lead to clots. Qi stagnation in this case can be summed up as pre-menstrual syndrome. I’ve also heard more than a few reports that sexual desire tends to increase during this part of the cycle. Ironically, the foods we often crave during this time are not the foods that are best for us. 290 Orchard Road, The Liver energetic organ system (TCM) stores and manages menstrual Blood. People who suffer from these types of menstrual cramps respond well to a formula called Tao Hong Si Wu Tang (Four Substance Tea with Safflower and Peach) which should be taken for the first 3 days of the period. IV. The Chicken Little anxiety that you wake up with one day and carry with you all day long. Ongoing stress in woman’s life can create Liver Qi and Liver Blood Stagnation with symptoms of dark blood clots and brown blood at the start … If it does, I’ll punch it.”. Just prior to the onset of menstrual blood flow, most women have light to moderate pain related to the period and some have severe pain (typically related to Premenstrual Syndrome - PMS in biomedicine and Liver Qi Stagnation in TCM ). If you tend to get Incredibly Hulky before your period starts, check out my post on how to help with that underlying liver qi stagnation. Chinese Motherwort (Yi Mu Cao) is a traditional herb to regulate menstrual cycle and provide relief from PMS symptoms. In clinic, I find that the patients who feel this way about the follicular phase are those who struggle with milder cases of blood deficiency, which means that their period doesn’t leave them feeling vampiric – in other words, it makes perfect sense that they would feel best while their slight deficiency rectifies itself as their blood and yin gain strength. Common causes of pale blood include being anaemic, eating an imbalanced diet, or poor digestion/absorption of nutrients. This warming and drying phase of menstruation is considered the yang part of the cycle. Blood stagnation causes sharp stabbing pain and is accompanied by dark menstrual blood with clots. The syndrome occurs when the flow of blood is blocked or becomes static. Lack of blood disrupts the smooth flow that is associated with elasticity of tissue and emotional flexibility. Some indicators are consistent energy day-to-day, a healthy menstrual cycle, and absence of any heat imbalance (e.g., cold hands and feet and heat in other parts of the body). Eating too many cold and raw foods, surrounding yourself in a cold damp environment, exposing your feet, abdomen and lower back to cold, swimming during the menstrual period or even swimming in cold pools in general are some examples of things that can cause cold & blood stasis in the uterus. Singapore 119082, 83 Punggol Central, Trauma can lead to decrease in blood flow. For a 28-day cycle: 1. If your menstrual blood is watery or pink, you may have difficulty making enough red blood cells or they may not contain enough iron. A: When the initial symptoms of blood deficiency and/or stagnation are no longer present. A member of Thomson Medical Group. #02-27, To add insult to injury, stagnation that “sits around for too long” will create heat and make everything worse. (Blood clots are common when one’s blood is stagnant). This may be accompanied by feeling thirsty, sore throat, yellow vaginal discharge or pelvic pain. Also, know that acupuncture is SUPER EFFECTIVE for this kind of thing. Do your best to limit excess amounts of cow dairy, eggs, hot spices, poor quality fats, refined sugar, poor quality animal protein, and excess alcohol. Doctors of Traditional Chinese Medicine recognized the importance of a “warm” womb long ago; in fact, a “cold womb” or “cold in the uterus” is a diagnosis that is treated in order to increase fertility. In TCM, the blood is the basis of a woman’s makeup hence the colour of the period can be used as a guide for fertility. Over time waste and blood stagnates and collects to form masses, which damage blood vessels causing further progression of the Blood Stagnation pattern along with an accumulation of fluids and blood in the local area. The qi and blood moving foods listed above (in the section on ovulation) are also appropriate during this time. The menstrual cycle is like a tide of Yin and Yang: the “water” of this tide is the substance of the Kidneys in its Yin and Yang aspect. The Key feature is the dark, clotted menstrual blood and the purple colour of the tongue. In some cases, the blood may present as dark purplish red and usually come with large clots, intense, sharp, stabbing cramps and heavy flow. This is the best time for long walks and Yin/ Restorative yoga. Environment toxins not only affects the respiratory function in qi transportation, but also causes toxins accumulated in the liver that distort the qi and blood flow, leading to qi and blood stagnation and disturbing the normal process of menstrual cycle. And don’t forget – no matter where you are in your cycle, acupuncture and herbs are invaluable in regards to maintaining balance. This can also show up as painful menstrual period, delayed menstruation with dark purple clots, pale tongue, and a pulse that feels deep and slow. Symptoms: Heavy menstruation, the coloration of the menstrual blood is bright-red and the blood is more viscous, constipation, general heat symptoms and rapid pulse. Stagnant blood problems may be causeed by external pathogens, inappropriate treatment of haemorrhage, traumatic injury, stagnation of Qi, or retention of the lochia following childbirth. For most women, menstruation begins between ages 12 and 13.You may bleed in what’s commonly called a “period” every 21 to 35 days or so.. d) Blood stagnation Symptoms: Irregular menstruation, significant amount of blood clots during menstruation, the coloration of the menstrual blood is dark red, menstrual cramps, and dark spots at the sides of the tongue. Static blood is characterized by localized, fixed, sharp, stabbing, or lancinating pain. Treatments A. There is no need to worry unless the bleeding becomes heavier or if it is accompanied by cramps. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner. Why period blood varies in color. Once your period starts, it’s best to stay rested and comfortable. Treatment during this time is to regulate menstruation only if it needs support or regulating ... Liver qi and blood stagnation: Qi moves the blood. This can also be due to Liver Qi stagnation, where the smooth flow of Qi is impeded. Stay informed with the latest breaking news from Wildwood. Copyright © Thomson Chinese Medicine. TCM can help to activate the Qi and blood flow, warm the meridians and dispel the cold to increase the chances of fertility. From the TCM perspective, pain arises due to congestion of Qi and Blood or deficiencies in the body. Your menstrual period starts when hormones trigger your body to start shedding the uterine lining, exposing small blood vessels and causing them to bleed. These are questions that I have asked myself, and that I hear a lot. (originally published in Maine Women Magazine Early April 2020), Living in Season According to Chinese Medicine, MidCoast Lyme Disease Support and Education. From a biomedical perspective, the rise in progesterone slightly warms the uterus and dries up the cervical fluid to help provide an opportune environment for an embryo to implant. If your blood flow decreases then Blood Stagnation develops. Taking an informed look at the colour of your menstrual blood is one of the first steps towards healthy fertility. The following foods can help move qi and blood: turmeric, ginger, basil, nutmeg, rosemary, mint,  cardamon, cumin, fennel, eggplant, beet, onions, garlic, mustard greens, and sprouted grains. This powerful herb works to stimulating blood flow if you are experiencing amenorrhea, promote the functioning of fertility organs and soothe blood stagnation. Problems/complaints that arise during this time often indicate a qi and/or yang deficiency, though the one that we see most in clinic involves an underling liver qi stagnation. The belief in TCM is that all the organs in our body are interrelated to one another and are connected internally and externally. Skin being the body’s largest and most visible organ, is closely related to the Lung and problems usually arise from various internal imbalances. In such cases, you may have symptoms such as PMS, breast tenderness, irritability and the tendency to get stressed easily. With herbs Be it for yourself, an elderly or your unwell child, our physicians can now treat you in the comfort and convenience of your preferred location island-wide. If your menstrual blood is bright red your body temperature may be affecting the quality of the blood. Q: Since I am on blood thinners, I can expect a heavier period, right? This is to prevent your menstrual blood from clotting as they are being shed. Find out how TCM can help nourish and restore your body’s balance during this crucial period. When blood stasis signs are accompanied by cold limbs, which are made better upon warming, this is due to stagnation in major blood vessels as is the case in Deep Vein Thrombosis (DVT). On average, the cycle length is between 28 to 35 days and the flow should require roughly 1 regular pad every 3 to 4 hours. What is the bottom line? When the blood is moving faster than the anticoagulants can be produced, however, clots can form. During your period, there’s a sharp fall in estrogen and progesterone levels and the uterine lining is shed. Since the liver is in charge of  the ‘push’ that will start menstruation, any underlying constraint will deter this outward movement and cause the qi and blood to further stagnate. High body temperature also interrupts the timing of ovulation, which negatively affects your fertility. Stroke causes oxygen-deprivation in parts of the brain, resulting in damage to brain cells and affecting abilities controlled by those areas of the brain. TCM combines gentle paediatric massage and herbal treatments to improve your child’s delicate constitution and build up their resistance against illnesses. Replenishes Blood to replace loss of Blood stores, gently invigorates Blood, calms the Shen. The bad skin and the bad hair. 6. Similar to the days before your period, any problems that arise during the beginning of menstruation (cramps, headaches, emotional instability) usually indicate underlying qi and blood stagnation. Dark red blood with clots indicates that there is liver qi stagnation The liver system is responsible for regulating the flow of qi and blood throughout the body and any interruption in the smooth flow of qi can lead to symptoms of stagnation around the period especially cramps, headaches, and breast pain. During your period, you are not only losing blood, but you are also shedding your endometrium lining, so it is normal to see some small pea-sized blood clots as well. If you always feel weak and unwell, but medical reports indicate that you do not have any serious ailments, you may be in a state known as “Sub-health”. However, problems that arise at the end of the period (fatigue, shortness of breath, muscle weakness, anxiety, lack of appetite) usually indicate qi and blood deficiency. Then there are the little ‘subtle’ things, like the appetite from hell and road rage. You need enough density of red blood cells to make healthy blood. Thomson Chinese Medicine is a TCM clinic in Singapore that is a member of the Thomson Medical Group. Similar to the days before your period, any problems that arise during the beginning of menstruation (cramps, headaches, emotional instability) usually indicate underlying qi and blood stagnation. Supports the natural movement in the Chong and Ren channels and the flushing of the uterus. However, problems that arise at the end of the period (fatigue, shortness of breath, muscle weakness, anxiety, lack of appetite) usually indicate qi and blood deficiency. While this blood is waiting in your uterus to pass through the cervixand vagina during menstruation, your body produces anticoagulants to help break the blood and tissue down so you can pass it more easily. In addition to flow irregularities, menstrual blood can run the spectrum of hues, from watery pink, crimson red, bright red, dark red and even dark purplish red. Period blood can … This may just be an implantation bleeding. See The Menstrual Cycle According to Biomedicine for the last post in this series. TCM fertility physicians in Singapore may remind their patients that for a woman, menstrual blood can be an important gauge for their health and fertility. Low body temperatures can cause sluggishness in the uterine blood circulation and contraction of uterine smooth muscles hence you may experience cramps or have more blood clots. The exact timing of these phases varies between every woman, and can change over time or due to external factors such as stress. Those magic needles can soothe the Hulk and transform him (her) back into the socially withdrawn and emotionally reserved Brucie Banner IN NO TIME AT ALL!!! Period blood can have different odors based on numerous factors. Stagnation of Liver qi over a long period … If there is any underlying qi stagnation, ovulation can cause acute cramps (called “mittelschmerz”, which is German for middle pain), or present with a flare of liver heat (which often manifests as irritability, stomach pain, reflux, headaches). When blood is expelled too quickly, the anticoagulant released is unable to thin most of the blood. Although acupuncture and Traditional Chinese Medicine have become more popular and accepted in modern time, it has been around approximately 3,500 years and is one of the widely recognised forms of alternative medicine used worldwide. Aetiology of Liver Blood Stasis – How You Get this! Jade Moon Phase 1, Invigorate Yang is released and transformed into yin through a healthy menstrual flow. Both acupuncture and Chinese herbs are utilised to preserve health, prevent illness and rebuild vitality to the body. Both menstrual Blood and all other Blood in the body are precious fluids; however, menstrual Blood stems directly from the Kidney (Essence and Water). Singapore 238859, 1 Lower Kent Ridge Road, In traditional Chinese medicine, blood stagnation is commonly linked to a wide variety of heart and menstrual irregularities. TCM treatments help to ease the blockage of Qi and Blood, triggering your body’s self-healing ability. Does that mean you should withdraw from society and eat soup for 3 days? Most of the time, these seemingly unrelated issues can be attributed to underlying liver qi stagnation. This can manifest as migraines, headaches, flares of rage, an especially “hot” type of insomnia (wake up suddenly and feel hot and irritable, then eventually fall back asleep, repeat). I jokingly refer to the days before bleeding as The Hulks. Generally speaking, this is the qi and yang building period, and a good time to do what you can to help your qi move smoothly (exercise that brings your heart rate up is an efficient and easy way to do this). Don’t be alarmed if you find yourself spotting pale red blood for 1 or 2 days during mid-cycle. Blood is moving and it relies on the free flow of Qi (energy) and blood. Thankfully, these complaints often disappear as soon as menstruation begins; in fact, the onset of menstruation often feels like falling backwards into a cool pool of relief after being tied to a spit for a couple of days (see the biomedical theory of why this happens here). When trying to get pregnant, it can be surprising how much there is to learn about your menstrual cycle, fertility, and ovulation that you didn’t know about beforehand. Mixed into menstrual blood are also tiny bits … The chong meridian is empty at that time. Also, the colour of the blood should ideally be crimson red. On the other hand, if your period arrives later than your date, this may be an indication of blood deficiency or blood stagnation. All of those things have potential to further stagnate the liver and create dampness. These imbalances are often due to toxin build up, Lung heat, Stomach heat, heat in the Blood, Blood or Yin deficiency. This negatively affects the delivery of nutrients to the cells, and the removal of waste from the cells. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, “yang” is associated with the words warmth, activity, and energy. Some patients find that they enjoy this phase the most, and report that they are more likely to feel balanced and energetic. For menstrual and fertility concerns, schedule an appointment with us today. which slows blood flow over time and can result in Qi and blood stagnation. During heavy periods or abnormal period, blood is expelled quickly, than the anticoagulant can handle. TCM Education Center > List of conditions > Menstrual cramps The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. As the Spleen’s job is to turn nutrients from food into Qi and blood, a weak Spleen will be unable to produce enough blood for a proper period. Also, any type of stress will cause liver “depression” (the liver loses it’s ability to maintain the free flow of qi and blood and stagnation results). Just before starting your period, your body temperature will drop, signalling the beginning part of the yin phase of your cycle. And it may be the first time you ask yourself: Is my period normal? Eventually, your period will start, and the cycle of transformation renews itself. In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), if your period arrives earlier than expected, it is considered that the heat is causing reckless movement of your blood and the Qi is unable to govern that blood you need to expel. Yes! Make sure to get plenty of nutrients during this part of your cycle; foods that nourish blood and yin are especially helpful. The most common cause of blood stasis is Qi deficiency because Qi moves the blood. Interested in news about Wildwood, health tips, and clinic discounts? During ovulation, your body temperature spikes and the body moves from the yin phase into the yang phase.
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