Dysmenorrhea (painful menstruation) means that women
have periodic pain during or prior to or after menstrual period in the lower abdomen
or even faint in severe cases. It has been customary to classify cases of dysmenorrhea
into two main groups: primary or functional dysmenorrhea referring to the one
which is not caused by organic diseases, and secondary dysmenorrhea referring
to the one caused by organic diseases in reproductive system.
Main Points
of Diagnosis
1. The pain in the lower abdomen appears with menstrual cycle.
2. The pain can spread over the whole abdomen, lumbosacral region or there
is dragging pain in the vulva and anus. It varies in degrees and can be relieved
when the menstrual blood flows smoothly.
3. Gynecological examination: Those
without organic diseases in the pelvic cavity are primary dysmenorrhea; those
with organic diseases in the pelvic cavity are secondary dysmenorrhea.
Differentiation
and Treatment of Common Syndromes
1. Blood Stasis due to Stagnation of Qi
Main Symptoms and Signs: Distending pain and tenderness in the lower abdomen
one or two days prior to or during menstruation accompanied with fullness sensation
in the chest, hypochondrium and breast, deep-purple blood with clots, relief of
pain after discharge of clots, ecchymoses on the tongue edges, string-like pulse.
Therapeutic Principle: Regulating the flow of qi and removing blood stasis
to alleviate the pain.
Recipe: Modified Decoction for Dissipating Blood Stasis
Under Diaphragm.
Chinese angelica root
ligusticum root
red peony root
peach
kernel
safflower
bitter orange
corydalis tuber
trogopterus dung
Sichuan
chinaberry
lindera root
nutgrass flatsedge rhizome
All the above herbs
are to be decocted in water for oral administration.
2. Stagnancy of Cold
and Dampness
Main Symptoms and Signs: Distending pain in the lower abdomen
several days prior to or during menstruation, which can be relieved by warmth,
menstrual flow scanty in amount, dark in color and with clots, pale tongue with
white and greasy fur, deep and tense pulse.
Therapeutic Principle: Warming
the channels and expelling dampness to arrest pain.
Recipe: Modified Decoction
for Removing Blood Stagnation in the Lower Abdomen.
common fennel fruit
cinnamon
bark
red peony root
Chinese angelica root
ligusticum root
corydalis
tuber
myrrh
cat-tail pollen
trogopterus dung
poria
All the above
herbs are to be decocted in water for oral administration.
For those with
lassitude in loins and legs and excreting copious clear urine, omit poria and
add 6 grams of prepared aconite root and 9 grams of argyi leaf.
3. Deficiency
of Both Qi and Blood
Main Symptoms and Signs: Vague pain in the lower abdomen
during or 1-2 days after menstruation which can be relieved by pressing, scanty
menstruation with reddish and thin blood, accompanied with lack of vitality and
asthenia, pale tongue with white and thin fur, thready and weak pulse.
Therapeutic
Principle: Invigorating qi and enriching the blood to alleviate pain.
Recipe:
Modified Dysmenorrhea-Healing Decoction.
ginseng
astragalus root
Chinese
angelica root
ligusticum root
prepared rehmannia root
white peony root
nutgrass
flatsedge rhizome
corydalis tuber
Decoct the above herbs in water for oral
administration.
Dr. Ming's TCM Medical Center,
Hua Xi Xiao Yuan, Hutian
Developing Area,
Huaihua city, Hunan province
China