CHAPTER 23 Body Aches at Period Time
The relationship between Blood and aches and pains in women accounts for many cases of rheumatic joint pains that resemble Painful Obstruction Syndrome (Bi) while, in reality, they are simply due to deficient Blood failing to nourish joints, sinews and muscles: these are examples of what Dr J H F Shen calls ‘not true Bi syndrome’. Such cases are extremely common in women, more so than in men, because of the close relationship between menstrual blood and body nourishment. The Standards of Diagnosis and Treatment (1602) by Wang Ken Tang says:
Menstrual Blood moves Qi and Blood, penetrates Yin and Yang, nourishes the body [so that] Qi and Blood flourish, Yin and Yang are harmonized hence the body functions well. If externally the nourishment by the Defensive Qi is lost and internally the irrigation by the Nutritive Qi and Blood is lacking, Qi and Blood become deficient and body aches develop during the periods.1
Aetiology
Excessive physical work, inadequate diet, chronic illness
Excessive physical work (including sports) injures the Spleen and therefore the muscles; by injuring the Spleen, it also leads to Qi and Blood deficiency (because the Spleen is the main source of Qi and Blood).
A diet lacking in nourishment and Blood-forming foods may lead to Qi and Blood deficiency. This happens when women follow too strict slimming diets or when young girls become vegetarian without a proper understanding of how to combine foods to obtain enough protein.
A long, protracted illness (such as a bronchitis that might drag on for months) may also lead to Qi and Blood deficiency.
Whatever the cause of Qi and Blood deficiency, deficient Blood fails to nourish the sinews, muscles, channels and joints, and aches develop. Since blood is lost during menstruation, the aches occur at period time and, in this case, they tend to occur more during and after the period.
Emotional stress, irregular diet
Emotional problems may lead to stagnation of Qi; after a prolonged time this may generate stasis of Blood. Blood may stagnate in the channels, cause an obstruction and therefore lead to aches and pains. During the period, Blood should flow easily, and if it stagnates, the aches and pains become worse. This would usually happen before or during the period.
An excessive consumption of dairy foods, sugar, sweets, raw, cold foods or greasy foods may lead to the formation of Dampness. This may settle in the channels and joints and lead to pain and swelling. If the Blood is also deficient or stagnant, the aches and pains occur during the period time.
Pathology
Thus, the pathology of aches and pains at period time is closely linked with a Blood pathology which essentially includes either Blood deficiency or Blood stasis. Blood deficiency may be complicated with Yang rising. In fact, if Liver-Blood is deficient, Liver-Yang may rise causing typically aches and stiffness of the upper back and neck. I have noticed in practice that this situation often arises after a hysterectomy because removing the uterus seems to induce a deficiency of Blood and consequently Liver-Yang rising affecting the upper back and neck.
Thus, the main pathologies and patterns are:
Identification of patterns and treatment
Blood deficiency (alone or with Yang rising)
Clinical manifestations
Aches and pains during or after the period, aches mostly in the limbs, numbness, tingling of the limbs, tiredness, dizziness, muscular weakness, insomnia. Tongue: Pale and Thin. Pulse: Choppy or Fine.
Acupuncture
LU-7 Lieque (on the right) and KI-6 Zhaohai (on the left), Ren-4 Guanyuan, ST-36 Zusanli, SP-6 Sanyinjiao, LIV-8 Ququan, BL-17 Geshu (with direct moxa), BL-11 Dashu, L.I.-10 Shousanli, T.B.-5 Waiguan, G.B.-34 Yanglingquan, BL-18 Ganshu, BL-20 Pishu, BL-23 Shenshu, BL-60 Kunlun, G.B.-21 Jianjing. All with reinforcing method, moxa can be used.
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