CHAPTER 10 Irregular Periods
When questioning a woman patient, it is important to make sure that her particular problem does indeed fall into this category; many women refer to their periods as being ‘irregular’ when they are in fact consistently early or consistently late.
Irregular Periods are called Yue Jing Xian Hou Wu Ding Qi which means ‘an irregular cycle with periods that come early or late’. In the old literature the condition was also called Jing Luan which means ‘chaotic periods’.
An irregularity of the cycle is always related to the Liver and Kidneys (and especially the latter) because it is the rhythmic ebb and flow of Blood and Essence that give rise to the periods. Thus, these two organs are responsible for the internal, biological clock that determines the menstrual cycle. In fact, Fu Qing Zhu says in Fu Qing Zhu’s Gynaecology:
The menstrual flow originates from the Kidneys, the Liver is the Child of the Kidneys, when the Liver stagnates the Kidneys also stagnate. When the Kidneys stagnate their Qi does not diffuse, early periods, late periods, stoppage or continuation of the periods all relate to Kidney-Qi being free or obstructed . . . Whether Liver-Qi is free or obstructed affects whether Kidney-Qi goes or stays.1
Aetiology
Emotional stress
Emotional stress such as anger, frustration or resentment may cause Liver-Qi to become stagnant and the Directing and Penetrating Vessels (Ren and Chong Mai) to become obstructed. When Qi stagnates for some time, Blood also stagnates so that the Sea of Blood (of the Penetrating Vessel) cannot fill the Uterus and the periods become irregular.
The Complete Works of Jing Yue (1624) attributes great importance to emotional problems as a cause of irregular periods. It says:
Overwork, too many children too close together
Overwork or having too many children too close together lead to a Kidney deficiency: when the Kidneys are deficient, the Directing and Penetrating Vessels become depleted, the Sea of Blood of the Penetrating Vessel cannot fill the Uterus and the periods become irregular.
Pathology
The pathology of Irregular Periods may be due to:
The Liver and Kidneys are therefore the two organs at the root of this problem. This is understandable because it is these two organs that are most responsible for the cyclical recurrence of the periods. In fact, the Liver stores Blood and is closely related to the Penetrating Vessel and the Kidneys are the origin of the Heavenly Gui that crystallizes into menstrual blood. Irregular Periods from Kidney deficiency tend to occur in older women.
Identification of patterns and treatment
Liver-Qi stagnation
Clinical manifestations
Irregular periods usually with scanty bleeding with some clots, abdominal and breast distension, pre-menstrual tension, depression, sighing, irritability. Tongue: normal coloured or, if the stagnation is longstanding, slightly Red sides. Pulse: Wiry.
Acupuncture
LIV-3 Taichong, T.B.-6 Zhigou, P-6 Neiguan, LIV-14 Qimen, Ren-4 Guanyuan, Ren-6 Qihai, SP-4 Gongsun (on the right) and P-6 Neiguan (on the left). All with reducing or even method.
Explanation
Herbal treatment
a Prescription
Explanation
This formula, which has already been explained, pacifies the Liver, moves Qi, eliminates stagnation, nourishes Liver-Blood and tonifies Spleen-Qi.
b Prescription
Explanation
This formula, by Fu Qing Zhu, pacifies the Liver and tonifies the Kidneys. Since an underlying deficiency of the Kidneys nearly always accompanies Liver-Qi stagnation when the periods are irregular, this formula is well adapted to treat the type of patients we see. About irregular periods, Fu Qing Zhu says:
When the child is ill the mother attends to it. When the Liver stagnates the Kidneys have compassion; opening or blockage of Liver-Qi implies going or staying of Kidney-Qi . . . One must pacify the Liver and open the stagnation of Kidney-Qi.4
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