Blood heat advanced menstruation

Advanced menstruation (i.e., premature arrival of periods) due to blood heat. Blood heat advanced menstruation occurs in women who usually have internal heat or like hot spicy food; it may result from contracting heat evil; it may stem from excessive anger causing qì depression that transforms into fire; it can also result from yīn vacuity internal heat. In all cases, the heat harasses the thoroughfare (chōng) and controlling (rèn) vessels and causes frenetic movement of the blood.

Patterns

Blood heat (血热 xuè rè) advanced menstruation is characterized by early periods with copious thick sticky purple-red flow, heart vexation, thirst with desire for cool drinks, constipation, and yellow urination.

Medicinal therapy: Clear heat and cool the blood using Scutellaria and Coptis Four Agents Decoction (芩连四物汤 qín lián sì wù tāng).

Acumoxatherapy: Treatment is based on the CV and the three yīn channels of the foot. Main points: CV-4 (Pass Head, 关元 guān yuán) and SP-10 (Sea of Blood, 血海 xuè hǎi). For blood heat, add LR-3 (Supreme Surge, 太冲 tài chōng), and LI-11 (Pool at the Bend, 曲池 qū chí), needling with drainage.

Depressed qì transforming into fire (气郁化火 qì qù huà huǒ) causes advanced menstruation with purple clotted flow, distending pain in the chest and rib-side, vexation and irascibility.

Medicinal therapy: Calm the liver and clear heat, using formulas like Moutan and Gardenia Free Wanderer Powder (丹栀逍遥散 dān zhī xiāo yáo sǎn).

Acumoxatherapy: Add to the main points given above PC-6 (Inner Pass, 内关 nèi guān), LR-3 (Supreme Surge, 太冲 tài chōng), GB-34 (Yáng Mound Spring, 阳陵泉 yáng líng quán), PC-8 (Palace of Toil, 劳宫 láo gōng), and SP-8 (Earth’s Crux, 地机 dì jī), needling with drainage.

Yīn vacuity blood heat (阴虚血热 yīn xū xuè rè) advanced menstruation is marked by a scant dribbling red thick sticky flow, reddening of the cheeks, and heat in the soles and palms.

Medicinal therapy: Nourish yīn and clear heat using Rehmannia and Lycium Root Bark Decoction (两地汤 liǎng dì tāng) or Lycium Root Bark Beverage (地骨皮饮 dì gǔ pí yǐn).

Acumoxatherapy: Add to the main points given above SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo), and KI-2 (Blazing Valley, 然谷 rán gǔ), needling with even supplementation and drainage.

See advanced menstruation.