Menstruation at irregular intervals

Also chaotic menstruation. Menstruation that is sometimes advanced and sometimes delayed; attributed to liver qì depression, kidney vacuity, or spleen vacuity.

Patterns

Liver qì depression (肝气郁 gān qì yù) gives rise to menstruation at irregular intervals with purplish red clotted menstrual flow that is either copious or scant, mental depression, painful distension of the breasts, and in some cases distension and pain in the smaller abdomen.

Medicinal therapy: For liver qì depression, course the liver and resolve depression using Free Wanderer Powder (逍遥散 xiāo yáo sǎn), Bupleurum Liver-Coursing Powder (柴胡疏肝散 chái hú shū gān sǎn) or Menses-Stabilizing Decoction (定经汤 dìng jīng tāng).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on CV and the three yīn channels of the foot. Main points: CV-4 (Pass Head, 关元 guān yuán) SP-8 (Earth’s Crux, 地机 dì jī), and SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo). For liver depression, add PC-6 (Inner Pass, 内关 nèi guān), LR-3 (Supreme Surge, 太冲 tài chōng), BL-18 (Liver Transport, 肝俞 gān shù), BL-17 (Diaphragm Transport, 膈俞 gé shù), ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ), and CV-3 (Central Pole, 中极 zhōng jí), needling with even supplementation and drainage.

Kidney vacuity (肾虚 shèn xū) causes menstruation at irregular intervals with scant thin pale flow, dizziness, tinnitus, limp aching lumbus and knees, profuse urination at night, unsolid stool, and dull facial complexion.

Medicinal therapy: Supplement the kidney and warm yáng using Yīn-Securing Brew (固阴煎 gù yīn jiān) plus cinnamon bark (Cinnamomi Cortex, 肉桂 ròu guì), aconite (Aconiti Radix Lateralis Praeparata, 附子 fù zǐ), and psoralea (Psoraleae Fructus, 补骨脂 bǔ gǔ zhī). Alternatively, use variations of Right-Restoring [Life Gate] Pill (右归丸 yòu guī wán).

Acumoxatherapy: To the main points given above, BL-23 (Kidney Transport, 肾俞 shèn shù), KI-7 (Recover Flow, 复溜 fù liū), KI-3 (Great Ravine, 太溪 tài xī), and KI-5 (Water Spring, 水泉 shuǐ quán), needling with supplementation.

Spleen vacuity (脾虚 shèn xū) causes menstruation at irregular intervals with pale scant flow that is either scant or copious, withered-yellow facial complexion, scantness of breath, laziness to speak, and fatigue and emaciation of the limbs, reduced eating and torpid intake, distension and fullness in the stomach duct and abdomen, and thin sloppy stool.

Medicinal therapy: Supplement the spleen and boost qì; nourish the blood and regulate menstruation. Use Ginseng, Poria, and White Atractylodes Powder (参苓白朮散 shēn líng bái zhú sǎn)

Acumoxatherapy: To the main points given above, add CV-6 (Sea of Qì, 气海 qì hǎi), BL-20 (Spleen Transport, 脾俞 pí shù), and ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ), needling with supplementation.