Persistent flow of lochia

Also incessant flow of lochia. Flow of the lochia in excess of twenty days. Persistent flow of lochia is attributed to qì vacuity, blood heat, or blood stasis.

Patterns

Qì vacuity (气虚 qì xū) patterns arise when the containing action of qì is weakened so that the thoroughfare (chōng) and controlling (rèn) vessels become insecure. They are marked by copious pale thin lochia associated with somber-white complexion, laziness to speak, and empty sagging in the smaller abdomen.

Medicinal therapy: Supplement qì and contain the blood with Origin-Lifting Brew (举元煎 jǔ yuán jiān).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment on CV, SP, and ST. Select CV-4 (Pass Head, 关元 guān yuán), ST-36 (Leg Three Lǐ, 足三里 zú sān lǐ), and SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo); needle with supplementation and add moxa.

Blood stasis (血瘀 xuè yū) patterns arise when residual blood has not been eliminated and causes static blood to obstruct the thoroughfare (chōng) and controlling (rèn) vessels. This pathomechanism is sometimes exacerbated by the contraction of cold. Blood stasis patterns are characterized by ungratifying rough scant flow of dark purple clotted lochia associated with smaller abdominal pain.

Medicinal therapy: Transform stasis and stanch bleeding with Chinese angelica (Angelicae Sinensis Radix, 当归 dāng guī), chuanxiong (Chuanxiong Rhizoma, 川芎 chuān xiōng), leonurus (Leonuri Herba, 益母草 yì mǔ cǎo), blast-fried ginger (Zingiberis Rhizoma Praeparatum, 炮姜 páo jiāng), corydalis (Corydalis Rhizoma, 延胡索 yán hú suǒ), and carthamus (Carthami Flos, 红花 hóng huā).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment on CV and SP. Select CV-3 (Central Pole, 中极 zhōng jí), CV-5 (Stone Gate, 石门 shí mén), and SP-8 (Earth’s Crux, 地机 dì jī); needle with drainage and, if appropriate, moxa.

Blood heat (血热 xuè rè) patterns arise when wearing of provisioning-yīn causes internal vacuity heat that harasses the thoroughfare (chōng) and controlling (rèn) vessels and forces blood to flow downward. They are marked by copious red sticky fetid flow associated with tidal reddening of the face, and a rapid fine pulse.

Medicinal therapy: Nourish yīn, clear heat, and stanch bleeding with variations of Yīn-Safeguarding Brew (保阴煎 bǎo yīn jiān).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment on CV and the three yīn channels of the foot. Select CV-6 (Sea of Qì, 气海 qì hǎi), CV-3 (Central Pole, 中极 zhōng jí), SP-10 (Sea of Blood, 血海 xuè hǎi), LR-6 (Central Metropolis, 中都 zhōng dū), and KI-10 (Yīn Valley, 阴谷 yīn gǔ); needle with drainage without moxa.