Qì stagnation menstrual pain

Lower abdominal distension and pain before or during menstruation, arising when emotional depression causes qì stagnation, which in turn obstructs the movement of blood in the thoroughfare (chōng) and controlling (rèn) vessels. Qì stagnation menstrual pain is often accompanied by oppression in the chest and distension of the breasts and by disfluent menstrual flow.

Medicinal therapy: Use formulas such as Supplemented Lindera Decoction (加味乌药汤 jiā wèi wū yào tāng) or Sevenfold Processed Cyperus Pill (七制香附丸 qī zhì xiāng fù wán).

Acumoxatherapy: Base treatment mainly on CV, LR, PC, and SP. Select CV-6 (Sea of Qì, 气海 qì hǎi), LR-3 (Supreme Surge, 太冲 tài chōng), PC-6 (Inner Pass, 内关 nèi guān), LR-2 (Moving Between, 行间 xíng jiān), and SP-6 (Three Yīn Intersection, 三阴交 sān yīn jiāo); needle with drainage.

Point selection according to signs: For lower abdominal distension, add ST-25 (Celestial Pivot, 天枢 tiān shū), KI-13 (Qì Point, 气穴 qì xué), and SP-8 (Earth’s Crux, 地机 dì jī). For oppression in the chest and distension of the breasts, add CV-17 (Chest Center, 膻中 shān zhōng) and PC-6 (Inner Pass, 内关 nèi guān).

See menstrual pain.