What are the categories of menstrual periods for patients with irregular menstruation in traditional Chinese medicine

Delayed menstruation in patients with irregular menstruation means that the menstrual cycle is delayed for more than 7 days, or even once every 40-50 days, for more than two consecutive cycles. Traditional Chinese medicine believes that delayed menstruation can be caused by long-term illness and physical weakness, insufficient nutrition and blood; or due to long-term chronic blood loss, improper diet, overwork, damage to the spleen and stomach, and insufficient biochemical sources; or due to yang deficiency in the body, or yang deficiency due to long-term illness, resulting in insufficient blood sources and loss of internal organs.

Traditional Chinese medicine syndrome differentiation of irregular menstruation and delayed menstruation

Traditional Chinese Medicine’s classification of delayed menstruation in patients with irregular menstruation

Types of menstrual changes and systemic symptoms

Blood deficiency causes delayed menstruation, less quantity, pale color, thin texture, sallow or pale complexion, dizziness, palpitations and insomnia, or even dull pain in the lower abdomen that persists and likes to be massaged, pale lips and tongue, and thin white coating.

Kidney deficiency causes delayed menstruation, small amount and thin menstruation, and dark or dull menstrual color. Lumbar and sacral pain, excessive nocturia, excessive leucorrhea, thin and pale color, or dizziness and tinnitus, pale tongue, and thin white coating.

Cold blood - Exogenous cold evil or excessive cold food, which damages the yang energy and causes delayed menstruation, less quantity, dark red color and lumps. Cold and pain in the lower abdomen, relieved by heat, or pale complexion, chills, cold limbs, and white tongue coating.

Cold blood - Deficiency and cold due to congenital deficiency of yang energy and excess of yin cold leading to delayed menstruation, less quantity, light red color, and thin and lumpy texture. Dull pain in the lower abdomen, preferring warmth, backache and weakness, long and clear urine, loose stools, pale tongue, and white coating.

Menstruation caused by depression of Qi and emotions is delayed, the amount of menstruation is less, the color is normal or dark red with lumps, and the discharge is not smooth. Mental depression, or distension and pain in the lower abdomen, pain in the chest and hypochondrium, the tongue may be slightly dull, and the tongue coating may be thin and yellow.

Phlegm-blocking spleen and lung qi deficiency causes delayed menstruation, light and mucus-like menstruation, and excessive vaginal discharge before and after menstruation. Obesity, dizziness, palpitations, epigastric distention, nausea, cough with excessive phlegm, poor appetite, poor appetite, fat tongue with tooth marks, and white and greasy coating.