How Traditional Chinese Medicine helps us to understand the Menstrual Cycle

The Menstrual Cycle in TCM

The Chinese view of the menstrual cycle is very different to western medicine. The following is an explanations for you to have a better understanding of how traditional Chinese medicine sees the female reproductive system.

In Chinese Medicine there are the concepts of yin and yang, which are used to describe our environments and body. For example, yang is dry, and yin is moisturising, yang is daytime and yin is night time, yang is hot and yin is cold.

Yin and yang are opposites, like night and day, but also they can transform into each other as night becomes day, and day becomes night. This transformation or co-existence is often symbolised by the yin/yang symbol.

In our bodies, the yin represents the cooling, moistening, nourishing, growing and fertile function actions, while the yang represents the heating, drying, moving, more energetic side.

So in an average 28 day cycle, the first half of the cycle will be 14 days long. In the phase, the uterus is being nourished. The new follicle is developing, cervical fertile mucus is produced and the lining of the uterus is being built up. These are all actions of yin. In Western medicine we understand this occurs because the hormone  follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) is released, so making oestrogen levels higher at this time.

Around day 14 ovulation occurs, and at this point everything changes. The egg is released, it moves down the fallopian tubes towards the uterus, and the body temperature increases. This is the yang half of the cycle. At this point in the cycle, there is a surge then a drop of the hormone FSH which stimulates ovulation, with an increase in lutenising hormone (LH), which facilitates ovulation. Progesterone levels should be higher at this time up until menstruation and/or pregnancy occurs.

Like the yin/yang symbol, this process then restarts and a cycle is formed. Problems can occur in either the 1st or 2nd half of this cycle.

Problems in the first half
As an example, if a woman has insufficient yin, she will not be developing the follicle sufficiently or making enough blood or cervical mucus in the first half. This could lead to a long cycle or anovulation (where ovulation does not occur). If the follicle, endometrium and cervical mucus are undernourished, ovulation may still occur on day 14, but the result could be a scanty period or an inability to become pregnant, as the released follicle is always immature.

Problems in the second half
If problems occur in the second half of the cycle, where the qi and blood are supposed to be moving, various symptoms may arise. For example, if in the premenstrual phase the movement of Qi is not smooth, signs of stuckness and stagnation occur, such as breast tenderness, bloating, constipation, and irritability. This is why when the period arrives and the blood starts moving, all these signs dissipate almost immediately.

If the stagnation is more severe, it actually affects the blood. Dark blood or clotting during menstruation, or period pain, gives an indication of this form of stagnation. In western terms this may have a diagnosis such as endometriosis. This poor shedding of the endometrium can lead to problems with egg implantation for the following month.

This is a very simple explanation and most problems seen in clinic are a combination of a number of problems, which can be diagnosed and effectively treated with nutrients, herbal medicine and acupuncture.

For help with menstrual problems or irregularities you can call 9376 4666 to see Michelle.


Michelle Bryceland (Naturopath/Acupuncturist)