Women's Healthyuèjīng guòduō

Heavy Periods

Also called:Heavy periodsMenorrhagiaHeavy menstrual bleeding

From the TCM perspective: TCM heavy menses; located in Chong-Ren and uterus, related to spleen, kidney and liver.

Overview

Heavy menstrual bleeding is a clearly increased amount or prolonged duration of menstrual flow. TCM sees the Chong vessel as the sea of blood; the core mechanism is failure of the Chong-Ren to restrain menstrual blood, with patterns of blood heat causing reckless movement, blood stasis, qi deficiency failing to contain, and liver-kidney yin deficiency. Structural disease must first be excluded.

☯Common patterns (syndrome differentiation)

Blood heat with reckless movement

Key distinguishing signs: Heavy dark-red or purplish-red thick flow, red face, vexation, dry mouth, dark urine, red tongue with yellow coat, rapid pulse.
Treatment principle: Clear heat, cool blood and secure the Chong vessel

Blood stasis obstructing collaterals

Key distinguishing signs: Heavy or prolonged dark flow with large clots, lower-abdominal pain tender to pressure that eases after clots pass, purplish dark tongue with stasis dots, choppy pulse.
Treatment principle: Quicken blood, transform stasis and stop bleeding

Qi deficiency failing to contain blood

Key distinguishing signs: Heavy pale thin prolonged flow, empty bearing-down in the lower abdomen, fatigue, short breath, pale face, pale tongue, weak pulse.
Treatment principle: Tonify qi to contain blood and secure the Chong vessel

Liver-kidney yin deficiency

Key distinguishing signs: Heavy red flow with sore weak knees, dizziness, tinnitus, heat in palms/soles, dry mouth, red tongue with little coat, fine rapid pulse.
Treatment principle: Nourish liver-kidney and secure menstruation

Daily self-care

Record pad/tampon use, clots and number of days; avoid strenuous exercise, alcohol and self-use of blood-invigorating supplements during flow.
Eat iron-rich foods (lean meat, liver, dark leafy greens); take iron and repeat blood counts under medical guidance when needed.
Heavy bleeding warrants gynecologic evaluation for fibroids, polyps, endometrial disease, clotting disorders and contraceptive effects.

When to seek medical help

The following warning signs require prompt medical evaluation — do not rely on self-treatment:

Extremely heavy bleeding soaking pads rapidly or passing large clots with dizziness/palpitations: urgent care.
Bleeding between periods, after menopause or after sex: prompt examination.
Abdominal pain with bleeding after a missed period: rule out ectopic pregnancy immediately.

Medical disclaimer: Educational content about traditional Chinese medicine for information only; it is not a diagnosis or treatment and does not replace a qualified clinician. If symptoms worsen or warning signs appear, seek medical care.

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