Women's Healthtòngjīng

Period Pain (Dysmenorrhea)

Also called:Period painMenstrual crampsDysmenorrhea

From the TCM perspective: TCM 'tong jing'; located in the Chong-Ren vessels and uterus, related to liver, kidney and spleen.

Overview

Dysmenorrhea is lower-abdominal pain during or around menstruation, sometimes with backache, nausea and cold sweats. TCM calls it 'menstrual abdominal pain', divided into excess patterns — cold congealing blood stasis, qi stagnation with stasis, damp-heat stasis — and deficiency from qi-blood insufficiency, following 'obstruction causes pain' and 'lack of nourishment causes pain'.

☯Common patterns (syndrome differentiation)

Cold congealing blood stasis

Key distinguishing signs: Cold lower-abdominal pain before/during menses, tender to pressure and relieved by heat, dark clotted flow that eases pain when passed, cold intolerance, dark tongue with white coat, deep tight pulse.
Treatment principle: Warm channels, dispel cold and transform stasis

Qi stagnation with blood stasis

Key distinguishing signs: Distending premenstrual pain tender to pressure radiating to ribs/breasts, impeded clotted flow, worse with emotional upset, purplish dark tongue, wiry pulse.
Treatment principle: Move qi, quicken blood and relieve pain

Damp-heat stasis obstruction

Key distinguishing signs: Burning lower-abdominal pain radiating to the sacrum, dark thick or malodorous flow, yellow thick discharge, possibly low fever, red tongue with yellow greasy coat, slippery rapid pulse.
Treatment principle: Clear heat, drain dampness and transform stasis

Dual qi-blood deficiency

Key distinguishing signs: Dull pain during/after menses relieved by pressure, scant pale flow, fatigue, dizziness, palpitations, pale lusterless face, pale tongue, fine weak pulse.
Treatment principle: Tonify qi-blood and regulate menstruation

Daily self-care

Keep the lower abdomen, lower back and feet warm during periods; avoid cold foods/drinks, cold baths and strenuous exercise.
Use regular gentle exercise and lower-abdomen heat; record pain timing, severity, clots and relation to the cycle.
Progressively severe, disabling pain, pain outside menses or pain with sex: evaluate for endometriosis, adenomyosis, pelvic infection, etc.

When to seek medical help

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

Sudden severe pelvic pain, fainting, fever or heavy vaginal bleeding: emergency (ectopic pregnancy, ovarian torsion, etc.).
Abdominal pain with bleeding after a missed period: promptly rule out ectopic pregnancy.
Pain/bleeding in possible pregnancy, or severe pain after IUD insertion: seek immediate care.

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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