Alternative treatment for absence of menses

By Tracey-Ann Brown, Complementary & Oriental Medicine

While some women look forward to the days of no period with great anticipation, there are many who simply wish it would just come, especially in women hoping to conceive in the future.

Amenorrhoea is the absence of a woman's menses for more than three months in a row, in a woman who has had periods. In the Yellow Emperor's Classic, this was called "woman having no moon". This is different from the natural interruptions in the menstrual cycle because of pregnancy, breastfeeding, post-childbirth, and menopause.

CAUSES

Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) identifies a number of factors that may cause an interruption in menstrual flow:

Emotional stress: excessive anger, frustration, resentment, irritation, worry and pensiveness can cause stagnation (reduced fluidity and mobility) of Qi.

Excessive physical work or exercise.

Hereditary weakness.

A diet poor in nutrition, which leads to depletion of the Qi and blood and low body weight.

In most cases, interruption of the menstrual cycle is caused by a deficiency resulting in the malnourishment of the uterus and the meridians whose responsibility it is to ensure the smooth flow of Qi and the proper functioning of the reproductive organs. In TCM, the type of deficiency is determined based on accompanying symptoms and treated accordingly.

Additionally, amenorrhoea may also be caused by:

Contraceptives: oral contraceptives - it may take three to six months for a regular cycle to return, intrauterine devices, implanted or injected contraceptives.

Medications: antipsychotics, cancer chemotherapy, antidepressants, blood pressure drugs.

Hormonal imbalance: Polycystic ovary syndrome, premature menopause, thyroid malfunction, pituitary tumour.

Structural problems: Problems with the sexual organs.

ACUPUNCTURE & MOXIBUSTION

In order to regulate the menstrual cycle, acupuncture points along the Chong Mai, Ren Mai or Dai Mai meridians are often stimulated. These are key meridians used in any kind of irregularity in the menstrual cycle. The application of warmth using Moxa (mugwort herb) is added at specific acupuncture points - typically the abdomen and/or leg - to stimulate the movement of Qi and blood, especially where there is a sensitivity to cold.

HERBAL FORMULAS

A number of different herbs are used to strengthen or promote the movement of blood and Qi in order to regulate and restore menstruation. The category of herbs selected depends on the underlying diagnosis. For example, in the case of amenorrhoea accompanied by low energy and a sensitivity to cold, this would be a type of deficiency, so yang- and Qi- strengthening herbs would be used. In the case of someone who is experiencing amenorrhoea accompanied by pain, a category of herbs called blood invigorators is used to promote the movement of blood.

Some herbs used include:

• Blood invigorators
• Jiang Huang (turmeric rhizome/ginger yellow).
• Hong Hua (safflower flower).
• Mo Yao (myrrh).
• Qi and blood tonics.
• Dang Gui (Chinese angelica root).
• Bai Shao (white peony root).
• Ren Shen (ginseng).

LIFESTYLE ADJUSTMENTS

In cases where lifestyle practices are identified which may be a contributing factor, it is important to modify them in order to facilitate the resumption of the monthly flow.

Dr Tracey-Ann Brown is an oriental medicine practitioner of acupuncture and herbal medicine at Revamp Comprehensive and Adjunct Lecturer at the University of Technology in Oriental/Chinese Medicine; email: yourhealth@gleanerjm.com.