From a Chinese medical perspective, normal menstruation relies on unblocked circulation of blood, body fluids, lymphatic fluids, hormones, etc., especially in the pelvic region. When women are young, their circulation is relatively good, but circulation may become obstructed after they pass 28 years of age (the 4th 7-year hormonal maturation cycle in the Chinese medical system). Short term obstruction can be more intangible, remaining asymptomatic. Chronic obstruction can lead to development of physical masses.
If the body’s energy is in excess but there are blockages, the patient tends to run warm, the menstrual blood tends to be bright red, and the menstrual cycle tends to be shortened. If the body’s energy is deficient, the patient tends to run cold, the menstrual blood tends to appear dark red or purple with clots, and the cycle tends to delay. Both conditions can lead to dysmenorrhea and menorrhagia. Menorrhagia in the excess condition is caused by menstrual blood moving too fast and the passages are blocked so the blood is pushed out by the built-up internal pressure, which causes pain; in deficiency condition, the body’s ability to hold and control the blood is compromised so the blood “leaks out.” In the case of deficiency, pain is caused by obstruction of energy in the pelvic region.
Getting pregnant requires metabolic warmth in the pelvic region. Obstructions of circulation in the pelvic region will lead to infertility. Delivery costs a lot of energy, so the patient tends to have postpartum hemorrhage because the body fails to hold and stop the bleeding.