Understanding the Menstrual Cycle Part 1: Menstrual Blood
What the quality of your menstrual blood says about your internal health according to Traditional Chinese Medicine
If you’ve ever worked with a TCM practitioner, you’ve probably been asked in great detail about your menstrual cycle. While oftentimes overlooked by medical doctors, details surrounding the menstrual cycle are an extremely important vital sign in holistic medicine. It’s not just a monthly inconvenience; in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), your period is a window into your internal health.
In this blog series, I’ll explore different aspects of the menstrual cycle that are taken into account when looking at internal imbalances and establishing a pattern diagnosis. Part 1: what might your period blood be telling you about your internal health?
Why the Menstrual Cycle Matters
In TCM, your menstrual cycle isn’t just about when you bleed; it’s a reflection of your overall balance of qi, blood, yin, yang, and the health of your organs. Oftentimes, we are biased to our own experience with our cycle so that we don’t pay attention to the details. However, when something’s off, such as clotty blood, extreme cramping or irregular cycles, it can hint at underlying issues like stagnation or deficiencies in your body. Details surrounding your cycle provides pertinent information to be able to ultimately find solutions that will help rebalance the energy in the body to minimize disruptive symptoms and flow with ease.
What Your Blood May Be Telling You
So, what do different types of menstrual blood indicate?
Bright Red Blood: If your blood is bright red and flows evenly, you likely have a healthy flow! This is typically seen as a sign of good health. However, if it’s heavy, it might indicate excess heat in the body.
Dark Red or Purple Blood: This often points to blood stasis. If you notice this along with cramping or pain, it might mean that your Liver Qi is a bit sluggish or stagnant, and you may experience other forms of tension with your period (think the physical and emotional type feelings).
Brown or Black Blood: If you see this at the beginning or end of your period, it’s usually old blood. This could indicate some blood stasis or a deficiency, particularly of Yang energy (yang energy is what activates and moves things, so when this is deficient, the blood doesn’t expel fully).
Thin, Watery Blood: If your blood looks thin and watery, it might be a sign of deficiency, often linked to a deficient spleen which leads to a deficiency in blood. You may have accompanying symptoms like fatigue, bloating, and loose stools. This could mean you need a little extra nourishment.
Sticky or Clotted Blood: Clots can indicate blood stasis or heat. Regulating proper circulation and assessing diet, emotions, and movement will be important.
Thin and Light-Colored Blood: A pale, light flow can suggest deficiencies in Qi or Blood, possibly from Spleen and Kidney weaknesses. Poor diet and overexercise can often tax the qi and blood, and you may also be experiencing difficulty sleeping, fatigue, poor digestion and a cold constitution.
Heavy and Flooding Blood: Heavy bleeding can indicate either excess heat or cold. Bright red heavy flow usually suggests heat, while dark and heavy flow might point to cold stagnation.
TCM Tips for a Healthy Cycle
Now that you have a better idea of what your blood is saying, let’s talk about some TCM-supported tips to promote a healthy flow:
Eat Nourishing Foods: Focus on warming foods like cooked grains, sweet potatoes, dark leafy greens, and proteins. Bone broth is one of my favorite ways to nourish blood!
Stay Warm: A warm womb is a happy womb! Keeping your feet and lower abdomen covered before and during your period to avoid cold entering your channels is important to maintaining a healthy, pain free flow. While bleeding, avoid consuming cold drinks and food as well as cold plunges!
Stay Hydrated: Water helps with circulation. Herbal teas, especially those with warming properties like ginger or cinnamon, can be beneficial too.
Manage Stress: Stress can mess with your cycle. Try practices like walking, yoga, tai chi, meditation, and breathwork to keep your Qi flowing smoothly. This can be especially helpful in the late luteal phase, which is the time leading up to menstruation. Promoting proper flow of emotions during this time helps encourage healthy blood flow.
Acupuncture: Regular acupuncture sessions can help balance your hormones and improve your overall health. It’s a great way to promote circulation, reduce stagnation, calm inflammation and keep the nervous system regulated.
Herbal Remedies: Depending on your specific needs, herbal formulas can support your cycle. Consult with a TCM practitioner for personalized advice.
Get Enough Rest: Sleep is crucial for recovery and balance. Good sleep hygiene with a nighttime routine that keeps you feeling grounded has immense benefits to balancing yin and yang energies.
Remember, your menstrual cycle is unique to you! Paying attention to the signs your body is giving can be a powerful tool in understanding and improving your health. If you notice undesirable symptoms associated with your cycle, it can be extremely beneficial to work with a holistic practitioner to receive individualized support.
Follow along on my instagram where I will post nutrition, lifestyle and herbal tips for a healthy cycle!
I am dedicated to helping women feel better in their bodies. What is common is not necessarily normal! I offer in person support in Venice, CA as well as virtual sessions for those that aren’t local. Follow the link below to connect for a complimentary consultation to discuss your health goals.
Flow with ease!