According to the research of McKenna and Fogleman, globally 50% to 90% of adolescent girls and women of reproductive age may suffer from dysmenorrhea. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, dysmenorrhea has different types based on causes. The article introduces a therapy for relieving dysmenorrhea with blood stasis due to cold. The therapy is from Wang Puxiang who works in a health centre of Suzhou in China.

What is dysmenorrhea with blood stasis due to cold

The patient who suffers from dysmenorrhea with blood stasis due to cold feels cold and pain in her lower abdomen before menstruation or during menstruation, but a hot compress can reduce the pain. The menstruation may be delayed, and menstrual volume is less than normal. Menstrual blood is dark, and it may include blood clots. Leucorrhea increases while it becomes watery. The patient fears cold, and her hands and feet always get cold. The tongue coating is white, and the pulse is taut, deep or feels like a string of a musical instrument.

Therapy of TDP lamp

Before the therapy, urine should be drained for making the bladder empty. The patient lies flat on her back. During the therapy, the TDP lamp aims at three acupoints including Shenque (CV 8), Guanyuan (CV 4) and Zigong (EX-CA 1). The heating power is set as the heat can be withstood by the patient. The treatment lasts until the skin is turned red and the lower abdomen feels warm. It may take 30 minutes. The therapy is one or two times a day, and a course of treatment is ten days, including menstrual period.

Therapy of herbal rice wine

The therapy uses Panax notoginseng and Chinese rice wine. The quantity of Panax notoginseng is 10 grams for three days. Panax notoginseng should be ground into powder. The powder is taken with rice wine in the morning and the evening for three days before menstruation.

The efficacy of the combination therapy

According to the research of Wang Puxiang, 86 patients were treated with the combination therapy. After one to three courses of treatment, the pain and other symptoms of 31 patients disappeared, so they could live and work as normal; the pain of 53 patients was significantly reduced and other symptoms were improved, so they could work without painkillers.

How the combination therapy works

Shenque and Guanyuan are acupoints on the Ren Channel. And the beginning of the Ren Channel of a female is in the Uterus.

Shenque (CV 8) is a commonly used acupoint for treating abdominal pain. The acupoint is generally used in a moxibustion therapy but not in an acupuncture therapy.

Guanyuan (CV 4) is an acupoint for treating the pain of the lower abdomen, urogenital diseases, or gynaecological diseases including disorders of menstruation. The acupoint is more often used in a moxibustion therapy than in an acupuncture therapy. Before stimulating the acupoint, the bladder should be empty.

Zigong (EX-CA 1) is an acupoint outside channels. It is especially used for treating gynaecological diseases including the disorders of menstruation.

During the TDP therapy aiming at Shenque, Guanyuan and Zigong, heat reaches the Uterus, and makes Qi and Blood run smoothly for removing blood stasis and getting rid of cold.

Panax notoginseng is a Chinese herb of warm nature. It is an important herb that can remove blood stasis, stop bleeding, reduce swelling and relieve pain. Chinese rice wine also can make Qi and Blood run smoothly in the meridian system and drive out cold. The mixture of Panax notoginseng and rice wine is very helpful to make Blood run smoothly for removing blood stasis and make Qi run smoothly for removing pain.

Therefore, the combination therapy of TDP lamp and herbal rice wine is an effective way to relieve dysmenorrhea with blood stasis due to cold.

What we can do for you

For satisfying your needs, our shop offers different types of TDP lamps. A long-arm TDP lamp is suitable for the TDP therapy to the entire meridian system, while a table TDP lamp is smaller, portable and economical. And you may be equipped with a double-head TDP lamp for the therapy to different parts of the body at the same time. Moreover, we provide replaceable heating plates for strengthening efficacy or making the treatment more comfortable.

References:

1. McKenna K.A. & Fogleman C.D., 2021. Dysmenorrhea. Am Fam Physician, 104 (2), p. 164-170.

2. Wang, P., 2015. A TDP therapy combined with medicinal food for eighty-six patients of dysmenorrhea with blood stasis due to cold. Journal of Practical Traditional Chinese Medicine, 31 (6), p. 516.

3. Liang, F., et al., 2016. Science of Acupuncture and Moxibustion. 4th ed. Beijing: China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine.

4. Shen, X., et al., 2016. Science of Meridians and Acupoints. 4th ed. Beijing: China Press of Traditional Chinese Medicine.