Heavy menstrual flow is more common among adolescent girls. This primarily occurs because ovarian function is not yet fully mature during puberty, resulting in some cycles being anovulatory. Persistently heavy periods may lead to anemia symptoms like pallor, fatigue, and dizziness, necessitating early intervention and treatment.
What constitutes a normal menstrual flow?
Typically, a woman's menstrual blood volume ranges from 50 to 80 milliliters, with the heaviest flow occurring on the second or third day of menstruation. If daily blood loss exceeds 80 milliliters, or if the flow is significantly heavier than usual while the cycle remains regular, it is classified as heavy menstrual flow.
Experts note that menstrual flow varies among individuals, typically ranging from 20 to 100 milliliters. Changing sanitary pads or liners 3 to 5 times daily is generally considered normal. Excessive flow, where a pad or liner becomes saturated quickly after use or blood runs down the legs, is abnormal.
Excessive menstrual flow may stem from functional uterine bleeding caused by factors such as excessive mental stress, environmental changes, malnutrition, or metabolic disorders. Persistent heavy bleeding can lead to anemia, necessitating identification of the underlying cause and appropriate treatment.
What causes heavy menstrual flow?
Menstruation is a normal physiological cycle marking female maturity. The volume, color, and other characteristics during menstruation reflect a woman's overall health.Heavy menstrual flow can stem from various factors, including dietary habits and emotional state.
1. Excessive Heat: Inherent yang excess and internal heat, exacerbated by excessive consumption of pungent foods; or liver qi stagnation transforming into heat; or external invasion by heat pathogens. This heat disturbs the blood system, affecting the Chong and Ren meridians. During menstruation, it forces blood to flow irregularly, resulting in increased flow.
Recommended Dietary Therapy — Stewed Lotus Root, Black Fungus, and Old Duck Soup
Ingredients: 500g fresh lotus root, 60g black fungus, 1 old duck, salt, chicken bouillon, ginger, Shaoxing wine to taste;
Method: 1. Wash lotus root and cut into chunks. 2. Soak black fungus in warm water until softened, rinse clean.3. Simmer the duck with ginger and rice wine until 80% cooked. Add lotus root and wood ear mushrooms, cook until tender, then season with salt and chicken bouillon to taste.
Benefits: Nourishes yin, clears heat, cools blood, and stops bleeding. Treats excessive menstrual flow caused by real heat. Regular consumption nourishes yin, regulates cycles, and reduces bleeding.
2. Blood Stasis: Chronic depression and emotional suppression lead to qi stagnation and blood congealing. Alternatively, during menstruation or postpartum when the blood chamber opens, blood may congeal due to cold or heat accumulation, obstructing the Chong and Ren meridians. This prevents new blood from flowing along the channels, causing it to run wild and increase menstrual flow.
Recommended Dietary Therapy — Rehmannia Wine Stew
Ingredients: 6g raw Rehmannia root, 10g motherwort, 200ml rice wine.
Preparation: Pour rice wine into a porcelain bottle (or cup), add raw Rehmannia and motherwort. Steam over water for about 20 minutes. Take 50ml each time, twice daily.
Efficacy: Promotes blood circulation and stops bleeding. Suitable for excessive menstruation caused by blood stasis, characterized by dark purple blood, clots, or lower abdominal pain that worsens with pressure. Tongue may appear dark purple or show stasis spots, with a thin and涩 pulse.
3. Qi Deficiency: Individuals with constitutional weakness inherently lack sufficient vital energy. Excessive worry, irregular diet, overwork, or recovery from severe/prolonged illness further depletes qi. During menstruation, this deficiency fails to anchor the Chong and Ren vessels, causing blood to overflow from the vessels and result in heavy menstrual flow.
Recommended Dietary Therapy — Braised Lamb with Angelica and Rehmannia
Ingredients: 500g lamb, 15g each of Angelica sinensis and Rehmannia glutinosa, 10g dried ginger.
Preparation: Wash lamb, cut into chunks. Place in clay pot with washed herbs, soy sauce, salt, sugar, rice wine, and sufficient water. Braise until tender. Consume regularly.
Benefits: Warms the middle burner, tonifies deficiency, boosts qi, and consolidates blood. Suitable for heavy menstrual flow due to qi deficiency, characterized by pale, thin blood, dull complexion, fatigue, shortness of breath, reluctance to speak, pale tongue, and weak pulse.
4. Deficiency Heat: Weak constitution with insufficient yin fluids; yin depletion after febrile illness; prolonged exposure to high temperatures causing severe fluid loss; emotional distress leading to gradual yin depletion; or excessive sexual activity damaging kidney essence. These conditions result in yin failing to restrain yang, causing yang hyperactivity and fire disturbance. Heat disrupts the Chong and Ren vessels, leading to uncontrolled menstrual flow and increased menstrual volume.
Recommended Dietary Therapy — Two-Ingredient Paste
Ingredients: 30g each of Rehmannia glutinosa (raw), Lycium barbarum bark; 15g each of Scrophularia ningpoensis, Ophiopogon japonicus, Paeonia lactiflora; 30g donkey-hide gelatin; 40ml honey.
Preparation: Decoct the first five ingredients into 300ml of concentrated decoction. Separately, dissolve the donkey-hide gelatin in 60ml of boiling water, then mix it into the herbal decoction. Add honey, stir over low heat until blended, cool, and bottle. Take 20ml three times daily.
Efficacy: Nourishes yin and blood. Indicated for excessive menstruation with bright red blood, dizziness, irritability, thirst, red tongue, and thin wiry pulse due to liver-kidney yin deficiency with internal disturbance by deficient heat.