Many women see menstrual pain as something “normal.”
But in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), pain is never just pain — it’s your body’s signal that qi and blood aren’t flowing smoothly.
By identifying why the pain happens, TCM helps to relieve it from the root instead of just masking it.
Here are the four most common TCM patterns behind menstrual pain — and how each can be cared for differently.
1️⃣ Cold Stagnation (寒凝血滞)
Signs: Sharp pain before or during menstruation, relieved by warmth; dark clots; cold hands and feet.
Cause: Exposure to cold or eating too much cold/raw food causes the uterus to contract and blood flow to slow.
TCM Care: Warm the meridians, dispel cold, and improve circulation — often through moxibustion, ginger compress, or warming herbs.
2️⃣ Qi Stagnation (气滞)
Signs: Cramping or distending pain that worsens with stress; breast tenderness; sighing easily.
Cause: Emotional tension causes the liver qi to stagnate, leading to poor qi flow in the lower abdomen.
TCM Care: Soothe the liver and regulate qi with acupuncture, deep breathing, relaxation, and gentle movement.
3️⃣ Blood Stasis (血瘀)
Signs: Fixed, stabbing pain; dark, clotted blood; pain that feels “stuck” even after the period.
Cause: Long-term qi stagnation or cold retention causes blood to stagnate and form clots.
TCM Care: Invigorate blood and remove stasis with acupuncture, herbal formulas, or light exercise to restore smooth flow.
4️⃣ Qi and Blood Deficiency (气血虚)
Signs: Dull, mild pain that worsens after the period; fatigue; pale complexion; light flow.
Cause: Loss of blood or poor nourishment weakens the body’s ability to generate new blood.
TCM Care: Nourish qi and blood through diet, rest, and tonifying herbs like ginseng or angelica (Dang Gui).
🌿 Listen to What Your Pain Is Telling You
Menstrual pain is your body’s way of communicating imbalance.
Instead of enduring it month after month, understanding your pattern helps you find lasting relief.
A professional TCM consultation — using pulse and tongue diagnosis — can pinpoint your type and guide a personalized healing plan to restore comfort and balance naturally.