Characteristics of TCM Gynecological Treatment
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) has rich experiences in treating women’s diseases, physicians will provide various forms and flexible applications in treatment. Treatment based on syndrome differentiation is one of the major characters of Chinese medicine, and the therapeutic effects contribute greatly to this approach.
In TCM, kidney is regarded as the “congenital foundation,” which dominate the growth, development and reproduction of the body. The kidney stores essence and promotes the production of tian gui. Under the action of these substances, the Conception Vessel and Thoroughfare Vessel are exuberant and flushed with qi and blood, which nourish and ensure the uterus functioning. When the kidney is weak, women will develop various gynecological or fertility problems. Nourishing kidney is the most important therapeutic principle of TCM women specialties, pilose antler is a popular ingredient used in kidney yang tonics.
Liver stores blood and controls sea of blood, which regulates the volume of blood circulating in the body according to the needs of various organs. Therefore, it greatly affects the actions in the uterus. A dysfunction liver will lead to disharmony in the Thoroughfare Vessel and Conception Vessel, disorders in menstruation or vaginal discharges can be occurred. Methods used to rectify liver functioning include relieving liver stagnation, soothing liver and clearing fire, and purging liver heat, which are commonly seen in TCM gynecological treatment. Nut grass is a usual ingredient in the prescriptions for regulating the liver.
The spleen and stomach are the major organs for the digestive functions. They perform the transformation and transportation processes and provide nutrient essence for blood and qi productions. In case of a spleen deficiency, the Thoroughfare and Conception Vessels lose their blood and qi supplies, and the Girdling Vessel fails to support the uterus. These cause the female reproductive system under-functioning, especially in elderly women as they already have declined in kidney essence, qi and blood, various gynecological and fertility problems will then occur. Harmonizing and enhancing the functions of spleen and stomach can usually bring some relieves to the problems. Largehead Atractylodes rhizome is a common ingredient in the prescriptions.
The primary component of menstruation is blood; hence there is the saying “women take blood as primary.” Moreover, blood flowing is dominated by qi (vital energy) movement. A smooth flow of blood and qi means the organs are harmonious and vessels around the uterus are properly regulated, therefore menstruation and other functions are ensured. The roots of Chinese angelica are commonly used as blood tonic in TCM gynecology.
Under normal circumstances, TCM diagnoses do not follow standard Western pathological classifications of diseases, but rely on a complex pattern of signs and symptoms that manifest at a given stage of the disease. Physicians should first determine at which stage the disease has developed, its causes, involved organs and the conflicting forces between body resistance and pathogenic factors. The remedies are typically individualized according to disharmony of the body measured by various parameters such as yin, yang, qi (vital energy), blood and body fluids. Alleviation of these symptoms usually reflects that the patient’s body has returned to a new balanced state. See article on "Principles of Diagnosis in TCM."
In TCM gynecological treatment, regulating menstruation ranks the highest priority. The famous classic Principles of Obstetrics and Gynecology (nu ke jing lun) states: “Most women’s diseases are often due to under-functioning in the organs or disharmony of qi (vital energy) and blood, which cause damages in the vessels of Thoroughfare, Conception, Governor or Girdling. For this reason, nourishing the kidney, regulating the liver, invigorating the spleen and stomach, and harmonizing the blood and qi are important principles for relevant treatments.”
Nourishing Kidney
In TCM, kidney is regarded as the “congenital foundation,” which dominate the growth, development and reproduction of the body. The kidney stores essence and promotes the production of tian gui. Under the action of these substances, the Conception Vessel and Thoroughfare Vessel are exuberant and flushed with qi and blood, which nourish and ensure the uterus functioning. When the kidney is weak, women will develop various gynecological or fertility problems. Nourishing kidney is the most important therapeutic principle of TCM women specialties, pilose antler is a popular ingredient used in kidney yang tonics.
Regulating Liver
Liver stores blood and controls sea of blood, which regulates the volume of blood circulating in the body according to the needs of various organs. Therefore, it greatly affects the actions in the uterus. A dysfunction liver will lead to disharmony in the Thoroughfare Vessel and Conception Vessel, disorders in menstruation or vaginal discharges can be occurred. Methods used to rectify liver functioning include relieving liver stagnation, soothing liver and clearing fire, and purging liver heat, which are commonly seen in TCM gynecological treatment. Nut grass is a usual ingredient in the prescriptions for regulating the liver.
Invigorating Spleen and Stomach
The spleen and stomach are the major organs for the digestive functions. They perform the transformation and transportation processes and provide nutrient essence for blood and qi productions. In case of a spleen deficiency, the Thoroughfare and Conception Vessels lose their blood and qi supplies, and the Girdling Vessel fails to support the uterus. These cause the female reproductive system under-functioning, especially in elderly women as they already have declined in kidney essence, qi and blood, various gynecological and fertility problems will then occur. Harmonizing and enhancing the functions of spleen and stomach can usually bring some relieves to the problems. Largehead Atractylodes rhizome is a common ingredient in the prescriptions.
Harmonizing Blood and Qi
The primary component of menstruation is blood; hence there is the saying “women take blood as primary.” Moreover, blood flowing is dominated by qi (vital energy) movement. A smooth flow of blood and qi means the organs are harmonious and vessels around the uterus are properly regulated, therefore menstruation and other functions are ensured. The roots of Chinese angelica are commonly used as blood tonic in TCM gynecology.
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| Pilose antler slices (Cornu Cervi Panotrichum) | Nut grass (Rhizome Cyperi) | Largehead Atractylodes Rhizome (Rhizoma Atractylodis Macrocephalae) | Chinese angelica root (Radix Angelicae Sinensis) |
Generally, TCM treatment can be an option for a wide range of health problems in women. Physicians will provide the remedies in medicinal and non-medicinal ways, and the two approaches are frequently complementary each other, in order to achieve the holistic and comprehensive outcomes. For medicinal therapies, physicians will pay special details in the overall changes of the body, such as yin, yang, blood and qi, and choose the correct herbs for proper treatment. Among the non-medicinal methods, including acupuncture, moxibustion, massage, cupping, scraping, hot compression, herbal steaming and bathing, qi-gong and lifestyle modification, most of the applications are simple, convenient yet effective. They are suitable for a wide range of conditions and so are well accepted by general public.
TCM treatment plans are not only based on the patient’s condition, but also highly relied on physician’s own clinical experiences, individauls may not get the exact same remedies with the same disease.
In today’s modern world, there are many healthcare options, and people are more and more health conscious. TCM experiences in women’s health have contributed greatly to different fields of industries. A lot of TCM ancient remedies are now redesigned for tonic, immune-boosting, anti-aging, weight loss or beauty proposes. The products are natural, gentle and safer in actions, thus they become hot and fashionable choices once put in market.
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