~ The Menstrual Phase ~
Blog Post Pt.2
In Chinese medicine, the menstrual cycle is broken into two halves and four phases. The two halves are the Yin phase and the Yang phase. The four phases are menstrual, post-menstrual (follicular), ovulation, and pre-menstrual or implantation (luteal).
This blog post is the second in our latest series:
“Women’s Cycle Within Yin and Yang”
if you missed the first post of this series you can catch up here:
https://www.krystalkinnunen.com/bloghome/yinyang
Yin Phase and Menstrual Bleeding
In the first five days of a woman’s cycle, they are experiencing the menstrual phase. The main focus at this point in the cycle is to move Qi and blood. This stage is the one that most people immediately think of when speaking of a woman’s cycle. This part of the cycle is often referred to as “bleeding”, as the body releases accumulated blood. This time of release allows the body to make way for regeneration and to begin the reconstruction process of new blood. During this phase, the blood releasing from the uterus needs to move downwards smoothly and unconstrained. As women near the end of the bleeding period, the blood and yin of the body will begin to rebuild.
At the beginning of a woman’s cycle, the body is in the yin phase. When you are in the Yin phase of the menstrual cycle, your body will feel most balanced if you are being restful. In this state of rest, you allow the body downtime to regenerate and nourish itself. According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, the yin in our bodies represents the cooling, moistening, nourishing, growing, and fertile operations. To assist these natural processes of the body it is important to stay hydrated, keep warm and avoid high-intensity exercise. The best movement for this time is gentle, conscious, and light exercise. There are many wonderful options for movement and self-care during this phase. Massage, naps, yoga, meditation, swimming, and long walks in nature are all excellent ways to keep the Qi moving and the blood flowing. When you are in this first phase of your cycle it is important to eat foods that are warming, good for digestion, improve circulation, and assist in detoxing the body. Blood-moving foods like turmeric, ginger, eggplant, seafood, leafy greens, and berries are a few great examples that you can incorporate into your cooking. An additional way to support the body is to avoid cold raw foods, iced drinks, or fatty fried foods as they can slow the body’s blood flow, which can lead to stagnation. Instead, focusing on warming and nourishing foods is the best way to support your body’s systems and energy. Think of it this way: cold temperatures cause the blood vessels in the body to constrict, reducing the amount of blood flow that is circulating throughout the body. The same applies in regards to what we put into the body; cold drinks and food will reduce circulation while warming foods will increase circulation. This phase in the cycle is all about the downward flow!
Common Issues in the Menstrual Phase and Treatments
Yin and yang are attributed to being the birth center of Chinese Medicine and therefore the essence that permeates all aspects of the practice. With this in mind, it is important to remember that everything is about balance. Traditional Chinese Medicine and Acupuncture are amazing ways to help the body balance and regulate its systems. Acupuncture is a highly effective medicine for irregular cycles, PMS, and maintaining regular cycles. It is recommended that 4 treatments per month (1/each phase) are ideal for at least 3 cycles (3 months). With consistent treatments and incorporating the additional resources of foods and movements, the menstrual phase can be greatly improved for women. Around menstruation time the strong yin energy pull in our bodies pushes us towards introversion, meditation, creativity, and yearning for extra self-care or nourishment. These are healthy and normal aspects of a woman's cycle. What is abnormal are menstrual disorders such as PMS, irregular cycles, and heavy bleeding. The good news is that menstrual imbalances can be regulated with acupuncture if treatments are consistent.
Registered acupuncturists can assess and treat several common TCM patterns within each phase of a woman’s cycle. A few examples in the first phase, the menstrual phase, include the following: pain during menstruation (which can indicate blood stagnation, blood deficiency, and cold in the uterus), blood clotting, throbbing headaches (which may be related to liver yang rising), dull headaches during or after bleeding (which is related to qi and blood deficiency), heavy or flooding periods, spotting and/or thin periods, and diarrhea. Prominent disorders such as PMS, irregular periods, painful periods, and heavy periods can all be helped by acupuncture and TCM. If you have experienced any of the above symptoms or disorders with your monthly cycles, acupuncture and herbal medicine can help. All of these occurrences are signs that there is an imbalance in the body that needs to be healed. Have you experienced any of the following symptoms listed above monthly? Would you like to try acupuncture to assist in balancing and regulating these occurrences?
Asheville Integrative Acupuncture is here to support you.