In addition to the stress of managing busy school schedules and complicated social situations, many teen and pre-teen girls have irregular periods and moderate to severe pre-menstrual symptoms. If girls speak up about their pain, bloating, moodiness, nausea/vomiting, or other symptoms, they may be told by a family member or even a doctor that there is nothing that can be done to help. However, Chinese medicine is effective at getting menstrual cycles back to regularity without the intense symptoms. Both acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine directly affect the hormonal system. When hormones are properly balanced, menstrual flow will occur approximately every month on a fairly regular schedule and the periods should be nearly symptom-free. So, what does a healthy period look like?

• Duration: Usually a period has three to five days of bleeding, although a range from two to seven days is also possible.
• Cycle: Typically a period will arrive around every 25-31 days. A little more or less than that is ok especially if it the cycle length is consistent.
• Blood color: A healthy period has fresh red colored blood (similar to the color if you were to cut your finger). Often either the start or the end of the period may also have some brown colored blood.
• Symptoms: A healthy period should have minimal cramping or other physical or emotional symptoms.
• Amount of blood: Sources vary regarding how much blood loss is typical for a period – some suggest 30-40mL is typical and others say up to 100mL is no cause for concern.

What does an imbalanced period look like?

• Duration: A period lasting longer than a week is typically too long. On the other hand, if you only get 1-2 days of spotting (drops of blood), that is not a full period.
• Cycle: A cycle length that is inconsistent, such as 21 days and then 37 days the next time, should be looked into.
• Blood color: When the period is very pale red and watery, or dark red/purple, these indicate signs of an imbalance.
• Symptoms: Excessive symptoms that can be addressed by Chinese medicine include moderate to severe cramping (in the lower abdominal, low back, anus, or down the legs), nausea/vomiting, severe mood changes including depression and irritability, excessive bloating, acne, and uncomfortably swollen and tender breasts.
• Amount of blood: If you are typically changing a tampon or pad every 1-2 hours during your heavy flow days, regularly need to change a tampon or pad in the middle of the night, or bleed through a combination of tampon and pad within an hour or two, you are probably bleeding too much. On the other hand, if you are only having menstrual spotting and not a full flow, you are likely not having a full period.

Again, if you or your teen are suffering from any of the above-listed symptoms, acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can help! Please contact me with any questions, and I look forward to supporting your health.