Introduction

Western Medical Explanation of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding

Chinese Medical View of Abnormal Uterine Bleeding

Useful Herbs, Nutrients and Foods

References

INTRODUCTION

Abnormal uterine bleeding, also known as dysfunctional uterine bleeding, includes menorrhagia, hypomenorrhea, metrorrhagia, polymenorrhea, oligomenorrhea and secondary amenorrhea. Barbara and I treat abnormal uterine bleeding, getting very good results, using a combination of craniosacral acupuncture, herbs and nutritional support. The foods, herbs and nutrients we find helpful are listed below for your information. To find out more about craniosacral acupuncture we invite you to read our article entitled What is Craniosacral Acupuncture? on our website.

WESTERN MEDICAL EXPLANATION OF ABNORMAL UTERINE BLEEDING

· Possible organic causes of abnormal uterine bleeding include: endometriosis, polycystic ovary syndrome, pelvic inflammatory disease, uterine fibroids, carcinoma of the cervix, carcinoma of the uterus, myomas, endometrial polyps, thyroid dysfunction, pituitary disorders, cervicitis, syphilis, vaginal adenosis and corpus luteum cysts. The use of oral contraceptives (as well as their discontinuance), anticoagulants, corticosteroids and IUDs can also cause abnormal uterine bleeding.

· Abnormal uterine bleeding occurs most commonly at the extremes of reproductive age, with 20% of cases in adolescence and greater than 50% in patients over age 40.

· An often-overlooked factor that may contribute to menstrual irregularities is anemia. At any level of anemia, the impaired oxygen and nutrient carrying capacity can have a dramatic effect on tissues throughout the body, especially reproductive tissues. Anemia cannot only be the cause of excessive uterine bleeding, but can also be the result. Anemia can also be nutritional in origin and can result from insufficient dietary iron, vitamin B12, folic acid, vitamin C, vitamin B6 and vitamin E, which all play a role in the uptake and metabolism of iron and the formation of healthy red blood cells.

CHINESE MEDICAL VIEW OF ABNORMAL UTERINE BLEEDING

· In Chinese Medicine excessive menstrual flow or menorrhagia can be due to Blood Heat, Blood Stasis, Damp Heat in the Uterus, or Qi Deficiency.

· Bleeding at mid cycle which is scanty can be due to Liver-Yin and Kidney-Yin Deficiency with Empty Heat.

· Bleeding between periods which may be scanty or profuse may be due to Spleen Yang and Kidney Yang Deficiency. Blood Stasis or Damp-Heat.

· Long periods can be due to Kidney Yin Deficiency with Empty Heat or Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis.

· Scanty periods can be due to Blood Deficiency, Kidney Yang Deficiency, Kidney Yin Deficiency, Stasis of Blood or Phlegm Obstructing the Uterus.

· Flooding and trickling can be due to Blood Heat, Liver Qi Stagnation Turning into Heat, Blood Empty Heat, Blood Stasis, Damp Heat in the Uterus, Spleen not Holding the Blood, Kidney Yang Deficiency or Kidney Yin Deficiency.

USEFUL HERBS, NUTRIENTS AND FOODS

· Bioflavonoids – have demonstrated a significant ability to reduce heavy menstrual bleeding by strengthening the vessel walls of the capillaries in women with menorrhagia. Food sources include grape skins, cherries, blackberries, blueberries, and the pulp and white rind of citrus fruits.

· Chinese herbal formulas -- There are several excellent Chinese herbal formulas which are very helpful in inhibiting abnormal uterine bleeding.

· Taurine – A Chinese food therapy that is widely recommended for treating uterine bleeding is consumption of shellfish such as oysters. The active component has been identified to be the amino acid taurine. In rabbits, it was shown that taurine stopped bleeding faster than oxytocin, and it was described as having uterotonic effects. Western studies have indicated that women are more prone to the various ill-effects of taurine deficiency than men.

· Vitamin A – A deficiency of vitamin A may be a contributing factor in menorrhagia of adult women. Vitamin A also affects the growth and development of reproductive tissues and helps to maintain healthy epithelial and secretory tissues associated with the vagina, uterus, cervix, corpus luteum and endometrium. Food sources include yellow fruits and vegetables, liver, eggs, dairy products, and fish.

· Vitamin B complex – supplements may restore the proper metabolism of estrogen and, thus, have a role in treating dysfunctional uterine bleeding.

· Vitamin C – through its essential role in the development of collagen helps to reduce heavy bleeding by strengthening the capillaries and preventing their fragility.

· Vitamin K – deficiency is rare, but its role in the manufacture of clotting factors like prothrombin and clotting factors VII, IX and X has obvious implications for women with heavy or prolonged menses. The RDA for women is 65 micrograms daily. Food sources include kelp, alfalfa, green leafy vegetables, cow’s milk, yogurt, egg yolk, blackstrap molasses, and fish liver oils. Caution: Abnormal blood clotting can occur in people taking anticoagulant drugs and high doses of vitamin K. Excessive doses of the synthetic form of vitamin K can cause toxic reactions because the supplements will build up in the blood. Toxicity brings about a form of anemia that results in an increase in the breakdown of red blood cells, jaundice and brain damage. Natural vitamin K is stored in the body and produces no toxicity signs.

REFERENCES

Bensky, Dan & Randall Barolet, Chinese Herbal Medicine Formulas & Strategies, Seattle: Eastland Press, 1990

Bensky, Dan & Andrew Gamble, Chinese Herbal Medicine: Materia Medica, Seattle: Eastland Press, 1986

Dharmananda, Subhuti, Ph.D., Chinese Herbal Therapy for Uterine Myoma, Portland: Institute for Traditional Medicine, April 1996

Hudson, Tori, N.D., Women’s Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine, Los Angeles: Keats Publishing, 1999

Kirschmann, Gayla. J. and Kirschmann, John, Nutrition Almanac, New York: McGraw Hill, 1996

Maciocia, Giovanni, Obstetrics & Gynecology in Chinese Medicine, New York: Churchill Livingstone, 1998

Mayo, Joseph L., MD, FACOG, "A Healthy Menstrual Cycle" Clinical Nutrition Insights, 8/97 Vol. 5, No. 9 pp.4-8

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