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Early Menstruation

How Chinese medicine differentiates early menstruation — cycles arriving 7 or more days ahead of schedule — into the five patterns you'll actually meet in practice, and the points for each. A classical text puts it plainly: coming ahead of schedule is due to Heat in the Blood, behind schedule is due to Cold in the Blood. Acupuncture only — no herbs.

This page is educational, for practitioners and students — it is not a diagnostic tool and does not replace a proper in-person assessment. Persistently early cycles should be evaluated to rule out hormonal or structural causes before assuming a simple pattern.
General Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture points traditionally used for early menstruation — 12 key points, used across the patterns below rather than tied to just one.

PointKey action
REN-4Nourishes Blood and Yin. Strengthens the Uterus and regulates menstruation.
SP-6Strengthens the Spleen. Nourishes Blood and Yin. Regulates the uterus and menstruation.
SP-10Cools Blood. Invigorates Blood and eliminates stasis.
LR-2Drains Liver-Fire and subdues Liver-Yang. Cools Blood and stops bleeding.
L.I.-11Clears Heat and cools the Blood.
DU-20Extinguishes interior Wind. Subdues Liver-Yang. Raises Yang.
ST-36Tonifies Qi and Blood. Tonifies the Stomach and Spleen.
REN-6Tonifies Qi and Yang. Raises sinking Qi.
BL-23Tonifies the Kidneys. Strengthens the Uterus and the Directing, Governing and Penetrating Vessels.
DU-4Tonifies Kidney-Yang and warms the Gate of Life. Strengthens the lower back.
KI-3Tonifies the Kidneys (both Yin and Yang). Regulates the uterus.
LR-3Subdues Liver-Yang. Invigorates Blood and regulates menstruation.
The Five Patterns

↑ reinforcing   ↓ reducing   ⊥ even method.

1. Heat in Uterus Blood

Clinical manifestations: Heavy flow with deep red or dark red, thick, sticky blood, feeling of heat or burning in the lower abdomen, thirst desiring cold drinks, restlessness, irritability, flushed face, dark scanty urine.
Tongue: Red body with redder tip, possible prickles, thin yellow dry coating. Pulse: Rapid, often wiry or slippery, strongest at the left middle position.
Treatment principle: Clear Heat from the Blood and cool the Blood to stop reckless bleeding and restore normal timing.
Note: no moxa. This site has no standalone Heat-in-the-Blood/Uterus slide, a gap confirmed absent many times over — no pattern link is given here; points still link fine individually.

2. Qi Collapsing or Qi Sinking View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Early period with pale thin menstrual blood, heavy bearing-down sensation in the lower abdomen, profound fatigue worsening with exertion, dizziness or lightheadedness, poor appetite, loose stools.
Tongue: Pale, puffy body with teeth marks and thin white coat. Pulse: Empty, weak, deep at the right Guan position.
Treatment principle: Tonify Spleen Qi and raise sunken Qi to restore the body's holding function.
Note: moxa applicable throughout. Matched to this site's own Spleen-Qi-sinking slide via the source's own name.

3. Kidney Qi Deficiency

Clinical manifestations: Pale, thin menstrual blood, deep soreness or weakness in the lower back, fatigue and lack of stamina, dizziness or ringing in the ears, frequent urination especially at night.
Tongue: Pale, slightly puffy with possible tooth marks, thin white coating. Pulse: Deep and weak, especially at the rear/Chi positions.
Treatment principle: Warm and tonify Kidney Qi to secure the Chong and Ren channels.
Note: moxa applicable throughout. This site's Kidney deck only has a "Kidney-Qi not Firm" slide, framed around incontinence/prolapse rather than this plain deficiency picture — a gap confirmed on several other pages — no pattern link is given here; points still link fine individually.

4. Kidney and Liver Yin Deficiency Causing Heat in the Blood View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Scanty bright-red menstrual flow, night sweats or afternoon heat flushes, five-centre heat, dry mouth and throat especially at night, low back and knee soreness, dizziness, tinnitus, insomnia with vivid dreams.
Tongue: Red, thin, dry with little or no coating, possible cracks, sides often redder. Pulse: Fine (thin) and rapid, wiry at the left middle, weak at the left rear.
Treatment principle: Nourish Yin and cool empty Heat to steady the menstrual cycle.
Note: no moxa. Matched to this site's own Kidney-and-Liver-Yin-deficiency slide — the source adds a "causing Heat in the Blood" nuance not explicit in the deck name, but the underlying Yin-deficiency/Empty-Heat picture (night sweats, five-centre heat, dry throat) lines up closely.

5. Liver Qi Stagnation That Transforms Into Heat View full pattern →

Clinical manifestations: Irritability and explosive anger, breast distension and tenderness, dark red or purple menstrual blood with clots, distending pain in the ribcage or hypochondrium, bitter taste in the mouth.
Tongue: Red body with redder sides, yellow coating. Pulse: Wiry and rapid, forceful at the left Guan position.
Treatment principle: Soothe Liver-Qi, clear Heat, regulate menstruation to restore proper timing.
Note: no moxa. Direct exact-name match with this site's own Stagnant-Liver-Qi-turning-into-Heat slide.
Related conditions

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