In The Know: Periods
YOUR MONTHLY REPORT CARD
Your period is one of the few visual signs we have of what is going on inside your body! Your flow quality and quantity, as well as period symptoms, can help inform us of your overall health and wellness*. Think of it as your monthly report card! Let's break down what you might be noticing.
*Unless you are on hormonal birth control, in which case your flow is not really a period.
CYCLE LENGTH
28-30 days: Ideal length
<27 days: heat in blood, qi deficiency, yin deficiency
>30 days: Qi/ blood deficiency, stagnation
Irregular cycles: Qi stagnation
Amenorrhea (no cycles): Deficiency, dampness
PERIOD SYMPTOMS
IRRITABILITY, ANXIETY, BREAST TENDERNESS: These are signs of Liver Qi stagnation and tend to be worse right up until your period.
FATIGUE, INSOMNIA, PALPITATIONS: Before or during period are typically signs of blood deficiency
CRAMPING PAIN THAT IMPROVES WITH HEAT: Cold and blood stagnation in the uterus
DISTENDED PAIN THAT IS PAINFUL TO THE TOUCH: Damp heat stagnation in the uterus
ACUPUNCTURE FOR PERIOD ISSUES
Our hormones work on a feedback loop, so to get ahead of period problem and PMS, its best to start with weekly acupuncture to affect each part of the menstrual cycle. Most people find relief in under a month, but it can take 2-3 months to see major shifts.
