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Beng Lou 崩 漏: The Treatment Of Menorrhagia With The
Beng Lou 崩 漏: The Treatment Of Menorrhagia With The
NORMAL
“HEAVY PERIODS”
When stagnant Blood obstruct the blood vessels, new Blood cannot
occupy its rightful place and leaks out giving rise to haemorrhages: thus,
in an apparent paradox, Blood stasis may cause bleeding. This happens
frequently in menorrhagia.
NEW
BLOOD Cannot enter the blood
vessels in the Uterus as
they are obstructed by
X
stagnant Blood and it
BLOOD leaks out
BLOOD
VESSELS IN
STASIS
Obstructs blood UTERUS
vessels
Haemorrhage
BLOOD HEAT QI OR YIN XU BLOOD STASIS
BLOOD HEAT QI XU
Liver (Heart) Spleen and BLOOD STASIS
SHI Kidneys (Yang) Liver (Heart)
BLOOD YIN XU
EMPTY HEAT Liver and
Liver and Kidneys (Yin)
Kidneys (Heart)
XU-SHI
BLOOD HEAT QI XU
Liver (Heart) Spleen and
SHI Kidneys (Yang)
Make blood spill out of Fail to hold blood in
vessels
BLOOD vessels
BLOOD YIN XU
EMPTY HEAT Liver and
Liver and Kidneys (Yin)
Kidneys (Heart)
XU-SHI
BLOOD STASIS
Liver (Heart)
POLL
In my experience, the pathology of excessive menstrual
bleeding is usually caused by:
a) Blood Heat
b) Blood Heat and Qi deficiency in roughly equal
proportions
c) Qi deficiency
d) Blood stasis
e) Emotional problems
SINKING OF QI
Irrespective of the cause of bleeding (e.g. Blood Heat, Qi Xu, etc.) in Beng
Lou there is always what is called “Chong and Ren not stable” (Chong Ren
Bu Gu 冲 任 不 固 ). This means that in Beng Lou bleeding, there is
always a pathology of the Chong and Ren (and Du) irrespective of the
cause.
One must therefore “consolidate the Chong and Ren” to treat chronic
menorrhagia. This involves using some warm herbs even though the
bleeding may be from Blood Heat. Do not forget Du Mai if there is KI-
Yang Xu.
The “General Treatise on the Aetiology and Symptoms of
Diseases” (AD 610) says:
Chao Yuan Fang AD 610 General Treatise on the Aetiology and Symptoms of Diseases (Zhu
Bing Yuan Hou Zong Lun 诸 病 源 候 总 论 ) cited in Nanjing College of Traditional
Chinese Medicine 1979 Gynaecology in Chinese Medicine (Zhong Yi Fu Ke Xue 中 医 妇 科
学 ), Nanjing College of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, p. 47.
Of the two vessels, the Ren Mai
is particularly involved in the
pathology of Beng Lou because
this vessel influences the Uterus
and the Kidneys.
Due to the importance of the Ren Mai in the pathology of Beng Lou, the
Kidneys also play a very important and central role in the pathology and
treatment of this condition.
Whatever the type of Beng Lou, eventually the Kidneys have to be
treated. Indeed, “consolidating Chong and Ren and Du” involves
tonifying the Kidneys.
In Lou (as opposed to Beng), in general one must nourish Blood and
regulate Qi and not make much use of consolidating, astringent
herbs.
BENG: raise Qi, LOU: nourish Blood, regulate Qi, not much
consolidate, astringe consolidation or astringing
IMPORTANT ADVICE
! !
Both practitioner and patient must be patient: it takes time to treat
Beng Lou, I would say a minimum of 6-9 months.
3. “Restore the Old” means to treat the organs involved in the disharmony
which caused bleeding. This method is adopted after a woman has been
successfully treated for Flooding and Trickling and consists in tonifying
the Kidneys, regulating the Liver, strengthening the Spleen and tonifying
the Heart, and consolidating the Chong and Ren according to
circumstances.
THE FOUR PHASES OF THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE
YANG
YIN
Phase 2: nourish Blood, tonify the Kidneys, consolidate Chong, Ren and Du.
Important to treat during this phase.
Phase 3: tonify the Kidney, consolidate Chong and Ren, treat Ben
Phase 4: move Qi, invigorate Blood if necessary, treat Ben, resolve Dampness
if necessary.
If it is difficult to identify the phases, treat Ben and stop bleeding. Wait for
period (an increase in bleeding), stop bleeding during the period and then
treat for a week after the end of period taking it to be Phase 2. If there is the
fertile vaginal mucus, adopt treatment principle relevant to phase 3.
WHAT TO DO WHEN THE PERIOD IS IRREGULAR
QI XU BLOOD XU BLOOD
EMPTY
HEAT
BLOOD BLOOD XU QI XU
HEAT
CASE HISTORY
Her tongue was Pale and her pulse was Deep and
Weak. She was overweight.
I started by giving her a remedy for Beng Lou from Qi Xu: this produced
no improvement. I then gave her a remedy that nourished Yin and stopped
bleeding (because her tongue lacked coating in patches), with no
improvement. I reviewed the case and paid more attention to the painful
periods
BLOOD-HEAT
Clinical manifestations
Flooding suddenly, often before the proper time, or
trickling of blood for a long time after the end of
the proper period, blood bright-red or dark-red,
thirst, agitation, feeling of heat, dark urine,
constipation.
Treatment principle
Clear Heat, cool Blood, stop bleeding.
Acupuncture
SP-4 Gongsun (on the right) and P-6 Neiguan (on the left), L.I.-11 Quchi,
SP-10 Xuehai, SP-8 Diji, SP-1 Yinbai, KI-5 Shuiquan, SP-6 Sanyinjiao, KI-
2 Rangu and LIV-3 Taichong, LIV-5 Ligou, KI-4 Dazhong, LIV-1 Dadun.
Reducing method, no moxa.
-Ren-6 Qihai, LIV-1 Dadun, KI-10 Yingu, LIV-3 Taichong, KI-2 Rangu,
SP-6 Sanyinjiao, Ren-3 Zhongji.
-HE-5 Tongli, LIV-2 Xingjian, SP-6 Sanyinjiao.
Clinical manifestations
Sudden flooding outside the time of the proper
period or trickling for many days after the
period, blood fresh-red and rather watery,
mental restlessness, feeling of heat in the
evening, malar flush, scanty-dark urine, dry
stools.
Acupuncture
LU-7 Lieque (on the right) and KI-6 Zhaohai (on the left), KI-2 Rangu,
LIV-3 Taichong, KI-5 Shuiquan, SP-1 Yinbai, SP-6 Sanyinjiao, SP-8
Diji, Ren-4 Guanyuan, L.I.-11 Quchi, SP-10 Xuehai, LIV-1 Dadun.
Reducing method except on Ren-4 which should be reinforced.
Clinical manifestations
The period is hesitant, starting and stopping; it may seem
to stop then start again with a flood or it may trickle for a
long time after the period; pain before the period; blood
dark with clots, abdominal distension, dark complexion.
Acupuncture
SP-4 Gongsun (on the right) and P-6 Neiguan (on the left), LIV-3
Taichong, T.B.-6 Zhigou, LIV-1 Dadun, SP-8 Diji, ST-30 Qichong, SP-12
Chongmen, SP-10 Xuehai, SP-6 Sanyinjiao. Reducing method.
Clinical manifestations
Flooding at the beginning of the period which
then stops and goes on with a trickle for a long
time after the period proper, pale and watery
blood, pale face, tiredness, slight dizziness, no
appetite, loose stools.
Acupuncture
Ren-6 Qihai, Ren-12 Zhongwan, ST-36 Zusanli, SP-6 Sanyinjiao, BL-20
Pishu, BL-21 Weishu, Du-20 Baihui, SP-8 Diji. Reinforcing method,
moxa may be used.
Clinical manifestations
Prolonged bleeding with a trickle for a long time after the proper
period, periods coming late, blood pale, feeling cold, sore back,
cold limbs, pale complexion, weak knees, pale urine.
Treatment principle
Tonify and warm the Kidneys, consolidate the Directing and Penetrating
Vessels, stop bleeding.
Acupuncture
Ren-6 Qihai, BL-23 Shenshu, Ren-4 Guanyuan, ST-30 Qichong, KI-7
Fuliu, ST-36 Zusanli, SP-6 Sanyinjiao, KI-13 Qixue. Reinforcing method,
moxa must be used.
A prescription which is specific to raise Qi and consolidate the
Penetrating Vessel to hold Blood is: SP-1 Yinbai with moxa cones, BL-20
Pishu, SP-6 Sanyinjiao, Du-20 Baihui, Ren-6 Qihai and Ren-4 Guanyuan,
all with reinforcing method.
Clinical manifestations
Trickling of blood after the period proper, late
cycle, fresh-red and watery blood, dizziness,
tinnitus, weak knees, feeling of heat in the
evening, night-sweating, hot flushes, malar flush,
mental restlessness.
Treatment principle
Nourish Yin, strengthen the Kidneys, stop bleeding.
KIDNEY-YIN DEFICIENCY
Acupuncture
Ren-6 Qihai, BL-23 Shenshu, Ren-4 Guanyuan, KI-3 Taixi, ST-36 Zusanli,
SP-6 Sanyinjiao, KI-2 Rangu, KI-13 Qixue, KI-10 Yingu, LU-7 Lieque (on
the right) and KI-6 Zhaohai (on the left). Reinforcing method on all points
except KI-2 which should be needled with even method. No moxa.
• NOURISH YIN AND RESTRAIN THE FLOW (QI AND YIN XU)
(Nourish Kidney-Yin and stop bleeding)
REMEMBER: