Acupuncture for Amenorrhea - Treatment Protocols

Submitted by yyh_staff on Tue, 2006-08-15 20:01.

Below you will find some of the more common tcm diagnoses and acupuncture treatment protocols for amenorrhea. There are many ways to treat this condition with Eastern Medicine and our presentation is only one of many possible options.

  • Differentiation:
  • Qi & Blood Stagnation - Excess Condition
    • Signs & Symptoms:

      • Lack of menstruation for 3+ months, abdominal masses, abdominal pain a/or distention that is worse with pressure, may also have hypochondriac a/or chest oppression
      • Tongue:  Purple or purple spots esp. along the LV area
      • Pulse:  Deep, tight
    • Treatment Points:
      • Xinnong (CAM) Point Selection:
      • CV 3 - excess in the lower abdomen
      • ST 29 - moves stagnant Blood in the abdomen, empirical point for returning menstruation
      • SP 10 - moves Blood
      • LV 3 - resolve Qi stagnation
      • SP 6 - move Qi/Blood in the lower abdomen
      • LI 4 - move Qi/Blood in the lower abdomen
      • If palpable abdominal masses - KD 14
      • Maciocia Point Selection:
      • SP 4 w/PC 6 - yin wei chong mai
      • CV 6 - move Qi in the abdomen
      • ST 30 - regulate menstruation
      • LV 3 - resolve Qi stagnation
      • SP 6 - move Qi/Blood in the lower abdomen
      • If palpable abdominal masses - KD 14
      • If caused by shock - KD 6
  • Phlegm/Damp Obstruction - Excess Condition
    • Signs & Symptoms:

      • Patient is likely to be overweight, body feels heavy, stuffy chest, nausea, vaginal discharges are likely if the lower heater is effected
      • Tongue:  Swollen w/greasy yellow coat especially in the rear
      • Pulse:  Slippery
    • Treatment Points:
      • Maciocia Point Selection:
      • SP 6 - move Q/Blood in the lower abdomen
      • SP 9 - resolve damp
      • CV 6 - tonify/move Qi in the abdomen
      • ST 28 - clear damp in the lower abdomen
      • TH 5 w/GB 41 - yang wei dai mai, resolve dampness in the lower warmer
      • UB 22 - TH Shu, regulate water
      • If symptoms are effecting the middle warmer (i.e. stuffy chest, nausea) - CV 12, CV 9 & ST 40, clear damp, tonify ST/SP
  • Qi & Blood Deficiency
    • Signs & Symptoms:

      • A gradual development of secondary amenorrhea where the cycle gets delayed more and more each month w/gradual decreases in Blood over time, fatigue, poor appetite, loose stools, dry skin, dizziness, may also effect the essence - sore back/knees, dry mouth, heat in the 5 palms, night sweats
      • Tongue:  Weak, possibly slow, Thin if essence is effected
      • Pulse:  Pale
    • Treatment Points:
  • HT/SP Blood Deficiency
    • Signs & Symptoms:

      • A combination of HT and Blood Deficiency signs, palpitations, dream-disturbed sleep, poor memory, looses stools, poor appetite
      • Tongue:  Pale, possibly w/red tip
      • Pulse:  Thin
    • Treatment Points:
  • LV/KD Deficiency
    • Signs & Symptoms:

      • KD Yang w/LV Blood Deficiency, fatigue, sore back/knees, dizziness, depression, lack of willpower
      • Tongue:  Pale
      • Pulse:  Weak
    • Treatment Points:
  • SP/KD Yang Deficiency
  • HT/KD Yin Deficiency
    • Signs & Symptoms:

      • Emotional causes are likely, palpitations, insomnia, dream-disturbed sleep, night sweats, dry mouth, mallor flush, heat in the 5 palms
      • Tongue:  Red w/no coat
      • Pulse:  Floating, empty
    • Treatment Points:

The information on our site is drawn from our own lecture notes and clinical experience. The following lecture notes were consulted within this section:

  • St. John, Meredith: New England School of Acupuncture, Etiology and Pathology Lecture Notes
  • Valaskatgis, Peter: New England School of Acupuncture, Etiology and Pathology Lecture Notes

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