TCM's understanding of the etiology of interictal bleeding in patients with functional uterine bleeding

TCM believes that the intermenstrual period is a physiological stage in which the Chong and Ren Yin essence is enriched, the Yin Qi gradually grows, and the transformation from Yin to Yang is intensified. Patients with functional uterine bleeding may experience intermenstrual bleeding due to insufficient kidney Yin, weak spleen Qi, damp-heat disturbance or blood stasis, which makes the transformation of Yin and Yang uncoordinated. TCM believes that the specific reasons are as follows:

Kidney Yin Deficiency

The patient has Yin deficiency, has sex too much and has had many children, which has led to a loss of essence and blood in the kidneys. Yin deficiency leads to internal heat, with heat hidden in the Chong and Ren meridians. During the period of thinning, the Yang Qi moves inside, taking advantage of the Yin, forcing the blood to flow abnormally, resulting in bleeding. After the bleeding, the Yang Qi leaks out, and the Yin and Yang become balanced again, so the bleeding stops, but recurs in the next cycle.

Spleen deficiency

Worry, fatigue, or improper diet can damage the spleen, causing spleen weakness and loose Chong and Ren meridians. During the period of Gangzuo, Yang Qi moves inside, but it is insufficient, and blood loses control, so bleeding occurs; Yin leaks out with the blood, and Yin and Yang tend to balance again, so the bleeding stops, but recurs in the next cycle.

Damp heat

Exogenous damp-heat or emotional injury can cause liver depression and spleen invasion, internal generation of water and dampness, and the combination of dampness and heat, which accumulate in Chong and Ren meridians. When the meridians are in the process of formation, the Yang Qi moves internally, causing dampness and heat, which forces the blood to flow abnormally, resulting in bleeding; the dampness and heat are discharged with the menstrual blood, the Chong and Ren meridians are restored to normal, and the bleeding stops, but it recurs in the next cycle.

Blood stasis

During menstruation and after childbirth, excess blood remains in the body, and the blood that leaves the meridians accumulates as blood stasis, or emotions are hurt, and qi is stagnates and blood is stagnant, which forms blood stasis over time. The blood stasis blocks the Chong and Ren meridians, and when the menstruation is severe, the Yang Qi moves inside, causing blood stasis, and the blood cannot flow through the meridians, resulting in bleeding; the blood stasis is discharged with the blood, the Chong and Ren meridians are temporarily calmed, and the bleeding stops, but it recurs in the next cycle.