According to Chinese Medicine, what is considered
a healthy menstrual cycle?
Awareness of your body always gives you power. Whether you are using conventional medicine and manipulating your cycle with birth control methods or not using artificial means, it is essential to know what a healthy menstrual cycle looks like.
An ideal cycle is regular: it lasts 28 days (25-35 days is a good range); it contains little PMS; most blood is bright red; and has no blood clots. Also look for the discharge: it is healthiest when it is clear to white. The discharge that indicates fertility begins approximately 6 days before ovulation with the rise of estrogen. This discharge will be clear, stretchy and have the consistency of raw egg white. A substantive discharge means increased fertility because it facilitates pathways for sperm to enter the uterus. This discharge is considered Yin in nature in Chinese Medicine. If you are lacking this type of cervical discharge, you might be need your reproductive system and whole body to be nourished (Check out diet suggestions below to nourish your body with gentle cooling foods). Drugs that dry up or interfere with cervical fluid are antihistamines, atropine, N-SAIDS, and antidepressants.
Ovulation is the release of the egg. The egg lives for 6-12 hours after it is released. The sperm lives for up to 5 days. The prime time to start engaging in intercourse would be 4 days prior to ovulation, 48 hours being the best. The phase after ovulation is the luteal phase. (Check diet suggestions below to warm your body at this stage). Once you begin to bleed, Traditional Chinese Medicine says that you are most deficient and are more vulnerable. To avoid depletion while you are bleeding, keep your feet warm, don’t walk around the house barefoot, and don’t swim in cold water. While you are bleeding and right after, it is important to nourish your blood (check the diet suggestion below for foods that nourish your blood).
Diet Suggestions in general, eat organic foods when possible and avoid meats that have been treated with hormones or fish that contains mercury. Women need to eat food with essential fatty acids, e.g., nuts, seeds, and wild caught salmon. Essential fatty acids are also found in cold pressed oils like flaxseed, winter vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots, and all dark green vegetables. Avoid alcohol and caffeine. Chinese Medicine takes an energetic view of our bodies and our organs, meaning that bodily energy needs to move freely and stagnation causes problems. The energy of the kidney system is very important for reproduction. For men and women, foods that nourish their reproductive system include: chicken or duck and eggs from both; seeds and nuts; oysters; seaweed and algae.
If you're mostly warm especially at night eat the following foods that nourish your body with gentle cooling foods: fruits such as raspberries, pineapples and grapes; vegetables such as asparagus and beans; adequate proteins, especially tofu and fish; and organ meats such as kidneys, brains and hearts. Avoid spicy, pungent foods.
If you're always cold eat the following foods that warm your body: ginger, ginger tea, beans, grains and vegetables such as mustard greens, winter squash, cabbage and kale. Avoid ice cold drinks, ice cream and foods that are very cold. In general, it is a good idea to avoid ice water and ice cream during conception attempts.
If you're pale, fatigued, worry a lot, get dizzy, and bruise easily, eat the following foods that nourish your blood: fruits such as blackberries, raspberries and grapes; organic meats and poultry; soup stock made from meat bones; and vegetables such as turnips, spinach and dark, leafy greens.
If you have more questions regarding your cycle, it's regularity and regarding fertility, contact one of our Registered Acupuncturists at Healing Cedar Wellness.
An ideal cycle is regular: it lasts 28 days (25-35 days is a good range); it contains little PMS; most blood is bright red; and has no blood clots. Also look for the discharge: it is healthiest when it is clear to white. The discharge that indicates fertility begins approximately 6 days before ovulation with the rise of estrogen. This discharge will be clear, stretchy and have the consistency of raw egg white. A substantive discharge means increased fertility because it facilitates pathways for sperm to enter the uterus. This discharge is considered Yin in nature in Chinese Medicine. If you are lacking this type of cervical discharge, you might be need your reproductive system and whole body to be nourished (Check out diet suggestions below to nourish your body with gentle cooling foods). Drugs that dry up or interfere with cervical fluid are antihistamines, atropine, N-SAIDS, and antidepressants.
Ovulation is the release of the egg. The egg lives for 6-12 hours after it is released. The sperm lives for up to 5 days. The prime time to start engaging in intercourse would be 4 days prior to ovulation, 48 hours being the best. The phase after ovulation is the luteal phase. (Check diet suggestions below to warm your body at this stage). Once you begin to bleed, Traditional Chinese Medicine says that you are most deficient and are more vulnerable. To avoid depletion while you are bleeding, keep your feet warm, don’t walk around the house barefoot, and don’t swim in cold water. While you are bleeding and right after, it is important to nourish your blood (check the diet suggestion below for foods that nourish your blood).
Diet Suggestions in general, eat organic foods when possible and avoid meats that have been treated with hormones or fish that contains mercury. Women need to eat food with essential fatty acids, e.g., nuts, seeds, and wild caught salmon. Essential fatty acids are also found in cold pressed oils like flaxseed, winter vegetables, such as broccoli, cauliflower, and carrots, and all dark green vegetables. Avoid alcohol and caffeine. Chinese Medicine takes an energetic view of our bodies and our organs, meaning that bodily energy needs to move freely and stagnation causes problems. The energy of the kidney system is very important for reproduction. For men and women, foods that nourish their reproductive system include: chicken or duck and eggs from both; seeds and nuts; oysters; seaweed and algae.
If you're mostly warm especially at night eat the following foods that nourish your body with gentle cooling foods: fruits such as raspberries, pineapples and grapes; vegetables such as asparagus and beans; adequate proteins, especially tofu and fish; and organ meats such as kidneys, brains and hearts. Avoid spicy, pungent foods.
If you're always cold eat the following foods that warm your body: ginger, ginger tea, beans, grains and vegetables such as mustard greens, winter squash, cabbage and kale. Avoid ice cold drinks, ice cream and foods that are very cold. In general, it is a good idea to avoid ice water and ice cream during conception attempts.
If you're pale, fatigued, worry a lot, get dizzy, and bruise easily, eat the following foods that nourish your blood: fruits such as blackberries, raspberries and grapes; organic meats and poultry; soup stock made from meat bones; and vegetables such as turnips, spinach and dark, leafy greens.
If you have more questions regarding your cycle, it's regularity and regarding fertility, contact one of our Registered Acupuncturists at Healing Cedar Wellness.
