Menstrual health is foundational to your overall health, whether you’re trying to conceive or not. But far too many women and people with periods have been led to believe that pain, bloating, mood swings, and irregular bleeding are just part of having a period. That narrative is not only outdated, it’s harmful. It leaves people suffering needlessly, missing work, dreading their cycle, and struggling through symptoms that negatively impact their relationships, energy, and emotional wellbeing. When these symptoms are normalized or dismissed, it prevents people from getting the care they need and deserve. Chinese Medicine offers a different perspective. It sees your period as a vital sign and an opportunity to restore health, not something to suppress or endure.

Chinese Medicine has a long and successful history of treating menstrual irregularities by addressing their root cause. For thousands of years, practitioners have used the menstrual cycle as a diagnostic guide. The color, timing, flow, and symptoms surrounding your period reveal where the body is out of balance and how to bring it back into harmony. Unlike Western medicine, which often turns to birth control to suppress symptoms, Chinese Medicine offers individualized treatment aimed at restoring normal function. The goal is not to mask the issue but to heal it. A healthy cycle becomes regular, symptom-free, and a true reflection of overall health.

What Makes a Healthy Menstrual Cycle

The menstrual cycle has four distinct phases: menstruation, the follicular phase, ovulation, and the luteal phase. Each plays a unique role in our hormonal health and fertility. (Read more about the four phases of the menstrual cycle and how they influence your ability to conceive in Your Menstrual Cycle Holds the Key to Fertility.)

A healthy menstrual cycle is regular and predictable, even if it’s not exactly 28 days. Cycles that consistently fall between 26 and 32 days are considered regular as long as they occur at the same interval each month. This means you’re ovulating predictably. Healthy cycles begin with little to no PMS symptoms. Mood is stable, the period starts with a flow of fresh red blood, with no clotting and no pain. The flow should be continuous, with no starts and stops, and only light spotting, if any at the beginning or end. A healthy period flows with your life, it shouldn’t disrupt it. No one should have to miss out on life because of their period. 

Irregular cycles indicate hormonal imbalance. Irregular patterns might show up as consistently short or long cycles, or as erratic timing with no clear rhythm. For example, someone might experience cycles that range from 19 days to 58 days. An irregular cycle indicates that ovulation is occurring at irregular times or potentially not occurring. Conditions like PCOS can cause irregular cycles.  The good news is that Chinese Medicine excels at regulating menstrual cycles by addressing the root cause of the imbalance.

PMS Is Common, But It’s Not Healthy

You shouldn’t have to brace yourself for emotional or physical upheaval every month. Symptoms like irritability, mood swings, breast tenderness, fatigue, bloating and loose stools have become so common that many people assume they’re just part of the deal. But from a Chinese Medicine perspective, these are clear signs that the body is not in balance. PMS is not simply a hormonal annoyance. It is your body’s way of asking for help.

Chinese Medicine identifies PMS symptoms as signs of disharmony, often rooted in patterns like liver qi stagnation, blood deficiency, or poor circulation of fluids and energy throughout the body. Liver qi stagnation, for example, can cause emotional irritability, breast tenderness, and digestive symptoms like bloating or changes in appetite. Blood deficiency might show up as fatigue, anxiety, or difficulty sleeping in the days before your period. These patterns are deeply connected to your lifestyle, emotional health, and the quality of your diet and rest. The good news is that they are treatable.

With the right support through acupuncture, herbal medicine, and gentle lifestyle changes, PMS does not have to be part of your monthly experience. The goal is not to push through or suppress symptoms, but to restore balance so your body functions smoothly throughout your entire cycle.

The Blood Tells a Story

In Chinese Medicine, the color, texture, and flow of menstrual blood offer important diagnostic insights. Bright red, moderate flow signals healthy circulation

• Dark red with clots indicates blood stasis
• Scant bleeding or light pink flow suggests blood deficiency
• Heavy bleeding may point to qi deficiency, heat, or blood stasis
• Starts and stops may reflect stagnation or deficiency
• Spotting between periods can result from heat, dampness, or unstable uterine qi

As we work to heal menstrual cycles, we choose herbal formulas that are carefully matched to the specific patterns we see in your cycle. For example, some formulas are designed to move the blood and resolve clots and stagnation, while others work to nourish and rebuild blood. But not all herbs are appropriate for every person. 

That’s why it is essential to work with a licensed herbalist who is trained in proper diagnosis and prescribing. Never self-diagnose, never take the same herbs your friend is using because they worked for her, and don’t order catch-all herbal supplements online. These products can be ineffective at best and harmful at worst. Always choose an herbalist who holds the NCCAOM certification to ensure your care is safe, effective, and tailored to your individual needs.

Additional Diagnostic Clues

In Chinese Medicine, we look beyond just your period to understand what your body is telling us. Your menstrual symptoms are part of a larger pattern that includes digestion, sleep, energy, and emotional wellbeing. When we take all of these pieces into account, we start to see where your system is out of balance and what needs support. This whole-person approach helps us get to the root of what’s really going on and create a treatment plan that brings lasting change.

Healing Is Possible

When I work with patients to improve their menstrual health, I always tell them to watch for the appearance of fresher red blood and a significant reduction in PMS symptoms and pain over time. These are some of the first signs we’re moving in the right direction. Fresh red blood is a sign of healthy circulation and improved uterine function.

With Chinese Medicine, it typically takes three to four menstrual cycles to begin seeing noticeable improvements. The first signs of progress are often:

• Reduced PMS symptoms
• Fresher, brighter red blood
• Reduced pain
• More consistent signs of ovulation
• More predictable cycle lengths

Your menstrual cycle offers a regular snapshot of your overall health. When it flows smoothly, it’s a sign that your body is in balance.

If your cycle is irregular, painful, or overwhelming, it’s not something you just have to put up with. These symptoms are signals that something is out of balance, and they deserve thoughtful, skilled attention. Chinese Medicine helps decode those signals and create lasting change. A healthy period is possible, and the path forward starts with listening to your body. 

Want to improve your menstrual health naturally? Schedule your first visit here. 

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Meghan Berg is a Licensed Acupuncturist and Herbalist, Hormone Health and Fertility Expert, and the founder of Mother Moon Acupuncture in Minneapolis, MN. She has been treating patients since 2007.