Spotting refers to the abnormal uterus bleeding before a period. Generally, spotting occurs during ovulation phase which is the 14th day to 21st day starting from the first day of menstrual bleeding. Spotting usually lasts a few days while menstrual bleeding lasts for 5-7 days. Also, the volume of blood during spotting is usually much less than that during menstrual bleeding. The colour of spotting tends to be brown instead of red.
In TCM, spotting is referred to as "经间期出血" which translates to "intermenstrual bleeding". In the TCM point of view, abnormal uterus bleeding is commonly diagnosed as the following:
1. Kidney Yin deficiency
The kidney is vital in storing the essence of the body. Normally, in between two periods, the blood should not leave our body. When intermenstrual bleeding occurs, it could be due to a deficiency in kidney yin. A deficiency of kidney yin will hinder the function of the kidney to store blood in the body. In addition, kidney yin deficiency can cause an excess of heat to build up in the body and this heat will force the blood to leave the body through the uterus.
**2. Damp-heat
**
Women who excessively consume alcohol or fatty and sweet food tend to build up damp-heat in their body. Dampness tends to move downward, like water. Therefore, many problems related to dampness has to do with the lower part of the body. Dampness together with heat will force blood in the uterus to leave the body.
3. Blood Stasis
Blood stasis occurs when the blood in the body cannot circulate smoothly. There may be blood clots in the body that is causing the obstruction of blood flow. The blood clots can be caused by cysts or fibroids in the uterus, which are growths of tissues in the uterus. When there is blood stasis, blood may flow out of the blood vessels and leave the body through the uterus, causing spotting to occur.
TCM can help to treat spotting by the consumption of TCM herbs and acupuncture. For patients diagnosed with kidney yin deficiency, the aim of the treatment would be to replenish kidney yin and to remove the excess heat from the body so that the kidney can regain its function of storing essence in the body, and that the blood will only leave the body during menstruation period.
Similarly, for patients diagnosed with damp-heat in their body, the effect of TCM herbs and acupuncture would be to remove damp-heat from the body.
As for patients diagnosed with blood stasis, the main objective of TCM treatment would be to dispel blood stasis and promote smooth circulation of blood.
The above diagnoses are the common ones seen in intermenstrual bleeding. Patients with spotting are advised to seek consultation from a certified TCM physician to get a proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment.
