Can I still take Chinese medicine when I have my period?

Many girls have menstrual disorders. In this case, they need to go to the hospital for diagnosis and treatment in time. Generally, girls will use Chinese medicine to regulate their bodies and adjust their menstruation to normal, but many girls still have some questions about how long they should take the medicine. Sometimes menstruation has already come, but the doctor still recommends continuing to take Chinese medicine. So, if menstruation has already come, is it necessary to continue taking Chinese medicine?

1. Blood-activating and blood-stasis-removing drugs

Blood-activating and blood-stasis-removing drugs can easily consume blood and cause blood stasis. During menstruation, women's pelvic cavity is congested, menstrual blood flows downward in the uterus, and the blood chamber opens. At this time, if you take blood-activating and blood-stasis-removing drugs, it will cause increased menstrual blood volume, even metrorrhagia, and prolonged menstruation. The blood-activating and blood-stasis-removing drugs that are prohibited (or should be used with caution) during menstruation include: leeches, earthworms, safflower, aconite, frankincense, myrrh, peach kernel, Achyranthes bidentata, Sappan wood, Trillium, Curcuma zedoaria, pangolin, and Sanguisorba officinalis.

2. Hemostatic drugs

Most hemostatic Chinese medicines have the effect of shortening bleeding and coagulation. Taking hemostatic drugs during menstruation will lead to hemostasis and blood stasis, resulting in oligomenorrhea, blood stasis, blood accumulation in the uterus, and hindering blood circulation. Hemostatic drugs that are prohibited (or should be used with caution) during menstruation include: Panax notoginseng, Bletilla striata, Rubia cordifolia, Agrimoniae scabra, lotus root nodes, blood charcoal, Pollen Typha, Artemisia annua, palm charcoal, gallnut, and cuttlebone.

3. Drugs that are too spicy or bitter

Chinese medicines that are too pungent and hot can easily damage the yin and cause bleeding, leading to abnormal menstrual blood volume; Chinese medicines that are too bitter and cold can easily damage the stomach and body fluids, hinder the circulation of qi and blood, and cause symptoms such as dysmenorrhea. The overly warm, cold and bitter medicines that should not be used (with caution) during menstruation include: aconite, cinnamon, cassia twig, asarum, coptis, scutellaria, gentian, sophora flavescens, stephania tetrandra, etc.

4. Laxatives

Most laxative Chinese medicines have strong effects, which can easily damage the vital energy and make the Qi and blood circulation unable to flow. Taking laxatives during menstruation can easily lead to prolonged menstruation. Laxatives that should not be used (or should be used with caution) during menstruation include: rhubarb, senna leaves, and gansui, etc.

5. Tonic drugs

The use of tonic medicines during menstruation should also be done with caution. If tonic medicines are used indiscriminately during menstruation, it will lead to menstrual disorders. If heat is generated and blood stasis occurs, and blood heat runs rampant, it can lead to symptoms such as prolonged or increased menstruation. Tonic medicines that are prohibited (or should be used with caution) during menstruation include: ginseng, deer antler, angelica, donkey-hide gelatin, etc.