Amenorrhea refers to no occurrence of menarche over 18 years old or stoppage of menstruation for 3 months. The former is primary amenorrhea and the latter is secondary amenorrhea. This syndrome pertains to the conception of amenorrhea in TCM, also known as un-smooth menorrhea and stoppage of menstruation. Amen-orrhea is usually caused by insufficient transformation of blood from the spleen and stomach as well as severe con-sumption of yin blood and exhaustion of blood source; or by retention of blood coagulation in the meridians and ves-sels due to retention of pathogenic factors in the uterus resulting from cold attack or cold drinks or due to mental depression.
Treatment
1. Body acupuncture
(1) Asthenia syndrome:
Prescription: Qihai (CV 6), Zusanli (ST 36) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6).
Modification: For asthenia of blood, Pishu (BL 20) and Geshu (BL 17) are added; for insufficiency of the liver and kidney, Ganshu (BL 18), Shenshu (BL 23) and Guanyuan (CV 4) are added; for aching and weakness of the loins and knees, Mingmen (GV 4) and Zhishi (BL 52) are added; for tidal fever and night sweating, Fuliu (KI 7) and Taixi (KI 3) are added; for palpitation, Neiguan (PC 6) and Shenmen (HT 7) are added.
Performance: The reinforcing needling technique is used. Qihai (CV 6) is needled obliquely downward with rotating reinforcing technique; Sanyinjiao ( SP 6 ) is needled obliquely upward to enable the needling sensation to transmit to the upper part; for asthenia of qi and blood, moxibustion can be added.
(2) Sthenia syndrome:
Prescription: Zhongji (CV 3), Xuehai (SP 10) and Sanyinjiao (SP 6).
Modification: For qi stagnation and blood stasis, Hegu (LI 4), Taichong (LR 3) and Diji (SP 8) are added; for cold coagulation and blood stagnation, Guanyuan (CV 4) is added; for retention of phlegmatic dampness in the middle energizer, Zhongwan (CV 12) and Fenglong (ST 40) are added.
Performance: The filiform needles are used with reducing techniques. In needling Zhongji (CV 3), urina-tion is done first and the needle is inserted obliquely downward with rotating reducing technique; Guanyuan (CV 4) is needled with the addition of moxa-roll moxibus-tion or moxa-cone moxibustion. The rest acupoints are needled with reducing techniques.
