Learn about how pathology in the Spleen, Heart, Lung, and Stomach affect women’s health. Pathology includes Deficiencies within the organs.

Pathology Within The Spleen

Spleen-Qi deficiency is important in Gynecological problems though not directly. Blood deficiency may occur in Spleen-Qi deficiency, because it is the source of Postnatal Qi and Blood. Therefore, the Liver, the Kidneys and the Spleen treat the Blood. 

In Spleen-Qi deficiency, the Spleen will have trouble holding Blood and will therefore cause menorrhagia, where the flow of periods is heavier than normal. Spleen-Blood Deficiency may be the cause of Liver-Blood Deficiency. Therefore, the tonification of the Liver and Spleen treats Liver-Blood. It is seen in the tongue with a pale aspect and the pulse will appear to be weak and empty. Spleen-Blood and Spleen-Qi deficiency manifest as Amenorrhoea, scanty or late periods.

Dampness is a major problem in women’s health that may be triggered by Spleen-Qi deficiency. It manifests on the tongue through a thick and sticky coating and Phlegm manifests in the tongue through swelling. This pathology may cause Amenorrhoea, Leucorrhoea, Ovarian cysts, and Oedema during pregnancy.

The Uterus or the Bladder are at risk of prolapsing when Spleen-Qi sinks because the internal organs are held by the rising of Spleen-Qi. Other symptoms of Sinking Spleen-Qi are urinary and genital issues, miscarriage, a weak pulse, and a pale tongue. Keep in mind, Kidney-Qi also plays a role in the symptoms of sinking Spleen Qi.

The Heart’s Importance in Menstruation

The Heart in acupuncture houses the mind and governs Blood. An important factor to take into consideration is that the Heart connects with the Uterus through the Uterus Vessel. Because of these three connections, the Heart has a major impact in the menstrual function, pregnancy, childbirth, and menopause when it comes to mental-emotional problems.

Acupuncturists treat Heart-Blood when there is existing pathology involving Blood deficiency. The connection between the Heart Channel and the Small Intestine is that together they stimulate the production of breast milk and menstruation. 

Symptoms of Heart pathology in women’s health include scanty periods in Heart-Blood deficiency, menorrhagia in Heart-Blood Heat, and painful periods in Heart Blood stasis. Heart-Qi must descend to make the period come on time, otherwise, women’s periods may come too early or be delayed.

Heart-Fire occurs when Heart-Qi is stagnant for a long period of time and leads to heavy periods. Fire descends and affects the Directing and Penetrating Vessels. The point HE-5 Tongli in combination with LIV-2 Xingjian and SP-6 Sanyinjiao treats Heat-Fire Deficiency.

Lung-Qi and Heart- Qi cannot descend when Heart-Qi rebels and ascends. The body is susceptible to amenorrhoea because Qi cannot communicate with the Uterus Vessel. Emotional stresses will affect the Heart where Blood or Qi will stagnate. As a result, the Emperor Fire cannot convey information to the Kidneys, Water and Fire and infertility may occur.

Heart-Qi and Heart-Blood descend to the Kidneys and Uterus and aid in creating menstrual blood and the discharge. If they cannot communicate with the Kidneys and there is stasis, Blood cannot move and indirectly causes Blood Deficiency. Symptoms of Heart-Qi and Heart-Blood deficiency include scanty periods, delayed periods, and delayed ovulation.

Connection Between The Heart-Mind

Blood deficiency affects the Heart in the Uterus and can lead to depression after childbirth. Qi rises to the Lungs and the Heart in stresses such as worry, sadness and shock and affects menstruation, manifesting as amenorrhoea. 

Vaginal discharge and vaginal soreness occur when the Heart is harassed by Fire and there is mental restlessness. The tonification of the point HE-8 Shaofu treats this pathology.

Overtime sadness and overworking the body causes Heart-Yin deficiency. Sadness could cause menorrhagia, whereas overworking can cause amenorrhoea. Mental problems arise after pregnancy mainly because that Blood deters to the fetus and leaves the Heart susceptible to rising Fire. Mental restlessness can complicate birth.

The stasis of Heart-Blood will delay menstruation or cause dysmenorrhoea since Heart-Blood flows to the Uterus. The point P-6 Neiguan treats the lack of movement of Blood.

Pathology Within The Lungs

Lung-Qi deficiency is associated with deficiency in the Spleen-Qi, therefore the Lungs do not directly impact gynecological problems. However, they do contribute to the prolapse of the Uterus, menorrhagia, chronic urinary and gynecological problems.

Breast distention and sighing during the pre-menstrual stages are products of stagnation of Lung-Qi due to emotional stresses. This is due to the fact that they are in the chest area. For instance, the point LU-7 Lieque treats distention in the chest due to stresses such as worry and sadness during the premenstrual tensions.

Pathology Within The Stomach

Because of the connection with the Uterus through the Penetrating Vessel, the Stomach has an essential role in gynecological problems. Stomach-Qi rebels when the Qi in the Penetrating Vessel rebels. This connection is the reason for morning sicknesses in pregnancies, nausea during premenstrual tensions, and painful periods. The Stomach is partly responsible for lactation problems since the Stomach, PostNatal Qi, Blood and the Spleen produce milk. The herb Ban Xia Rhizoma Pinelliae Preparatum treats the Stomach.