Why Are My Periods Late?
If your period cycle is longer than 28 -30 days consistently, or for at least 3 months, then this is defined as a late Period.
The occasional late period can just be environmental. Travelling, sickness, emotional stress or any other reason may temporarily result in a late cycle.
Why do I have late periods, from a Chinese Medicine perspective?
The aetiology behind late periods involves most commonly a deficiency of qi, blood and warmth, with the exception of the excess pattern involving the stagnation of Liver Qi.
The following diet and environmental lifestyles contribute to late periods:
Excessive physical work,
Chronic illness and excess bleeding,
Long term breastfeeding (over 2 years),
Multiple pregnancies close together,
Diet involving too much raw and cold foods and drinks,
hereditary kidney energy weakness
Emotional stress
The Chong Mai
The Chong Mai is an extraordinary meridian which connects the Heart, the Kidneys, the blood and the Uterus and is commonly known as the “Sea Of Blood”. This channel, due to its connections with the internal organs, fills with blood and is the source the period. The same Meridian blood supply then creates breast milk once the period seize, and the blood turns to milk to continue to nourish the child.
If this channel becomes empty or blocked then the period will be late.
Qi and blood deficiency
When the qi and blood become deficient the period simply can not arrive on time.
Chronic illness, over working and excess bleeding weakens the Spleen energy and leads to a deficiency of qi and blood.
Late periods due to a deficiency of Qi and Blood would also present with a scant bleed of pale blood, a pale complexion, blurred vision, fatigue, dizzy, insomnia and palpitations.
The treatment involves nourishing the Blood and Qi to regulate the periods.
Internal Cold
Internal COLD is produced when the diet is irregular and with too much cold, raw foods and drinks. Items taken straight from the fridge and eaten, or drinks which are iced, consumed over a long period of time contribute to internal cold accumulation. Equally, being exposed to a lot of cold or damp weather can penetrate and become internal cold.
Once the body develops internal cold, this can soon affect the blood, congealing the smooth flow and resulting in Blood Stasis and blockage in the Chong Mai. Congealed blood prevents new blood from being generated and the “sea of blood” becomes empty, and can not fore fill its job of sending blood down to the uterus.
This pattern of disharmony will also be found to have painful periods, with dark blood and clots.
Treatment involves warming the uterus to scatter cold and regulate the periods.
Liver Qi Stagnation.
Emotional stress over a long period of time, or unresolved emotions cause the Liver Qi to stagnate. Over time this stagnation can lead to Blood Stasis, which in turn will block the “Sea of Blood” and delay the periods from starting.
This pattern would present with scant periods with clots, irritability, depression and distention in the abdomen and breasts, before the period begins.
The treatment involves pacifying the liver and moving Qi to eliminate stagnation whilst invigorate blood to regulate the periods.
Kidney Yang Deficiency.
All of the above aetiology’s can cause Kidney Yang deficiency, which is most commonly seen in older women.
The Kidney Yang deficiency fails to nourish the Sea of Blood and the essence fails to be transformed in to blood. Once again the Chong fails to fill and the period becomes late.
This pattern presents with pale, scant blood, lower back ache, frequent urination and a feeling of cold. Treatment involves tonifying the yang to warm and strengthen the Kidneys, and warm the uterus to regulate the periods.
Acute or chronic Late periods are treatable, with the use of Chinese Herbal Medicine and Acupuncture.
The different aetiologies mentioned above, require different treatment plans and changes to lifestyle, diet and environment for best results.
