Chinese external remedies can be in various forms, and are usually applied to different clinical conditions.

Amenorrhea (missed periods) is a common menstrual disorder. TCM believes the condition is mostly due to pathogenic factors like phlegm-dampness, blood stasis, cold coagulation, blood deficiency and essence depletion that leaded to dysfunction in the organs or Thoroughfare or Conception Vessels. The external treatment will be designed according to the disharmony patterns, the remedies are either aimed to activate blood, promote qi circulation, dispel wind or cold pathogens, unblock the meridians, invigorate organ functioning, detoxify or resolve accumulation. Generally, TCM external remedies for missed periods are simple and easy to apply, safe and less likely to cause undesirable effects, and thus are widely accepted among the general public.

1. Medicinal Suppository

Physician prepare herbs into suppository form and use to insert in the vagina or rectum for healing. According to the literature, this method had already been used for constipation during the Han Dynasty 206 BC ∼ 220 AD. Through its membranous absorption in the vagina and rectum, the herbs can exert a generalized effect.

For missed periods, the herbal suppository can be made from a powder mixture of Chinese rhubarb (15g) and India madder root (qian cao, 10g). Every night after washing, wrap the suppository with gauze and insert it deep into the vagina. It should stay in place for over four hours; hot compress should better be applied at the same time over the lower abdomen, for 15-25 minutes each time. Ten times make up one course.

2. Umbilical Therapy

Umbilical therapies may be applied as herbal dressing, compressing, steaming or moxa heating. In TCM, the navel, which is also called shen que, an important acupoint of the body. The acupoint has a close relationship with the physiology and pathology of the internal organs, limbs and skeleton bones. By stimulating the navel, a medicinal effect infiltrates through the skin and reaches the meridians, activating qi movements and promoting internal balance.

Umbilical dressing is an important external therapy in TCM. Physicians prescribe herbs after a detailed consultation with the individual. They prepare the ingredients into dosage forms like cream, granules, pills, powder and soft extracts. The drug is pasted on the navel and covered by gauze or tape. Sometimes, physicians will combine this with moxibustion or hot compress therapies.

Sample remedy for missed periods:
Herbs such as cassia bark, fennel, corydalis rhizome (yan hu sao), Manchurian wildginger, myrrh, frankincense and other invigorating herbs are ground into a powder. Take 5-10 g of this mixture each time, add millet wine and mix into paste. Apply into the navel and cover with swab, then wrapped around the waist to keep the dressing in place. The paste should be changed daily until the menses arrive. This is suitable for women who have excessive coldness.

3. Herbal Compress

This is a kind of external application by pressing a heated pack over the body surface repeatedly. It can be applied in two ways:

Wet way: selected herbs are ground and packed, steamed for 30 minutes, cool down for a while and then use the warm moistened herbal pack to compress on the body surface. When the herbal pack becomes cool, steam again and repeat the procedures. Through the stimulation of herbal effects and warmth, this therapy promote the communication of striae, soothes the meridians and smooths the circulation of blood and q. The selected herbs are mainly fragrant and pungent in properties, which enable them to be absorbed through the skin and so take effect. This is a popular Chinese home remedy, which is beneficial for promote blood flow, resolve stasis and swelling, and relieve painful conditions.

Dry way: the heating materials are like wax, mud, salt, green onion and ginger or special electrical tools, other steps are as the above wet way. This is particular beneficial for painful menstrual disorder due to cold coagulation, blood stasis and qi stagnation, and also urinary difficulty as well.

Sample compresses for missed periods:

Remedy (1): motherwort fruit (100 g), silkworm dung (100 g) and millet wine (100 ml). The remedy is suitable for missed periods that accompanied with lumbar soreness, abdominal distention, dizziness and general weakness.

Method: Stir-fry the two ingredients for ten minutes, and then sprinkle the wine over it and keep stir-frying for a while. Pack the ingredients into a yarn bag and let it cool down for a while, then use it to compress over the lower abdomen repeatedly for 20 minutes or longer. If the bag turns cool, reheat the ingredients and apply once again. After finishing the compress, rest for several hours.

Remedy (2): motherwort herb (120g) and dried Chinese rose (60g), boil with 2500 ml water to make a thick solution and keep warm. This remedy is suitable for menstrual disorder due to blood stasis.

Method: individual should be in a lying position, prepare two towels soaked the solution, wring out excess solution and then cover on the lower abdomen, keep warm and stay for 30 minutes each time.

4. Moxibustion with ginger

Moxibustion has long been a popular home remedy in China. When using alone, it is good for certain conditions, such as sweating problems, bronchiectasis and spitting blood, which are indicated for disharmonies belong to deficient, cold or yin pattern. Commonly selected acupoints include shen que,  zu san li, guan yuan, da zhui, yuan quan.

moxibustion with ginger

Prepare moxa cones and two fresh ginger slices (0.3- 0.4 cm thick) and puncture small holes on them.  Put the ginger slices on the acu-points: guan yuan (CV 4) and qi hai (CV 6), place a moxa cone on them and ignited. This will create a mild scorching sensation on the points, when the cone burned, removed the ash and replaced with another. About 5 to 7 cones are needed,  until the skin is slight red. Apply daily for 30 minutes for each time. Ten times make up one course.

5. Steaming and Washing Methods

Through the effects of herbs and warmth on the skin and superficial membranes, herbal steaming and washing therapies can alert the internal environment, such as harmonizing the meridian system and regulating the circulation of blood and qi.

Prepare a remedy with herbs like rehmannia rhizome, angelica root, red peony root, peach kernel, salfflower, flying squirrel dung, Chinese rhubarb, peony root bark, India madder root and akebia stem, 15g for each. Boil with 1500 ml water for 30 minutes; pour the solution into a tub. Take off the underwear, sit in the tub and cover the lower body with a large towel. Let the steam infiltrate the perineum region first; when the water turns warm, wash the region with the solution until it turns cool. Apply daily for 30 minutes. Ten times make up one course.

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