Study Of Mechanism And Clinical Evaluation Of TCM Herbs Therapy For Hypomenorrhea

Objective of the researchHypomenorrhea or scanty menstruation is one of a common menstrual irregularity, whereas the menstrual cycle is normal, but the menstrual flow is extremely light and/or shorter than2days. The incidence of hypomenorrhea is increasing in recent years, and if not treated properly might lead to amenorrhea, infertility or premature ovarian failure. Therefore diagnostic in early stage is significant. Records of hypomenorrhea or scanty menstruation could be found in classic TCM literatures, given us sturdy basic foundation for treating the disease. Compared to the use of hormone replacement therapy used in western medicine, TCM herbs has less side effects, making it more acceptable to the patients. This study is a clinical observation based on Professor Cai Lian Xiang many years of clinical experience, using harmonizing qi and blood, strengthening Thoroughfare-Conception vessels methods on hypomenorrhea treatment, discussing the mechanism of the methods for the disease.Literature reviewReferring to10classic TCM literatures and100Chinese and foreign journals in the last10years period. Summarizing the cause, pathology and current treatment of hypomenorrhea, both from TCM and western medicine point of view.Methods35cases of hypomenorrhea were being treated with Professor Cai Lian Xiang Tonifying blood and thickening endometrium decoction for3menstrual cycle. Menstruation blood flow, color, quality and duration before and after treatment were observed. TCM syndrome score, serum hormones, B ultrasonic were taken as indexes for clinical observation. Curative effect evaluation were based on Guidelines for Clinical Trial of TCM New Drugs, published by Ministry of Health of the People’s Republic of China in2002.Statistical analysis was using SPSS13.0software.ResultsThe total effective rate for hypomenorrhea were88.57%; with8.57%cure rate, 54.29%significant efficacy rate,34.94%efficacy rate and11.43%patient show no improvement after treatment.Improvement rate for menstrual blood flow were80.86%.TCM syndrome improvement were significant in both groups (p<0.01).There was no significant difference on serum hormones before and after treatment.There was significant improvement in uterus lining after3months treatment (p<0.05).Comparing35cases of endometrial blood flow, showed significant improvement before and after treatment (P<0.01).No significant difference found on uterine artery PI and RI before and after treatment.DiscussionProfessor Cai Lian Xiang Tonifying blood and thickening endometrium decoction is effective for hypomenorrhea with kidney deficiency and kidney deficiency with blood stasis syndrome. The decoction could improve menstrual blood flow, endometrial lining and endometrial blood flow, also managing TCM syndrome symptoms. By observing serum Estrogen level, endometrial thickness and blood flow, assuming that TCM herbs has the holistic regulation of yin and yang, therefore enhancing endometrial perfusion and improve menstrual blood flow.