Supporting Healthy Menstrual Cycles with Acupuncture & Chinese Medicine
A Gentle Guide for Anyone Struggling With Their Hormones and Monthly Cycles
If you’ve ever felt like your menstrual cycle has a mind of its own—dictating your mood, your energy, and how grounded you feel—you're not alone. So many people struggle silently with painful periods, PMS, irregular cycles, fatigue, anxiety, or hormonal imbalance.
In Chinese Medicine, your menstrual cycle is much more than something to “deal with.” It’s a monthly message from your body—an honest reflection of your hormonal health, emotional resilience, and overall vitality. And the good news? When things feel off, acupuncture can help bring your cycle back into balance.
Below, we’ll explore the four phases of the menstrual cycle through the lens of Chinese Medicine, so you can better understand what your body is telling you and how to support yourself each month.
The Four Phases of the Menstrual Cycle in Chinese Medicine
Just as the seasons shift from winter to spring to summer to fall, your body cycles through four distinct phases each month. Each phase has its own energy, emotional rhythm, and physical needs. When you align with these natural shifts, your cycle becomes smoother and more supportive—not painful or disruptive.
1. Menstrual Phase (Days 1–5) — Winter — The Time of Letting Go
When your period begins, your body enters its deepest yin state. Blood is moving and releasing, and your system is doing the essential work of clearing out what’s no longer needed.
Common signs of imbalance in the menstrual phase:
painful cramps
dark or clotty blood
fatigue
irritability or emotional heaviness
low back pain
These symptoms often point to stagnation, cold in the womb, or constrained Liver Qi.
How to support yourself:
Rest as much as possible
Keep your belly warm; avoid cold foods and iced drinks
Gentle stretching or yin yoga
Journaling or quiet reflection
Herbs like Dang Gui, Chuan Xiong, and Gui Zhi may help move stagnation and ease pain when prescribed by a qualified herbalist.
2. Follicular Phase (Days 6–13) — Spring — The Time of Renewal
After bleeding stops, your body begins rebuilding Blood and Yin. Energy gently returns, and your mood often lifts.
Signs your body needs more support:
fatigue
low libido
dizziness
very light flow or pale blood
These can point to Blood deficiency or a weak Spleen system.
Supportive practices:
Choose blood-building foods like cooked grains, leafy greens, root vegetables, and bone broth
Engage in light, enjoyable movement
Explore creative projects—Qi loves expression
Classic herbs for this phase include Bai Shao and Shu Di Huang, used to nourish Blood and Yin.
3. Ovulatory Phase (Days 14–17) — Summer — The Time of Full Bloom
Ovulation is your most yang, radiant, outward-facing time. Ideally, it should feel natural and symptom-free.
Signs of imbalance:
mid-cycle pain
mood swings
headaches
irritability
sticky or thick cervical mucus
heat symptoms (thirst, breakouts, night sweats)
These may reflect Liver Qi stagnation, heat, or phlegm.
How to support yourself:
Enjoy connection and creativity
Eat hydrating and cooling foods like cucumber, mint, and watermelon
Acupuncture can help regulate Liver Qi and support healthy ovulation
4. Luteal Phase (Days 18–28) — Autumn — The Time of Integration
This is the phase where PMS tends to show up. Energy turns inward, the body warms, and the mind becomes more reflective.
Common imbalance signs:
bloating or water retention
breast tenderness
irritability or anxiety
sugar cravings
fatigue or coldness
digestive changes
These often point to Qi deficiency, Yang deficiency, or Liver Qi stagnation.
Supportive practices:
Simplify your schedule
Eat warm, cooked foods: soups, stews, roasted veggies
Use grounding spices like ginger and cinnamon
Herbs such as Xiang Fu, Chai Hu, Dang Shen, and Huang Qi help balance mood and support digestion when used appropriately
What Your Period Blood Reveals (Yes—It Matters)
Chinese Medicine practitioners use menstrual blood as a valuable diagnostic tool.
Fresh red, moderate flow: balanced Qi & Blood
Pale or watery: Blood deficiency or cold
Dark, thick, or clotty: stagnation or heat
Scanty flow: Qi or Blood deficiency
Heavy flow: Spleen Qi deficiency or heat in the Blood
Your cycle is a monthly check-in with your overall health. When you understand the signals, you can nourish your body more effectively.
How Acupuncture Supports Hormone Balance & Menstrual Health
Acupuncture is a deeply effective way to regulate cycles and support healthy menstruation. It helps:
ease period pain and cramps
reduce PMS and emotional swings
regulate cycles and ovulation
support fertility
calm the nervous system
reduce inflammation
balance hormones naturally
By improving circulation, regulating Qi, and supporting the Liver, Spleen, and Kidneys, acupuncture helps your body return to a harmonious rhythm.
A “normal” cycle doesn’t need to be perfect. It simply needs to feel balanced.
Acupuncture for Menstrual Health in Petaluma, Sonoma County
If you’re struggling with painful periods, PMS, irregular cycles, infertility, or hormonal imbalance, acupuncture can help you feel more grounded, supported, and at home in your body.
At Nido Wellness in Petaluma, our compassionate board-certified acupuncturists specialize in:
menstrual pain
PMS and PMDD
cycle irregularity
fertility support
PCOS symptoms
hormone imbalance
perimenopause
stress and emotional health
We blend acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, and personalized lifestyle guidance to help you find balance and restore your natural rhythm.
Ready to feel better every month?
Schedule your first acupuncture appointment at Nido Wellness in Petaluma.
Get started today to bring balance to your menstrual cycle, your hormones, and your whole self.