Have you ever wondered why Chinese grandmas or your acupuncturist always rant about not drinking cold water, especially to women during their menstrual periods?
The cold can penetrate in the deeper layers of your body, namely your uterus, and cause a "cold womb".
It is a quite common phenomenon in the USA, where most people tend to indulge in iced beverages, raw foods like salads and sushi, and stay in air-conditioned rooms for long hours.
These lifestyle habits may eventually lead to a cold womb, and issues like painful periods with clots, or even infertility. Now, not all period pain and infertility is due to cold, but there are things you can do to prevent it from happening.
What is a "cold womb"
Western medicine equivalent: Luteal Phase Defect
Having a cold womb will indicate that during the luteal phase of your cycle, meaning the phase after ovulation. Your body basal temperature (BBT) can help track the fluctuations of hormones.
In the luteal phase, the ideal core temperature is higher than before ovulation. For women with a cold womb, the low second half of the BBT chart will reflect that progesterone level produced is not high enough or the luteal phase is shortened.
This is also known as a Luteal Phase Defect (LPD)
Signs of a cold womb
late periods
longer cycles (over 30 days)
dark purple menstrual blood
many dark clots in the menstrual blood
painful cramps
diarrhea
puffiness around the eyes and dark eye circles
running cold
cold hands feet and knees
sore and weak lower back
low libido
Do's and Dont's during your period
That time of the month is when your uterus is the most vulnerable to the elements. In Chinese medicine, the exterior cold can invade the tissues of your reproductive organs and slow down their normal functions
Do: keep warm
warm baths
wearing socks or slippers
hot water bottle on your abdomen
drinking ginger or cinnamon bark tea
Don't get cold
exposure to cold weather or AC
eating raw foods or salads
drinking ice cold drinks or water
swimming, anything that gives you a chill
Herbal medicine for warming the uterus
Kidney Yang deficiency
Kidney Yang deficiency is one of the most prevalent patterns in infertility patients.
Kidney yang deficiency has a correlation with low progesterone levels and include symptoms such as feeling colder than those around you, cold hands and feet, low libido, back pain with menses, fatigue, frequent urination, and low BBT readings.
Formulas: You Gui Wan, Ai Fu Nuan Gong Wan (mugwort and aconite pill for warming the womb)
Blood & cold stagnation
Kidney Yang deficiency combined with Blood stagnation is an even more common disharmony. When Kidney Yang is not strong enough to maintain proper blood circulation in the uterus, the cycle of rebuilding uterine lining is less than optimal, which leads to dark clotty periods or even endometriosis.
Formulas: Wen Jing Tang, Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan
Moxibustion
It is the use of mugwort, a medicinal herbs with very warming qualities.
We place it above the uterus and sometimes on other points of the body in order to
warm the channels
activate blood flow
reduce pain and inflammation
You can also find mugwort belly warmers to place on your stomach at home!
Blend Your Own Uterus Strengthening Tea
Red Raspberry Leaf is one of the most effective uterine tonics, high in vitamins and minerals, especially calcium.
Nutmeg is a warming spasmolytic, which means it calms spasms. It works for gas, indigestion, and menstrual cramps
Cardamom is a stimulating, warming seed used for low libido and threatened miscarriage.
Turmeric is also used for painful menstruation due to blood stagnation.
Further reading
No matter where you are in your pregnancy and mothering journey,
if you need support, we can help.
In addition to our own team of fertility & women's health acupuncturists, we are well-connected within the Los Angeles- Pasadena area community to help you
find the right integrative and holistic care for you.
On our website, you can learn more about our services, and book an appointment.
If you have more questions please call our front desk, at 626-841-2991, or email us.
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