A Must-Read Guide to Dietary Care During Menstruation: A TCM Practitioner Teaches You "Right Foods at the Right Time"! The Complete Guide for Pre-Menstrual, Menstrual, and Post-Menstrual Care
- 明醫館 Yinyang-cmc
- 20 minutes ago
- 4 min read
"Practitioner Lee, during that time of the month, besides taking Chinese herbal medicine, what else can I eat to help nourish my body?" — This is one of the most common questions female patients ask during daily consultations at Yin-Yang TCM Center (To Kwa Wan and Mei Foo clinics).
In fact, there are many herbs and ingredients suitable for women's menstrual care and health maintenance, but the key lies in "using the right ingredients at the right time"! A woman's menstrual cycle shifts along with changes in the Chong and Ren meridians as well as Qi and Blood, creating distinctly different physiological needs at each phase. By conditioning your body in harmony with these natural cycles, you achieve twice the result with half the effort. Today, Practitioner Lee has compiled a tailored dietary and care guide for the pre-menstrual, menstrual, and post-menstrual phases!
I. One Week Before Menstruation: Promoting Qi and Blood Flow to Relieve Pre-Menstrual Bloating and Water Retention
1. Physiological Changes
In the week leading up to menstruation, Qi and Blood begin to flow downward into the Chong and Ren meridians as well as the uterus. If Qi and Blood flow sluggishly, it easily triggers a range of Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS) symptoms, such as breast tenderness, abdominal bloating, water retention, irritability, or restlessness.
2. Practitioner Recommended Dietary Recipe: Motherwort Egg & Brown Sugar Tea (Boiled)
Ingredients: Motherwort (Yi Mu Cao) 9g, 1 egg, a small amount of brown sugar.
Directions: Add water to Motherwort and the egg, then simmer for 30–45 minutes. Once the egg is cooked, peel the shell, return it to the pot to simmer briefly, and add brown sugar to taste.
Efficacy & TCM Rationale: Motherwort is slightly cold in nature with a bitter and pungent flavor. It possesses the effects of invigorating Blood, regulating menstruation, resolving Blood stasis, relieving pain, and promoting urination to reduce edema. Taking it before your period helps promote smooth Qi and Blood circulation in the uterus, effectively relieving pre-menstrual water retention and preparing your body for a smooth menstrual flow.
II. During Menstruation: Keeping Warm, Dispelling Cold, and Promoting Smooth Menstrual Discharge
1. Physiological Changes & Precautions
When menstruation begins, the uterus is actively discharging blood, leaving the organ vulnerable to Cold pathogens. Diet should be light and plain, strictly avoiding raw or iced foods and cold drinks. Pay constant attention to keeping your lower abdomen and feet warm to maintain smooth menstrual flow.
2. Practitioner Recommended Dietary Recipe: Ginger & Brown Sugar Tea (Boiled)
Ingredients: 3–4 slices of fresh ginger, an adequate amount of brown sugar.
Directions: Slice the fresh ginger, bring it to a boil in water for 10–15 minutes, stir in the brown sugar until dissolved, and drink warm.
Efficacy & TCM Rationale: Fresh ginger warms the meridians, dispels Cold, eliminates Dampness, and stops nausea; brown sugar is warm in nature, harmonizing the Stomach, relieving pain, and warming Qi and Blood. Drinking this during your period warms the uterus and significantly eases cramps and discomfort caused by a Cold Womb.
III. One Week After Menstruation: Replenishing Empty Blood Reserves, Nourishing Qi and Blood for Recovery
1. Physiological Changes
After menstruation ends, significant blood loss leaves the uterine blood reserve depleted, placing the body in a relatively deficient state. This is the crucial window to replenish high-quality nutrients and Blood-nourishing herbs to repair the uterine lining and lay a solid foundation for your next cycle.
2. Practitioner Recommended Daily Tea: Longan, Goji Berry & Red Date Tea (Steeped)
Ingredients: 3 dried longans, 15 goji berries, 2 red dates (pitted).
Directions: Wash all ingredients, place them in a cup, pour in hot water, and steep for 30 minutes before drinking.
Efficacy & TCM Rationale: Longan calms the mind and nourishes Blood, goji berries nourish the Liver and Kidneys, and red dates replenish Blood and soothe the nerves. Key Tip: Pitting the red dates reduces their warming and drying nature, making this tea ideal for daily post-menstrual nourishment.
3. Practitioner Recommended Nourishing Soup: Codonopsis, Angelica & Black Chicken Soup (Boiled)
Ingredients: Codonopsis (Dang Shen) 15g, Chinese Angelica (Dang Gui) 9g, 1 black chicken, 2 slices of fresh ginger.
Directions: Blanch the black chicken. Place it into a pot with Codonopsis, Angelica, and fresh ginger. Add water, simmer for 2 hours, and season with a pinch of salt before serving.
Efficacy & TCM Rationale: Codonopsis greatly tonifies Primordial Qi and strengthens the Spleen, while Angelica nourishes and invigorates Blood while regulating menstruation and stopping pain. Combined with black chicken, this classic soup quickly replenishes Qi and Blood while nourishing Yin and promoting complexion radiance—making it a premier recipe for post-period recovery.
💡 Practitioner Lee's Warm Reminder:
Aligning with your body's natural rhythms and nourishing yourself at the right time is the ultimate key to maintaining feminine beauty and gynecological health! If you experience severe cramps, irregular periods, scant menstrual flow, or are preparing for pregnancy, you are welcome to visit Yin-Yang TCM Center for personalized herbal medicine and acupuncture treatment.
📍 Yin-Yang TCM Center
Services: Gynecological Menstrual Conditioning | Pain Relief & Cold Womb Care | Pre-pregnancy Health | Acupuncture | Chinese Herbal Internal Medicine
Clinic Addresses:
To Kwa Wan Clinic: G/F, 19 Lok Shan Road, To Kwa Wan, Kowloon
Mei Foo Clinic: Shop 82 & Shop 150-151-B2, Podium, Stage 3, Mei Foo Sun Chuen, Kowloon
Reservation Line: +852 2606 0008
WhatsApp Reservation: https://wa.me/91538077
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