Disease and Condition Overview
Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding (DUB) is characterized by ruling out other organic and structural causes for abnormal vaginal bleeding. In Chinese medicine, it is primarily caused by the damage to the Penetrating Vessel and Ren Channel and their inability to solidify and contain blood, causing abnormal bleeding. Common causes include blood heat, kidney deficiency, spleen deficiency and blood stagnation. Some cases result due to heat damaging the Penetrating Vessel and Ren Channel which forces the blood to spill over. Others result from damage to spleen qi which in turn loses the ability to control and contain blood. Other reasons include the loss of kidney yang in storage of blood, blood stagnation and the inability of blood to return to its proper channel, all of which cause the overflow of the Penetrating Vessel and Ren Channel. The disease can occur suddenly or because of a prolonged period of irregular menstrual cycles. It is closely related to the Penetrating Vessel, Ren Channel, spleen, liver and kidney. The disease includes both excess and deficiency syndromes. Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding (DUB) is a gynecological disease most often seen in young women, menopausal women and post-partum women. Anovulatory dysfunctional uterine bleeding, and bleeding caused by tumor and irregular vaginal bleeding can also be treated using the following methods accordingly.

Pair-point Treatment Combinations

(1) Taixi (KI3), Taichong (LV3) (Fig 19)
Taixi (KI3), the yuan-source point of the foot-shaoyin channel. tonifies kidney and nourishes the liver. Taichong (LV3), the foot-jueyin channel yuan-source point, soothes the liver and regulates qi. The points in this combination, one t0nifying and one reducing, offset one another and together tonify kidney, pacify liver, harmonize and regulate qi and collaterals, cool and stop blood. This treatment is appropriate for Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding (DUB) caused by yin deficiency and excess fire, blood heat, or damage to the collaterals of the uterus.

Needling techniques:
1. Taixi (KI3) perpendicular insertion to a depth of 0.5 cun.
2. Taichong (LV3) perpendicular insertion to a depth of 0.5 cun.

(2) Dadun (LR1), Yinbai (SP1) (Fig 121)
Dadun (LR1): on the lateral side of dorsum of the foot, the distal segment of the great toe, 0.1 cun proximal to the corner of the nail.
Yinbai (SP1): on the medial side of the distal segment of the big toe, 0.1 cun proximal to the corner of the nail.
Dadun (LR1), the jing-well point of foot-jueyin channel, disperses, harmonizes and regulates lower jiao, regulates the menstral cycle and stops blood. Yinbai (SP1), the jing-well point of foot- taiyin channel, strengthens spleen, harmonizes stomach and restricts and stops blood. This pair point combination works in synergy to disperse liver, regulate channels to store blood, strengthens spleen, elevates clear and controls blood. This treatment is appropriate for Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding (DUB) caused by qi stagnation or collapse of middle qi.

Needling techniques:
1. Dadun (LR1) perpendicular insertion to a depth of 0.1 cun.
2. Yinbai (SP1) perpendicular insertion to a depth of 0.1 cun.
3. Or moxa for 3-5 sections.

Commentaries
Acupuncture has definite results in the treatment of Dysfunctional Uterine Bleeding.
For excess bleeding however, acupuncture should be combined with other treatments in addition to bed rest or hospitalization. It is important to observe and record the changes in the amount, texture and color of blood. Post-menopausal women should be thoroughly examed to exclude the possibility of tumors.