Disease and Condition Overview
Menoxenia is characterized by any abnormality of menstruation. Clinically, it is differentiated into early menstrual cycle, delayed menstrual cycle and irregular cycle. It often accompanied by variation in amount, color, texture of menstrual blood. It is a common gynecological disorder. In Chinese medicine, early menstrual cycle is caused by qi deficiency or heat disturbing the Penetrating Vessel and Ren Channel, causing the dispersion of blood and the early arrival of menstrual period. The delayed menstrual cycle is differentiated into excess and deficiency. Excess syndromes are caused by cold restricting blood stagnation, or by qi blockage creating blood stagnation in the Penetrating Vessel and Ren Channel which results in the delayed menstrual period. In the deficiency syndrome, the cause is the loss or nutrient (ying) blood and yang qi deficiency which leads to tack of blood source and the inability to fill xuehai (the sea of blood) in a timely manner. In irregular menstrual cycle, liver qi blockage and stagnation or kidney qi deficiency cause the Penetrating Vessel and Ren Channel qi and blood to be unable to regulate xuehai (the sea of blood). This disease is closely associated with kidney, liver and spleen and also the Penetrating Vessel and Ren Channel. If kidney qi is full and abundant, liver and spleen are well regulated and the Penetrating Vessel and Ren Channel are filled then blood will descend in a timely manner.
Clinically, it should be differentiated from ovulatory dysfunctional uterine bleeding, genital inflammation or abnormal vaginal bleeding caused by a tumor.

Pair-point Treatment Combinations

(1) Guanyuan (RN4). Shenshu (BL23) (Fig 30)
Guanvuan (RN4) is where the original yin and yang reside. Shenshu (BL23) is where the qi and blood from kidney infuse on the back. This pair point combination, one anterior and one posterior, tonifies kidney and fortifies yuan or congenital qi, opens air passage ways and relieves asthma. This treatment is appropriate for menoxenia caused by congenital endowment deficiency, loss or damage of original yuan qi, or kidney deficiency.
Needling techniques:
Guanyuan (RN4), Shenshu (BL23) both points needle about to a depth of about 1 cun, using slight stimulation or combined with rnoxibustion.

(2) Taixi (KI3), Taichong (LV3) (Fig 19)
Taixi (KI3), the foot-shaovin channel yuan-source point, tonifies kidney and nourishes the liver. Taichong (LV3), the yuan-source point of foot-jueyin, soothes the liver and regulates qi. This points in this combination, one tonifying and one reducing, keeps one another in check. Together they tonify kidney, pacify liver and regulate menstrual cycle. This treatment is appropriate for menoxenia caused by yin deficiency and excess of fire and blood heat.
Needling techniques:
Taixi (KI3) perpendicular insertion to a depth of 0.5 cun.
Taichong (LV3) perpendicular insertion to a depth of 0.5 cun.

(3) Qihai (RN6), Rangu (KI2) (Fig 118)
Qihai (RN6): on the lower abdomen, on the anterior midline, 1.5 cun inferior to the umbilicus.
Rangu (KI2): on the medial border of the foot, below the tuberosity of the navicular bone, and at the junction of the red and white skin.
Qihai (RN6) warms the lower jiao and benefits the original qi. Rangu (KI2) tonifies kidney yin. This pair point combination tonifies and reduces in conjunction. The effect is to tonify both yin and yang to regulate menstrual cycle. This treatment is appropriate for menoxenia caused by original qi deficiency.
Needling techniques:
Qihai (RN6) perpendicular insertion to a depth of 1 cun, or using moxa stick 20 minutes.
Rangu (KI2) perpendicular insertion to a depth of 0.5 cun.

(4) Guanyuan (RN4), Qihai (RN6) (Fig 4)
Guanyuan (RN4) benefits the kidney and the original qi. Qihai (RN6) warms the lower jiao, harmonize and regulate menstrual cycle to reduce leukorrhea. This pair point combination, work in synergy, benefit qi fortify yuan or congenital qi, and blood regulate menstrual cycle. This treatment is appropriate for menoxenia caused by original qi deficiency in kidney.
Needling techniques:
Guanyuan (RN4) perpendicular insertion to a depth of 1 cun.
Qihai (RN6) perpendicular insertion to a depth of 1 cun; or combined with moxibustion.

(5) Hegu (LI4), Sanyinjiao (SP6) (Fig 119)
Hegu (LI4): on the dorsum of the hand, midway between the junction of the first and second metacarpal bones.
Sanyinjiao (SP6): on the medial side of the lower leg, 3 tun superior to the prominence of the medial malleolus, in the depression near the posterior border of the tibia.
Hegu (LI4) opens channels, invigorates luo-connecting channels and unobstructs lowers qi. Sanyinjiao (SP6) tonifies spleen and stomach, harmonizes and regulates liver kidney and regulates qi and blood. These points work in synergy to regular qi and blood and unobstruct the channels to regulate the menstrual cycle. This treatment is appropriate for menoxenia caused by irregularities of qi and qi and blood deficiency.
Needling techniques:
Hegu (LI4) perpendicular insertion to a depth of 1 cun.
Sanyinjiao (SP6) perpendicular insertion to a depth of 1 cun.

(6) Guilai (ST29), Sanyinjiao (SP6) (Fig 120)
Guilai (ST29): on the lower abdomen, 4 cun inferior to the umbilicus, 2 cun lateral to the anterior midline.
Sanyinjiao (SP6) : on the medial side of the lower leg, 3 cun superior to the prominence of the medial malleolus, in the depression near the posterior border of the tibia.
Guilai (ST29) regulates lower jiao qi. Sanyinjiao (SP6) regulates liver, spleen and kidney. This pair point combination, one superior and one inferior, disperses, harmonizes and regulates lower jiao, regulates qi, regulates the menstrual cycle and stops leukorrhea. This treatment is appropriate for menoxenia caused by irregularities of qi in the lower jiao.
Needling techniques:
Guilai (ST29) perpendicular insertion to a depth of 1 cun.
Sanyinjiao (SP6) perpendicular insertion to a depth of 1 cun.

Commentaries
Acupuncture has definite effects the treatment of menoxenia. The effectiveness depends on the cause of the symptoms and the suitability of the treatment, Acupuncture has excellent results in treating functional menoxenia; however, if the disease is caused by any structural or physiological changes, it should be treated according to those changes.
In addition, timing is extremely important in the treatment of this disease in particular. Treatment usually starts 5-7 before the first day of the period, until the following period. Cease all treatment during the menstrual period.