Bēng Lòu

or metrorrhagia and metrostaxis

refers to the syndrome of serious abnormal menstrual cycle

duration and hypermenorrhea. Li Dongyuan systematically discussed his unique understanding of metrorrhagia and metrostaxis in two articles entitled

Three Types of Metrorrhagia and Metrostaxis

and

Treatments of Metrorrhagia and Metrostaxis

in his

Medical Encyclopedia of Li Dongyuan

. On the basis of his own theory of the spleen and stomach

Li believes that the main pathogenesis of metrorrhagia and metrostaxis is the deficiency and sinking of spleen and stomach qi

combined with exuberance of yin fire

creating damp-heat pathogenic qi. In the clinical syndrome differentiation of metrorrhagia and metrostaxis

Li believes that the most important thing is to determine the cold or heat nature of the disease using the pathological products

and conduct syndrome differentiation based on the typical pulse manifestations. For the treatment

the fundamental method is to tonify the spleen and stomach and purge yin fire

and make adjustments to the formulas according to the syndromes. Patients with spleen and stomach deficiency and heart fire attacking the spleen should be given Menstruation-Regulating

Yang-Rising and Dampness-Removing Decoction; those with kidney yin deficiency and frenetic stirring of ministerial fire should be treated with Blood-Cooling Rehmannia Decoction; in the case of heart qi deficiency and blood deficiency-cold

we should choose Clove

Donkey-Hide Gelatin and Mugwort Decoction; and if the pattern of blood collapse

sinking of qi

and excessive cold-dampness is present

Bupleurum Menstruation-Regulating Decoction

an original formula created by Li

can have desirable efficacy. These are also augmented with the principle of making modifications to the prescription at any time when needed

and the use of moxibustion and emotional counseling. Clarifying these philosophies of Li Dongyuan has guiding significance for the theoretical development and clinical research of metrorrhagia and metrostaxis treatment in later generations.