Uterus and Disorder

The Heart is closely connected with the Uterus through the Uterus Vessel (Bao Mai) and this explains the profound influence of mental-emotional problems affecting the Heart on the Uterus. The Uterus is related to the Kidneys via a channel called the Uterus Channel (Bao Luo). The “Simple Questions” in chapter 47 says: “The Uterus Channel extends to the Kidneys“.
The Uterus is physiologically related also to the Heart via a channel called Uterus Vessel (Bao Mai). The “Simple Questions” in chapter 33 says: “The Uterus Vessel pertains to the Heart and extends to the Uterus” and “When the period does not come it means the Uterus Vessel is obstructed“.
Hence normal menstruation and fertility depend on the state of the Kidney Essence and Heart-Blood. If Heart-Blood is deficient Heart-Qi does not descend to the Uterus. If the Kidney-Essence is deficient, menstruation does not occur. A deficiency in either Heart or Kidneys can therefore cause infertility or amenorrhoea.
There is also another important connection and that is via Blood: the Heart governs Blood and the Uterus stores Blood. Although the overwhelming majority of gynaecologists will emphasize the role of Liver-Blood in relation to the Uterus, some put the accent on Heart-Blood. Thus, when they want to nourish Blood in gynaecological problems, these gynaecologists would nourish Heart-Blood with points such as HE-7 Shenmen and BL-15 Xinshu. Moreover, the famous Qing dynasty’s gynaecologist Fu Qing Zhu said that the Heavenly Gui (i.e. menstrual Blood) derives from the Kidney-Jing but with the assistance of Heart-Yang which must flow down to communicate with the Kidney-Jing. Thus, tonifying the Heart, will necessarily help Kidney-Jing to produce menstrual Blood. This is probably the reason why Gui Pi Tang, which nourishes Heart Blood, is such an important formula in gynaecological problems.
Dr Yao Shi An mentions several patterns of the Heart which affect the gynaecological functions.
Women are prone to stagnation of Qi, this often turns into Fire which affects the Heart; Fire harasses downwards and disturbs the Directing and Penetrating vessels, the Sea of Blood becomes reckless and this may result in Heavy Periods or Flooding and Trickling. The “Ji Yin Gang Mu” says: “Fire burns the Heart, Blood becomes reckless and causes bleeding downwards“.
Sadness over a long period of time may cause Heart-Yin deficiency, the Mind has no residence, this causes Heart-Yang to float and may cause menorrhagia. The “Simple Questions” says in chapter 44: “Sadness leads to severance of the Uterus Channel: when this is severed Yang Qi is agitated in the Interior and the Heart causes menorrhagia“.
When Heart-Qi rebels upwards, it impairs the descending of Lung-Qi; Qi cannot descend and communicate with the Uterus Vessel and amenorrhoea results. The “Simple Questions” says in the chapter Ping Re Bing Lun: “If the periods do not come it means the Uterus Vessel is shut…Qi rises to harass the Lungs, Heart-Qi does not descend and the periods do not come“.
Overwork weakens Heart-Yin which leads to Empty Heat: this may also cause amenorrhoea. The “Secret Record of the Orchid Room” (Lan Shi Mi Cang) says: “Mental strain and stress (Ó« ? ) weakens the Heart, Heart-Fire rises and the periods do not come“.
When there is Fire in the Heart channel, it rises to harass the Heart and the mouth and below it may cause excessive vaginal discharge. Chen Zi Ming says: “Vaginal sores in women are due to mental restlessness and chaotic Heart and weak Stomach-Qi resulting in stagnation of Qi and Blood“. The “Simple Questions” in the chapter Zhi Zhen Yao Da Lun says: “Pain, itching and sores are due to the Heart“.
Pensiveness and worry agitate the Heart, the Emperor Fire moves and fails to communicate with the Kidneys, Water and Fire do not communicate and infertility may result. Wang Yu Tai says: “Pensiveness and worry may make it difficult for a woman to conceive, the Heart houses the Mind. pensiveness makes the Heart turn towards the outside, the Emperor Fire cannot descend, Above and Below do not communicate, Water and Fire do not communicate and infertility may result“.
After conception Blood is deviated to the nourishment of the foetus, Fire easily rises, this disturbs the Heart and causes mental restlessness. The “Discussion of Gynaecology” (Nu Ke Jing Lun) says: “When the Heart is affected by Blood Heat, Heart-Qi is not clear and this causes mental restlessness“.
Worry agitates the Heart and causes a difficult birth. The “Gynaecology of the Bamboo Grove” (Zhu Lin Nu Ke) says: “When the Heart is affected by worry and pensiveness, Qi and Blood stagnate or flow in the wrong direction, in many cases this cases a difficult birth“.
The book “Explanation of Acupuncture Points” recommends tonifying HE-8 Shaofu for prolapse of the vagina or vaginal pain and itching. The “Great Dictionary of Chinese Acupuncture” mentions HE-5 Tongli for heavy periods or Flooding and Trickling, especially in combination with LIV-2 Xingjian and SP-6 Sanyinjiao (Great Compendium of Acupuncture, 1601).