Body Basics Part 2: The Language of Blood

What color is your menstrual blood?

I ask this question of clients and patients all day every day — and most women are somewhat confused by it.  “Isn’t that obvious? It’s red. Blood is red, my blood is red.”

Yes, blood is red. But a more nuanced look at your menstrual blood is a super useful tool in the world of women’s health and fertility.

Is your menstrual blood fresh red, pale red, or kind of brown?  Does it look vibrant and alive or dark and dull?  Is it thick, viscous, and clotty, or thin, pink and almost watery?  Does it change a lot throughout the course of your bleed or from month to month?  Is it barely there? This will all tell us something about the state of your Blood — yes “Blood” with a capital “B.”  

In Chinese Medicine we talk about blood but also a system of Blood.  The health of that Blood system is closely tied to the overall health and balance of your hormones and thus to the health and balance of your menstrual cycle, your reproductive system, and your fertile potential on any given month.  (It’s also notably related to your hair, your skin, your mood, your sleep, your joint health, and the state of your Spirit, just to name a few.)

Here’s a fairly typical example from my work:

Your whole life, your cycle has been generally light and short — maybe 3 days at most.  You say you’ve been “blessed” with an easy breezy, trouble-free period.  You come to see me when getting pregnant isn’t as easy as you thought it’d be: maybe it’s taking longer than you’d expected, or maybe you’ve actually been diagnosed with unexplained infertility. 

Your light, short, “easy breezy” period actually tells someone like me that there’s a deficiency of Blood contributing to your fertility issues.  We need to build it up to improve your hormone levels, your fertile cervical mucous, and the rich, thick, inviting endometrial lining you need in order for fertilized embryo to cozy up and implant.  

Together, we put together a plan to build your Blood through a combination of acupuncture, herbs, diet, supplements, and lifestyle recommendations. You watch as over the course of several months your menstrual blood becomes richer and more vibrant-looking, and your bleed times a little heavier and longer.  

In the context of fertility, you now understand that this more substantial period is actually working in your favor — it’s reflective of greater hormonal health, and a reproductive system that is now more likely to achieve and sustain a pregnancy. 

Have you ever really paid attention to the quality of your menstrual blood?  Make a mental note to pay more attention this month, simply in the interest of getting to know yourself and the body you inhabit just a little bit better.

Ready for some help on your health and fertility journey?
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