Treat Adenomyosis-Related Menstrual Pain with TCM: An Analysis of Classic Formulas for Activating Blood, Removing Stasis, and Warming the Meridians to Dispel Cold

Ladies, does that time of the month make you want to curl up in bed and do absolutely nothing? If your menstrual cramps keep getting worse, and your period blood contains large dark clots, don't assume it's “just normal.”It could very well be adenomyosis causing trouble.

Clinically, about 80% of women with adenomyosis experience progressively worsening menstrual pain, and if left untreated, it can seriously affect daily life and emotional well-being.

Many women have tried painkillers, injections, or hormonal IUDs like Mirena — some get temporary relief, while others notice little to no improvement. That's because most of these methods only treat the symptoms, suppressing pain for a while. However, if the blood stasis and cold stagnation inside the uterus aren't resolved, the root cause remains — and the pain will keep coming back.

To truly address the problem from its source, we need to take a different approach — using Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) to invigorate blood, remove stasis, and warm the meridians to dispel cold.

Today, let's talk about how Chinese patent medicines like Fuyan Pill, when combined with classic Chinese herbal formulas, can help you win the battle against painful periods — and reclaim comfort and balance in your life.

I. Why Use the Approach of “Invigorating Blood, Removing Stasis, and Warming the Meridians to Dispel Cold”?

In Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), there's a saying: “Where there is blockage, there is pain.” The core causes of menstrual pain in adenomyosis can be summed up in two words: blood stasis and cold.

Blood Stasis Blocks Circulation:

When menstrual blood cannot flow smoothly and becomes trapped in the uterus, it leads to distension and stabbing pain during menstruation. The flow often contains large clots and appears dark or purplish.

Cold Stagnates the Uterus:

Frequent consumption of cold food and drinks, wearing too little in cold weather, or staying up late can cause cold to accumulate in the lower abdomen.

The uterus becomes “frozen,” contractions become irregular, and pain naturally follows.

Therefore, simply taking painkillers isn't enough.

To truly relieve dysmenorrhea, one must remove blood stasis and dispel cold, restore the free flow of qi and blood, and warm and regulate the uterus — only then can the pain be fundamentally reduced.

II. How to Combine Classic TCM Formulas for Better Results?

In TCM, treatment is all about synergy — combining the right formulas for a stronger and longer-lasting effect.

Rather than relying on a single prescription, TCM physicians often pair or modify classic formulas to target both the symptoms and the underlying causes of adenomyosis-related pain.

1. Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan (Cinnamon Twig and Poria Pill) — The “Veteran” for Blood Stasis

Originating from Jin Gui Yao Lue (Essentials from the Golden Cabinet), this is a time-honored formula designed specifically for gynecological blood stasis disorders.

Ingredients: Cinnamon twig (Gui Zhi), Poria (Fu Ling), Moutan bark (Dan Pi), Peach kernel (Tao Ren), Red peony root (Chi Shao).

Functions: Warms and unblocks the meridians, invigorates the blood, and dispels stasis — gradually dissolving “old stagnant blood” in the uterus.

Best for: Women with dark or purplish menstrual flow, numerous clots, stabbing abdominal pain, and long-standing menstrual problems.

2. Dang Gui Shao Yao San (Tangkuei and Peony Powder) — Regulates Qi and Blood, Removes Dampness

This formula not only invigorates blood circulation, but also strengthens the spleen and eliminates dampness, making it ideal for women with both blood stasis and damp retention.

Ingredients: Angelica (Dang Gui), Ligusticum (Chuan Xiong), White peony root (Bai Shao), Poria (Fu Ling), Atractylodes (Bai Zhu), Alisma (Ze Xie).

Functions: Nourishes and harmonizes the blood, regulates menstruation, drains dampness, and improves overall constitution — preventing dampness from worsening blood stagnation.

Best for: Those who feel fatigued, have sticky stools, thick or greasy tongue coating, or premenstrual bloating and edema.

3. Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang (Lower Abdominal Stasis-Expelling Decoction) — Specialist for “Cold-Type Dysmenorrhea”

Created by the Qing dynasty physician Wang Qingren, this formula specifically targets cold-induced blood stasis in the lower abdomen.

Ingredients: Fennel (Xiao Hui Xiang), Dried ginger (Gan Jiang), Corydalis (Yan Hu Suo), Myrrh (Mo Yao), Cattail pollen (Pu Huang), Flying squirrel feces (Wu Ling Zhi), Angelica (Dang Gui), Ligusticum (Chuan Xiong), etc.

Functions: Warms the lower burner, dispels cold, relieves pain, activates blood, and unblocks the channels.

Best for: Women with cold intolerance, cold hands and feet, cramping abdominal pain relieved by warmth, and a cold-type constitution.

III. Fuyan Pill — A Powerful Ally During the Inflammatory Stage

Adenomyosis often goes hand in hand with chronic pelvic inflammation, and in that case, merely "invigorating blood and warming the meridians" isn't enough — you also need to clear heat and reduce inflammation. That's where Fuyan Pill comes in.

Functions of Fuyan Pill:

Clears heat and detoxifies, while activating blood circulation and resolving stasis;

Alleviates pelvic inflammation and relieves lower abdominal heaviness or distension;

Convenient oral form, suitable for long-term regulation and maintenance.

Note: Since it tends to be cooling in nature, women with weak digestion or loose stools should take it together with warming herbs to protect the stomach.

Example combinations:

Mainly blood stasis: Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan + Fuyan Pill

Cold-type menstrual pain: Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang + Fuyan Pill

Post-menstrual weakness: Dang Gui Shao Yao San + Fuyan Pill to replenish Qi and blood

IV. Real Case: Noticeable Relief in Just a Few Days

Mrs. Green had been suffering from adenomyosis for over a decade. Every period brought unbearable pain, dark purple menstrual blood, and large clots resembling flesh.

Her doctor prescribed a combined formula: Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan + Dang Gui Shao Yao San + Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang, with the addition of ground beetle (Tu Bie Chong) to break stasis, and paired it with Fuyan Pill.

Her results:

After three doses, her pain eased significantly. After seven doses, her menstrual blood turned bright red, clots decreased, and the lower abdominal pain and distension disappeared.

After two months, her complexion improved, cycles became regular, and she even began smiling more often.

This shows that when syndrome differentiation is accurate, TCM treatments can produce real, visible results.

V. Daily Care Matters Just as Much as Medicine

Herbal treatment alone isn’t enough — lifestyle habits play a huge role in recovery.

Keep warm: Especially your lower abdomen, lower back, and feet. Avoid crop tops and cold water during your period.

Eat light and warm: Stay away from cold, spicy, or greasy foods — skip the iced milk tea and ice cream for now.

Stay active: Brisk walking, yoga, or Baduanjin (a traditional Qigong exercise) all help promote blood and Qi circulation.

Moxibustion support: Applying moxa to Guanyuan (CV4), Qihai (CV6), and Baliao points warms the meridians, dispels cold, and enhances the effect of herbal therapy.

VI. When to Consider Surgery

Herbal and conservative treatments are suitable for women with mild to moderate symptoms who wish to avoid surgery.

However, if you experience any of the following, don't force yourself to endure it:

Menstrual pain so severe that painkillers don't help;

Excessive bleeding leading to anemia;

Significant uterine enlargement with no response to medication.

Modern medicine now offers uterus-preserving excision surgery — it removes the adenomyotic lesions while retaining the uterus and fertility, making it a promising option for many women.

Menstrual pain isn't something you should just “grit your teeth and bear.” Adenomyosis isn't a fate you have to accept. What you need is not endurance, but scientific care and steady regulation.

With the right formula and consistent treatment, many women truly free themselves from the monthly torment. Even if complete cure takes time, pain relief and quality of life improvement are absolutely possible.

Trust the wisdom of Traditional Chinese Medicine — and trust your body's healing power.

Don't keep pushing through the pain. Take care, treat it properly, and adjust gently.

Pain will fade, health will return — and better days are ahead.