What Your Period Blood Is Telling You About Your Health

Did you know that menstruation is your fifth vital sign? In 2015, The American College of Obstetricians and Gynocologists (ACOG) officially recommended that women’s periods should be tracked and charted just like the other four vital signs: body temperature, pulse, respiratory rate and blood pressure. Alyssa Viti has long advocated that the menstrual cycle is one of the first things we should look into when treating health issues, especially those related to hormonal imbalances like PMS and PCOS. So if you’re interested in learning more about your individual cycle, she has a whole host of information on her MyFlo app and her website, including a period health quiz that will give you advice based on your specific results. 

Another staunch believer in the power of your period is Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), as menstruation is seen as a reflection of your internal health. In particular, your period blood can provide insights into any imbalances in your body’s vital substances (Qi, Blood, Yin and Yang) or underlying stagnation. We will touch on these many, many times as we unpack the different period blood colors and textures that you might be seeing on occasion or even every month. 

Blood Color and What It Means

Bright red – A sign of fresh, healthy blood flow. Ideally, you want your period blood to look like the color of a raw cranberry, as that indicates a steady shedding of your uterine lining, proper circulation, and optimal hormonal balance. In TCM, bright red blood means that you have ample Qi to promote the smooth flow of blood throughout your body.

Dark red or brown – Indicative of older blood that took longer to make its way out of your uterus. This is quite normal at the beginning or end of your period, but it can indicate sluggish circulation or estrogen imbalances if it’s a common occurrence throughout your period. In TCM, this is understood as Qi stagnation, which could be caused by blood deficiencies or an excess of coldness in your body, causing your blood to stagnate and darken. It could also stem from Liver Qi stagnation. Herbs like Dong Quai (found in Flow Balance) are incredible blood movers, and liver-supporting herbs like Dandelion can be extremely supportive for liver sluggishness. 

Pink – Usually comes with a lighter, more diluted blood flow. This could be potentially due to low estrogen, anemia, or nutritional deficiencies. It’s not uncommon to see light pink period blood in athletes or people with very low body fat who may experience some menstrual irregularities as well. TCM views pink blood as a sign of a Yin deficiency, particularly a kidney Yin deficiency, that must be remedied with blood tonifying herbs (like Dong Quai and He Shou Wou) and Yin nourishing herbs (like rehmannia, white peony, jujube, and gogi berries). 

Slightly Purple or Blue – Although it may be hard to identify, a bluish/purplish tint to your period blood could point to estrogen dominance. You may notice that this color blood is accompanied by blood clots, heavy periods, or PMS symptoms – all of which are indicative of estrogen dominance. Through the lens of TCM, purple or blue-tinted blood primarily suggests liver Qi stagnation. Thus leaning on liver-loving herbal allies (like bupleurum, found in Liver Juice) and reducing emotional stress are both very important in addressing this imbalance.

Orange or grey – Very rare but are worth noting because they could indicate an infection. If you notice either of these colors, it’s crucial that you visit your doctor to get things checked out.

What’s Up with Blood Clots?

Like dark red or brown blood, blood clots can be normal at the beginning of your period, as this is typically when your blood flow is the heaviest. They’re really just a hodge-podge of blood cells, tissue from your uterine lining, and proteins that help to regulate your blood flow. Blood clots tend to be dark red to maroon in color and smaller than a dime. While some level of clotting is simply your body trying to protect itself from excessive bleeding, there are definitely instances that require some additional support, like if you’re experiencing:

• Clots that are equal to or larger than a quarter
• Clots every few hours 
• Consistently heavy bleeding (changing your pad or tampon or emptying your menstrual cup every hour or two)
• Painful cramping 

These symptoms, especially in conjunction, could be related to reproductive system conditions like endometriosis, uterine fibroids, or polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) and should be explored with your primary care provider. 

TCM’s View on Period Blood Clots

In the world of herbal medicine and TCM, period blood clotting is usually associated with underlying blood stagnation or coldness in your uterus. As we talked about earlier, stagnation occurs when your Qi isn’t flowing smoothly throughout your body, which leads to poor circulation of blood through your reproductive organs, including your uterus. This can come from stress, emotional repression, a lack of physical movement, or excessive cold exposure and can be treated with blood-moving herbs, acupuncture to stimulate your liver and spleen meridians, and gentle movement (like yoga, walking, pilates, or Qi Gong).

TCM philosophy centers around the five element theory (wood, earth, fire, metal, water) and the balance of bodily substances (Qi, Blood, Yin, Yang). When these get thrown off, there can be excessive dampness, cold, heat, dryness, and wind. Too much cold in your body – you guessed it – leads to excessive cold in your uterus, which can manifest as dark blood, large clots, cramping that is relieved by warmth, feeling cold often, and light or delayed periods with slow blood flow. This is why TCM teaches against consuming cold foods and drinks, especially in the winter months when your body is already susceptible to the cold! Some of the best things you can do for a cold uterus are: 

• Keeping your womb warm with hot water bottles, layers, Moxibustion (burning mugwort), or heating pads
• Consuming cooked foods like soups, stews, roasted root vegetables, and slow-cooked meats
• Incorporating plenty of warming herbs including cinnamon, ginger, cardamom, cloves, and all kinds of chili peppers
• Drinking hot teas (especially ginger!)

The Liver’s Role in All of This

And, of course, we’d be remiss if we didn’t mention the liver-hormone connection. The liver’s role in maintaining proper hormonal balance and healthy, pain-free periods truly cannot be overstated. Since it’s responsible for metabolizing and detoxifying excess hormones, particularly estrogen, you can imagine how backed up things might get if it gets overburdened or sluggish.

A build-up of estrogen causes those classic PMS symptoms like painful cramps, bloating, mood swings, breast tenderness, and fatigue – which no one wants. In TCM, your liver ensures the smooth, healthy flow of Qi and blood, so when stagnation occurs, you’ll notice these same physical manifestations. Supporting your liver health with antioxidants, adequate protein, detoxifying herbs like milk thistle and dandelion (in Liver Juice!), and castor oil packs can go a LONG way to ensure balanced hormones and easeful periods.