Chinese Herbs

I'm 26.

No period. No sex hormones. Stopped birth control on 9/19, had withdrawal bleed, no period came.

I know some of you have tried acupuncture and acupressure for various issues, and I was wondering if anyone had taken chinese herbs to help? After I had my first, I did take Vitex and Don Quai to make my hormones feel more normal and though I never menstruated I did feel better. I'm thinking of trying some Chinese herbs that promote fertility and sex drive. No, not shady "GET HORNY NOW" pills or anything... but the remedies have been around for centuries so I figure its worth it. Any experience?

You're a distance runner with lingering food issues and trying to gain. It's a body fat issue I'm afraid.

I don't know your current height/weight stats but short of going back on birth control to make the body pretend it has sufficient body fat (which I'm not a fan of except in transitionary phases for recovery), there's no other miracle except more weight on that body of yours.

To be fertile the body has to sign up for pregnancy because it doesn't think in terms of birth control. Once the body signs up for that the first thing it does is check to see if there are enough fat stores so that the woman and baby could survive successfully to term even if food supplies are not dependable. If there aren't enough fat stores, then the body assumes a current famine and works to keep the existing person (you) alive at least until the famine ends.

When the famine doesn't end, then the body starts to cannibalize itself in subtle ways --

1. It lays down what little fat it can around the vital organs (which actually increases risks for heart disease in later life); 
2. it pilfers calcium from bones leading to osteoporosis in later life;
3. it slows the metabolism to try to eek as much as it can from the little calories it can get (which leads to pre-metabolic syndrome/diabetes -- which surprises a lot of habitual under-eaters because they assume those are only diseases of the obese, not so);
4. it ignores the huge piggy glucose demands from the prefrontal cortex (which leads to slowed thought and poor judgment);
5. it ups the glucco-corticoids in the body (stress response) which in turn shrinks the hippocampus in the brain and that causes more glucco-corticoids in the body (vicious circle) and wrecks your memory capability possibly leading to dementia in later life.

And all the mess of misery doesn't just happen in full blown starvation -- it happens with under-eating in the 1200-1600 calorie a day range for grown women -- especially if they are active. The only difference is its a slow decline over decades rather than the immediate catastrophe of anorexia.

So enough of the scary stories. Go with upping the calories.

As for Chinese herbs -- eek. I've never been a fan of "been around for thousands of years" because anecdotal information often ignores all the allergic reactions and contraindications of ingesting completely unregulated dried plants.

And in fact, the Chinese themselves have moved well away from using these herbs in favor of more western medicine wherever they can afford it. However, if you are interested, I'm sure someone will post with some personal experiences on the topic. 

Best of luck.

I stopped updating my weight because I was having a problem accepting it, and I'm not so happy to share, but my doc said I have sufficient body fat to menstruate. I've had hormonal issues since the birth of my first, long before I was underweight.

No problem not wanting to share weight stats. I'm a bit surprised your doc feels you have sufficient body fat to menstruate but I'm sure it's just that your profile photo doesn't reflect at all what you are in the flesh.

Many women in that cross-over range of around 18.5 to just shy of 20 BMI can have irregular periods. So, I would always tend to recommend a weight gain of another 10 lbs first to see it that kick starts regular periods before I would consider pharmacotherapy to adjust for hormone imbalances, but that's just me.

And your physician knows your previous history prior to any underweight issues so perhaps s/he is the best place to start for suggestions on how to move the process forward for you regaining regular menstruation.

And again, you don't have to share, but do you visit a therapist at all? Whenever I suggest this I am always concerned it is interpreted as "you're not coping" (which frankly is often the case) -- but in your case I mean it more that it's about getting those really valuable tips and techniques to shift yourself over just a few inches to break-through some of the denial ruts you might be in now.

I think therapy is useable and applicable to those who are needing tune-ups as opposed to just overhauls. Anyhow, virtual hug and I am confident you will find the path that works for you (and will involve regular periods too!).

I need to update my picture I think! Anyway my doctors have taken hormone levels and they say that everything is normal, I just need a kick in the right direction. I do not see a therapist because I don't have the funds, but it'd be nice,  think everyone could benefit from a therapist!

Over the summer I ate more meats, decreased my activity, gained several pounds, and went on some Chinese herbals as prescribed by a Chinese doctor.  Not sure which of the variables had more of an impact, but my period came back.

BSH-so ur hormone levels can be fine, mine have a lways been, even at 90lbs, but its the fat on ur body, the strain+amount of activity ur putting on ur body, also, i dont know y u stopped gaining at a bmi 19-20, whatever weight that is, it could be a big range-y not gain 10 or whatever more lbs to be at a bmi of 20?

What a "sufficient" weight to menstruate is differs between women.

I didn't gain my period back until my BMI was 21, and the only exercise I was doing was walking.

It's pretty common to get your period back at a higher weight than the weight you lost it at, so my guess is you need to gain more weight (or cut back on the exercise) to get your period.

Chinese herbs I wouldn't bother with.

your doc couldnt possibly know what the optimal bodyfat level for your body is. the same as a bmi of 19 might technically be healthy but your body might be comfortable at a bmi of 23.

bsh, you have asked this question a million different ways in a million different posts. you need to stop running and keep your calories at 2000 when you do. there is no voodoo or hoodoo or magic bullet. the answer is in your own hands but you are denying the fact that you are responsible for this by continuing to look for these magic solutions.

Original Post by fidget84:

your doc couldnt possibly know what the optimal bodyfat level for your body is. the same as a bmi of 19 might technically be healthy but your body might be comfortable at a bmi of 23.

bsh, you have asked this question a million different ways in a million different posts. you need to stop running and keep your calories at 2000 when you do. there is no voodoo or hoodoo or magic bullet. the answer is in your own hands but you are denying the fact that you are responsible for this by continuing to look for these magic solutions.

 

 I agree with this. How interesting you deleted your old profile pic... Please be honest with yourself. Seriously, stop with the running. Bet you my whole savings account that it'll come back once you stop running.