The news of a 26-year-old woman experiencing ovarian failure and menopause due to daily late nights is heartbreaking. In the fast-paced modern life, staying up late seems to have become the "norm" for many young people. Binge-watching shows, scrolling through phones, working overtime... causing many young women to experience premature menopause. What effective TCM remedies are there?
Ovarian Failure Becoming Younger: Late Nights are the "Number One Killer"
Robbing Essence during Zi Hour (11pm-1am)
"Not sleeping when the Liver Meridian is active, Blood fails to return to the Liver. Follicles lose nourishment like seedlings in drought-stricken land."
Gallbladder Meridian Shutdown (11pm-1am)
"Bile secretion disorder → Insufficient cholesterol synthesis → Exhaustion of raw materials for sex hormones."
Biological Clock Collapse
"Melatonin secretion blocked → Mass apoptosis of ovarian granulosa cells."
How Does TCM Effectively Regulate Ovarian Failure?
Dr. Que Poh Yuen Albert, a TCM Gynecology Expert at Singapore Gong Fang Tang TCM, stated that once ovarian failure is diagnosed, the chance of natural pregnancy is less than 5%! Early detection and early intervention are the golden window to reverse or delay the decline! He shares the classic formula Er Xian Tang (Two Immortals Decoction), a renowned prescription in TCM for treating such conditions.
Er Xian Tang is composed of: Xianmao (Curculigo Rhizome), Xianlingpi (Epimedium / Horny Goat Weed), Danggui (Chinese Angelica), Bajitian (Morinda Root), Huangbai (Phellodendron Bark), Zhimu (Anemarrhena Rhizome).
Monarch Herbs - Xianmao, Xianlingpi: Warm the Kidneys, strengthen Yang, tonify the life-gate fire, invigorate vitality. Like igniting the torch of life.
Minister Herbs - Bajitian: Tonify Kidney Yang, strengthen bones and tendons, benefit essence and blood. Assist the two immortals' warming power, making it more lasting and gentle.
Minister Herbs - Danggui: Tonify blood, activate blood, regulate menstruation, relieve pain. Tonify Liver blood to nourish Kidney essence (Essence and Blood mutually generate).
Assistant Herbs - Zhimu, Huangbai: The masterstroke! Cold in nature, nourish Yin and subdue fire. Restrain the warm-drying nature of Xianmao and Xianlingpi, clear and drain reckless deficient fire in the Kidneys. Achieve the balance of "warming Yang without forgetting to nourish Yin, tonifying fire without aiding fire".
Modifications:
Add Shudihuang (Prepared Rehmannia Root), Shanzhuyu (Cornus Fruit), Gouqizi (Goji Berries): Greatly tonify Kidney Yin, replenish essence and marrow. Address the root of "dried-up oil lamp" (Kidney essence deficiency).
Add Tusizi (Dodder Seed), Fupenzi (Raspberry): Tonify Kidneys, consolidate essence, promote follicle development and ovulation.
Add Ziheche (Placenta Hominis) or Placenta Powder: A flesh-blood tonic substance! Greatly tonifies Qi and Blood, drastically replenishes essential vitality, directly supplements the foundation of reproductive substances, pulling back from the brink.
Medical Case
Patient: Ms. Li, 26 years old.
Chief Complaint: Long-term late nights until 2-3 am, lasting 3 years. Scant periods for the past 8 months, extremely light flow. Complete cessation of menstruation for the past 3 months! Accompanied by severe hot flashes and night sweats (several times a day), irritability, insomnia with vivid dreams, sore and weak lower back and knees feeling "empty", dizziness, tinnitus. External hospital tests: FSH 68.5 IU/L, AMH 0.08 ng/ml, diagnosed with "ovarian failure". Western medicine suggested Hormone Replacement Therapy (HRT), patient feared side effects, sought TCM instead.
Initial Consultation: Tongue red with scant coating; pulse deep (Chen), thin (Xi), rapid (Shuo).
Pattern Differentiation: Kidney essence deficiency, dual deficiency of Yin and Yang (predominantly Yin deficiency with fire effulgence).
Treatment Principle: Enrich Kidneys, replenish essence; nourish Yin, subdue fire; assisted by warming Yang.
Prescription: Modified Er Xian Tang.
Formula: Xianlingpi 15g, Xianmao 6g (decocted first), Bajitian 12g, Danggui 10g, Zhimu 10g, Huangbai 10g, Shudihuang 30g, Shanzhuyu 20g, Gouqizi 15g, Tusizi 20g, Fupenzi 15g, Ziheche powder 6g (taken infused), Digupi (Lycium Root Bark) 12g, Suanzaoren (Spine Date Seed) 20g. 14 doses. Decocted in water, 1 dose per day. Strict order: Must sleep before 22:30!
Results:
After 1st Course (14 doses): Frequency of hot flashes and night sweats reduced by ~50%, sleep improved, irritability lessened. Menstruation did not return. Repeat FSH dropped to 42.3 IU/L. Formula maintained with slight adjustments, continued.
After 2nd Course (28 doses): Hot flashes and night sweats occasional, sleep basically normal, spirit and energy improved, lower back soreness reduced. Surprise: On day 35 of medication, menstruation returned! Flow slightly scant, dark red color, lasted 4 days. FSH dropped to 28.7 IU/L, AMH rose to 0.35 ng/ml.
After 3rd Course (42 doses): Menstruation returned again on cycle day 32, flow increased compared to before, color turned red. Hot flashes and night sweats basically disappeared. FSH 18.2 IU/L, AMH 0.89 ng/ml. Formula adjusted to focus on tonifying Kidneys, replenishing essence, regulating the cycle, and promoting ovulation for consolidation treatment.
