How to Induce Menstruation Quickly

Irregular or delayed menstruation can significantly impact a woman’s physical health. Frequent menstrual delays may be caused by blood deficiency (xuè xū), which can be addressed through dietary adjustments. To promote timely menstruation, women may consume nourishing foods that replenish blood and qi—such as brown sugar, donkey-hide gelatin (ejiao), and red dates—all of which possess tonic properties. So, how can one encourage menstruation to arrive more promptly? Below, we address this question.

How to Promote Timely Menstruation

1. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Therapy

Herbal formulas centered on Chinese angelica (dāngguī) and white peony root (báisháo) help regulate and tonify the body, potentially advancing the onset of menstruation and restoring normal menstrual flow. Additionally, maintaining a cheerful mood and relaxing mentally is crucial. Chronic psychological stress increases the risk of menstrual irregularities and prolonged amenorrhea. When feeling emotionally suppressed, it is important to find healthy outlets for emotional release.

2. Dietary Regulation

Women with anemia often experience delayed, scanty, or even absent menses. Therefore, during the week preceding expected menstruation, consuming blood- and qi-tonifying soups—such as black chicken soup or pork rib soup—and dishes like red date–longan congee is recommended. Furthermore, some women habitually consume raw, cold foods—especially chilled beverages—which may lead to “cold in the uterus” (gōng hán), thereby contributing to amenorrhea.

3. Menstruation-Inducing Medications

Medications designed to induce menstruation are generally used to stimulate endometrial shedding. For example, in cases of endocrine imbalance, herbal remedies such as motherwort (yìmǔcǎo) or oral progestin (e.g., progesterone) may be prescribed. If amenorrhea persists for an extended period, relevant medical examinations should be conducted prior to initiating treatment—and all medications must be taken strictly under physician supervision. Daily precautions include keeping the abdomen warm, avoiding excessive fatigue, and ensuring adequate sleep.

Additional Information: Causes of Menstrual Delay

1. Emotional Disturbances

Prolonged emotional suppression or stress—or exposure to significant psychological trauma—can disrupt menstrual regularity, leading to dysmenorrhea or amenorrhea. Menstruation results from ovarian hormone secretion acting upon the endometrium. Since ovarian hormone production is regulated by gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) from the hypothalamus and gonadotropins from the pituitary gland, any dysfunction affecting the ovaries, pituitary, or hypothalamus may impair menstrual cyclicity.

2. Excessive Dieting

In adolescent girls, body fat must constitute at least 17% of total body weight to initiate menarche; a minimum of 22% body fat is required to sustain regular menstrual cycles. Severe caloric restriction leads to insufficient energy intake, resulting in depletion of body fat and protein stores. This compromises estrogen synthesis, causing marked estrogen deficiency—thereby delaying or suppressing menstruation, or reducing menstrual flow to scant levels. Hence, extreme dieting should be avoided.

The above outlines strategies for promoting timely menstruation. We hope this information proves helpful to you.