The Donguibogam compares our body to a continuously flowing river. Just as a river stays clear when water flows without obstruction, the body requires smooth circulation of qi and blood to maintain health. The flow of blood is especially vital in women, as the monthly cycle of menstruation constantly regulates, empties, and replenishes blood.
When blood becomes stagnant or deficient, problems arise just like a blocked dam or a dry riverbed. The Donguibogam describes this as blood stasis, a state where waste accumulates because blood circulation is impaired. During the menstrual cycle, blood gathers intensely around the uterus. If the flow of qi is blocked or blood is deficient during this time, sharp dysmenorrhea can develop. This discomfort often travels upward, manifesting as a headache.
When the body is exposed to stress or cold qi, the movement of qi becomes obstructed, worsening blood stasis. The Donguibogam identifies this state as qi stagnation and blood stasis. When qi and blood fail to circulate properly, pain appears in various areas like water backing up in a blocked drain. A headache accompanying dysmenorrhea is not merely an isolated symptom in the head, but a signal that the systemic balance of qi and blood has been disrupted. Rather than focusing only on the site of pain, traditional treatment uses acupuncture and moxibustion to address the root cause by unblocking pathways and supporting circulation. Dispelling cold qi with warmth and resolving congested qi and blood is fundamental to preserving female health.
The Donguibogam views the female body as particularly sensitive, noting that because changes in qi and blood are pronounced throughout the menstrual cycle, even small imbalances can result in noticeable pain, much like a delicate instrument reacting to shifts in humidity. Headaches are seen as closely connected to poor blood circulation in the lower abdomen or stress-induced qi stagnation. Headaches stemming from blood deficiency were historically likened to a cold draft entering an empty room, treated by warming and tonifying the body to replenish blood. The principle that pain occurs where there is no free flow, and no pain where there is free flow, applies directly to menstrual pain. Acupressure serves as a simple, effective way to clear blocked qi and encourage smooth blood circulation.
