大率治病，先论其所主。男子调其气，女子调其血。气血，人之神也，不可不谨调护。
然妇人以血为基本，气血宣行，其神自清。所谓血室，不蓄则气和；血凝结，则水火相刑。
月水如期，谓之月信。不然血凝成孕，此乃调燮之常。其血不来，则因风热伤于经血，故血
不通。或外感风寒，内受邪热，脾胃虚弱，不能饮食。食既不充，荣卫抑遏，肌肤黄燥，面
无光泽，时发寒热，腹胀作痛，难于子息。子藏冷热，久而劳损，必挟带下，便多淋沥，忽
致崩漏。经云∶腹中如块，忽聚忽散，其病乃症；血涸不流而搏，腹胀，时作寒热，此乃成
瘕。或先后爽期，虽通而或多或寡，究病之源，盖本于此。
论曰∶经者常候，谓候其一身之阴阳愆伏，知其安危。故其来必以月，太过不及，皆为
不调。过于阳则前期而来，过于阴则后时而至。其有乍多乍少，断绝不行，崩漏不止，亦由
阴阳衰盛，寒热为邪，详说于下。
夫妇人月水不调者，由劳伤气血致体虚，风冷之气乘也。若风冷之气客于胞内，伤于冲
任之脉，损手太阳、少阴之经。冲任之脉皆起于胞内，为经络之海。手太阳小肠之经、手少
阴心之经也，此二经为表里，主上为乳汁，下为月水。然则月水是经络之余，若冷热调和，
则冲脉、任脉气盛，太阳、少阴所生之血宣流根据时而下。若寒温乖适，经脉则虚。若有风冷
，虚则乘之，邪搏于血，或寒或温，寒则血结，温则血消。故月水乍多乍少，故为不调也。
大抵治疗疾病，首先要辨明病证的主次。男子以调理气机为主，女子以调理血液为主。气和血是维持人体生命活动的神机所在，不可不谨慎地调护。
然而妇女以血为根本基础，气血通畅宣行，人的神志自然清明。所谓“血室”，如果不发生瘀滞，则气机调和；如果血液凝结，就会导致水火相克（阴阳失调）。
月经按时来潮，称为“月信”。如果不是按时来潮而血液凝结形成妊娠，这是调养燮理的正常情况。如果月经不来，是因为风热邪气损伤了经血，导致血行不通。或者外感风寒，内受邪热，脾胃虚弱，不能正常进食。饮食摄入不足，导致营卫之气被遏制，肌肤枯黄干燥，面色无光泽，时常发作寒热症状，腹部胀满疼痛，难以受孕。子宫冷热不调，日久劳损，必然夹杂带下病，小便频多淋漓，忽然导致崩漏（非经期大量出血或淋漓不尽）。医经说：腹中有块状物，忽聚忽散，这种病叫做“症”（癥积）；血液枯竭不流动而搏结，腹部胀满，时常发作寒热，这叫做“瘕”（瘕聚）。或者月经周期先后不定，虽然通经但或多或寡，探究疾病的根源，大概都在于此。
论述说：月经是正常的征候，通过观察它可以了解全身阴阳的偏盛偏衰，从而知道身体的安危状况。所以月经必定按月来潮，太过或不及，都属于不调。过于阳盛则月经提前来潮，过于阴盛则月经推后而至。如果有经量忽多忽少，断绝不行，或崩漏不止，也都是由于阴阳的衰盛变化，以及寒热邪气作祟所致，详细解说如下。
至于妇女月经不调，是由于劳累损伤气血导致体质虚弱，风冷邪气趁虚侵袭。如果风冷邪气客居于胞宫内部，损伤冲脉和任脉，损害手太阳小肠经和手少阴心经。冲脉和任脉都起于胞宫，被称为经络之海。手太阳经是小肠经，手少阴经是心经，这两条经脉互为表里，主管上部化为乳汁，下部化为月经。既然月经是经络中剩余的血化生而来，如果冷热调和，那么冲脉、任脉的气血旺盛，手太阳、手少阴所生的血液就能按时宣流下行。如果寒温失调，经脉就会虚弱。如果有风冷邪气侵入，在经脉虚弱时乘虚而入，邪气与血相搏结，如果是寒邪则血液凝结，如果是温邪则血液消散。因此月经忽多忽少，所以称为不调。
Generally speaking, in treating diseases, one must first discuss the primary focus. For men, regulation focuses on Qi (vital energy); for women, it focuses on Blood. Qi and Blood are the spirit of human life and must be carefully regulated and protected.
However, women take Blood as their fundamental basis. When Qi and Blood circulate freely, the spirit remains clear. The so-called "Blood Chamber" (uterus/blood reservoir), if not stagnant, ensures harmonious Qi; if Blood coagulates, Fire and Water (Yin and Yang) will punish each other (clash).
When menstruation arrives on schedule, it is called "Monthly Trust" (regular menstruation). If instead Blood coagulates to form pregnancy, this is the normal state of regulation and adjustment. If the Blood does not come, it is because Wind-Heat has injured the meridians and Blood, causing Blood obstruction. Or, due to external contraction of Wind-Cold and internal reception of Evil Heat, with Spleen-Stomach weakness leading to poor appetite. Since food intake is insufficient, Ying (Nutritive) and Wei (Defensive) Qi are suppressed, resulting in yellowish, dry skin, lackluster complexion, intermittent chills and fever, abdominal distension and pain, and difficulty conceiving. Cold or heat in the Child-Bearing Palace (uterus), over time causing labor and damage, will inevitably accompany leukorrhea, frequent dribbling urination, and suddenly lead to Bang-Lou (metrorrhagia and metrostaxis). The Classics state: A mass in the abdomen that gathers and scatters intermittently indicates a Zheng (fixed mass/stasis); when Blood is exhausted and does not flow but beats/palpates, accompanied by abdominal distension and intermittent chills/fever, this forms a Jia (mobile mass/gas accumulation). Whether periods arrive early or late, though flowing, whether abundant or scanty, investigating the source of the disease reveals it stems from here.
It is said: Menstruation is a regular indicator, used to observe the deviation and hiding of Yin and Yang throughout the body, thereby knowing safety and danger. Thus, it must arrive monthly. Excess or deficiency both constitute irregularity. Excess Yang leads to early arrival; excess Yin leads to delayed arrival. Cases of fluctuating volume, cessation of flow, or continuous bleeding also result from the decline and flourishing of Yin and Yang, and pathogenic Cold and Heat, as detailed below.
Regarding irregular menstruation in women, it arises from fatigue injuring Qi and Blood, leading to physical weakness, allowing Wind-Cold Qi to take advantage. If Wind-Cold Qi lodges in the interior of the Bao (uterus), injuring the Chong (Penetrating) and Ren (Conception) vessels, it damages the Hand-Taiyang (Small Intestine) and Hand-Shaoyin (Heart) meridians. The Chong and Ren vessels both originate in the Bao and are known as the Sea of Meridians. The Hand-Taiyang meridian belongs to the Small Intestine, and the Hand-Shaoyin meridian belongs to the Heart; these two meridians are exterior-interior pairs, governing the upper transformation into milk and the lower transformation into menstruation. Therefore, menstruation is the surplus of the meridians' Blood. If Cold and Heat are harmonized, the Qi of the Chong and Ren vessels becomes vigorous, and the Blood generated by the Taiyang and Shaoyin flows freely according to time. If Cold and Warmth are mismatched, the meridians become deficient. If Wind-Cold enters, taking advantage of deficiency, the Evil combats with Blood; if Cold, Blood coagulates; if Warm, Blood dissipates. Hence, menstruation fluctuates in volume, thus termed irregular.