Women who have cycles shorter than 25 days that occur over a long period of time, along with health issues including infertility or miscarriage, are usually associated with the following internal organ disharmonies:

1) Spleen Qi Deficiency
Chinese medicine considers part of the function of the Spleen is circulating the blood. If the Spleen is weak it will cause the period to come early.

For these cases, women may have the following symptoms such as lack of energy, dizziness, bloating, sluggish bowel movements, pale skin, restless sleep, digestive disturbances, pale tongue and a deep, thready pulse.

Suggestions for diet and lifestyle:
Eat the following foods to increase Qi and blood: soup with beef, lamb or black chicken, boiled eggs, goji berries, Chinese red dates, lotus seed. Avoid eating cold food or drink, and eat smaller meals more frequently. Exercise should not be too strenuous, this means exercise at a pace suitable for your energy level. If you feel very tired the day after it means you have done too much and should decrease your exercise. We suggest gentle exercise in the sunshine for 20-30 minutes each day such as walking, tai chi, yoga or Qi gong. You should make sure to have enough rest as well.

2) Liver and Kidney Yin Deficiency
In the clinic, this is another common reason for shorter menstrual cycles. When the Liver and Kidney Yin is weak this will cause a lot of heat in the blood and make the period come early. Women with this pattern can experience the following symptoms: heat in body and red face, dry skin and hair, skin rashes, emotional disturbances and anxiety, constipation, yellow urination, insomnia or vivid dreams.

Suggestions for diet and lifestyle:
Avoid eating hot and spicy foods such as onion, chilli, ginger, garlic and lamb. I suggest eating more cooling foods such as celery, spinach, carrots, eggplant, orange, lemon, honey, watermelon, pear and tomato. You should avoid exercise in a hot environment, and drink plenty of water after exercise. Swimming is a suitable exercise for this constitution.