Q. I've been experiencing irregular periods since taking diet pills. Why is this happening, and how does it affect my weight loss?

Through clinical experience, it is evident that excessively restrictive dieting or the use of potent stimulants triggers a 'state of emergency' in the body. This disrupts the hormonal signaling between the hypothalamus and the pituitary gland, resulting in irregular menstruation or amenorrhea. From a TKM perspective, this condition is diagnosed as Blood Deficiency (血虛) and Qi Deficiency (氣虛). Specifically, if the Spleen is weakened (Spleen Deficiency, 脾虛), the body fails to absorb nutrients efficiently, making it difficult to produce the necessary hormones. Furthermore, the accumulation of Phlegm-Fluid (痰飮) or Blood Stasis (瘀血)—stagnant, impure blood—can obstruct blood flow within the pelvic region, exacerbating the symptoms. The critical issue is that in this state, the body attempts to conserve energy by effectively 'switching off' its metabolic rate. This leads to a 'pseudo-plateau,' where weight loss stalls even if you consume very few calories. Rather than just a side effect of medication, this is an SOS signal from your body. Therefore, the priority must be to restore hormonal balance and replenish Qi and Blood. Only when the body feels 'safe' again will metabolic functions normalize and weight loss become sustainable. It is essential to receive a personalized prescription tailored to your current constitution to resolve these imbalances.