Menstrual cycles play a major role in the health of women in their reproductive years. In Chinese medicine, all symptoms experienced throughout the duration of a cycle are crucial ways the body is trying to communicate with us. Birth control is often our first line of defense when it comes to addressing uncomfortable symptoms that occur during the cycle. However, if we address these symptoms from their root cause, rather than suppress them with medication, we are helping the body to heal instead of masking symptoms. This can be particularly helpful for newly menstruating women, women who are coming off birth control or switching birth control.