Patient: Hana, aged 30, airline ground staff.
Main concern: Long-term shift work had disrupted her sleep pattern, and her menstrual cycle had gradually lengthened from around 35 days to 55 days.
For Hana, working in airline ground operations meant following a roster that felt like a constantly changing puzzle.
Some shifts began before dawn, while others did not finish until late at night. Her sleep schedule was never consistent, and she often had to eat whenever she could find the time.
She described feeling as though she could never fully wake up, yet never managed to get enough restful sleep either.
As her daily routine became increasingly disrupted, her periods also began arriving later and later.
After using ovulation test strips for some time, she eventually gave up because she could not identify any clear or predictable pattern.
Following a comprehensive assessment, the practitioner explained that the main issue was not whether Hana needed more tonifying treatment. Her body clock had gradually lost its sense of direction after years of irregular sleep.
From both Chinese Medicine and modern physiological perspectives, sleep and the circadian rhythm form an important foundation for hormonal regulation.
When the body can no longer clearly distinguish between day and night, ovulation and menstruation may also struggle to follow a consistent rhythm.
This type of circadian disruption may be accompanied by:
✅ Light, easily disrupted sleep that does not provide enough restorative rest
✅ Tiredness during the day but increased alertness at night
✅ Hormonal secretion becoming less aligned with the natural day–night cycle
✅ Delayed ovulation and progressively longer menstrual cycles
✅ Increased emotional sensitivity and reduced concentration
The focus of treatment was not simply to provide tonifying support. It was to help Hana’s body recognise the time of day again and gradually rebuild a more stable rhythm.
The aim was not to insist that she go to bed early and wake up early. Instead, the practitioner helped her identify a sleep period that could realistically remain consistent around her rotating shifts.
Once her sleeping and waking times became more predictable, her brain could begin rebuilding a clearer circadian rhythm.
Light exposure, meal timing and daily activity were gradually adjusted to help her body receive clearer signals about whether it was daytime or night-time.
This was intended to support a more consistent hormonal rhythm.
Shift workers often go for long periods without eating and then consume a large meal all at once. This can cause significant fluctuations in energy levels.
Simple dietary adjustments were introduced to provide a steadier supply of energy and reduce further disruption to her daily rhythm.
Treatment also focused on helping her body step down from a prolonged state of nervous-system overactivation.
The goal was to allow her body to enter a more restful state during sleep and maintain better alertness and concentration while awake.
The first change Hana noticed was how she felt upon waking. She no longer felt quite as exhausted in the morning.
She then began to feel naturally sleepy at more consistent times.
As the distinction between day and night gradually became clearer, she felt as though her body had regained its rhythm.
Over time, her menstrual cycle gradually shortened from 55 days to approximately 34 days.
Practitioner’s Reminder
A regular routine does not necessarily mean that everyone must go to bed early and wake up early.
What matters is helping the body understand when it is time to sleep, wake, eat and be active.
When the brain can once again recognise clear day–night signals, the menstrual cycle may gradually become more predictable.
*The above content has been compiled and adapted from clinical experience. Identifying details have been removed, and the information is provided for health education purposes only.
HK Clinic 
UK Clinic 
