Shen-chu, also known as "medicated leaven" or "shenqu" (神麴), is a traditional Chinese medicinal preparation consisting of a fermented mixture of wheat flour, herbs, and sometimes rice or beans. Its primary use in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) is to promote digestion and resolve food stagnation. However, in classical TCM literature, amenorrhea (the absence of menstruation) is often attributed to causes such as Qi and Blood stagnation, and impaired digestion can indirectly contribute to Blood deficiency, which is one of the etiologies of amenorrhea.

Shen-chu is sometimes included in multi-herb formulas for amenorrhea with underlying digestive dysfunction, based on the traditional belief that strengthening the Spleen and improving digestion can help generate Blood and restore menstruation. References to the use of shen-chu for amenorrhea can be traced to older TCM texts and formularies, which emphasize harmonizing the Spleen and Stomach as a treatment principle.

However, there is little to no direct scientific research validating the efficacy of shen-chu specifically for amenorrhea. Most modern research on shen-chu focuses on its digestive benefits rather than gynecological conditions. Its use for amenorrhea is thus justified primarily by traditional theory and clinical experience rather than scientific studies. The supporting evidence, therefore, rates as moderate for tradition (2/5), but very low for scientific validation.