Acupuncture for Endometriosis
by Yasmin Devji, RAc, North Vancouver Acupuncturist
While endometriosis is not considered a disease, it can cause women pain and infertility. And it is becoming more prevalent today than ever before, many believe because of the high levels of stress that today’s multi-tasking women experience. It currently affects approximately 6-10% of all women today, usually during a women’s reproductive years. Endometriosis is quite often found in women with fertility issues.
Endometriosis is caused when endometrial cells which should be in the uterus lining also develop outside the uterine cavity, often in the pelvis. These cells are influenced by female hormones, and therefore pain often increases during menstruation as these endometrial cells bleed whether they are lining the uterus or outside it. In addition to pain and infertility, this can also cause pelvic scarring.
Can Traditional Chinese Medicine help?
While there is no cure for endometriosis, there are a variety of standard western and Traditional Chinese Medicine treatments that may help. Western treatments include surgery, hormone treatments and pain medication, but as endometriosis reoccurs in most women even after surgery, it is important to treat the cause of endometriosis, rather than just the symptoms.
Traditional Chinese Medicine will treat blood stagnation, which causes endometriosis. Through acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, stagnant blood is vitalized by treating the specific root causes that are affecting the individual, allowing blood flow to improve and our body to relax, and the fertility issue to subside. Endometriosis is also believed to be related to a poorly functioning immune system, which acupuncture can help improve, as well as increasing energy flow throughout the body. Acupuncture can also help to release healing and pain managing hormones such as endorphins into the body. All of these treatments will help to create a good environment in the uterus, allowing an embryo to be easily implanted.
Fibroids can also be treated by acupuncture in a similar manner. Fibroids are also caused by stagnant blood and they inhibit fertility. Women with fibroids may have heavy, painful periods with dark blood clots. Our natural immune system reacts to this and protects us, but by doing so it doesn’t allow a fetus into our toxic uterus. But through acupuncture, blood flow can increase which will in turn relax our immune system and stop preventing conception.
One common pattern I’ve seen is that women who have endometriosis and blood stagnation often have qi stagnation as well. Qi is basically our natural energy flow and is strongly correlated to our emotions. Qi stagnation is usually caused by stress so qi cannot flow freely which then causes a blockage in energy flow, blood flow, and often some liver issues. For general well-being as well as to control endometriosis, it is just as important to maintain an even flow of emotions as it is to maintain an even flow of qi and blood.
What else can I do?
In addition to acupuncture and herbal medicine, there are several other natural solutions that may help control endometriosis in women. A healthy diet high in fibre and low in fat and dairy will help with stagnant blood. There are many foods that will help increase your fibre intake such as whole grains and dark green vegetables, and there are many other foods that will benefit your immune system such as beans, seeds and green tea.
Your Traditional Chinese Medicine practitioner can help you make sensible diet choices as well as provide other suggestions that can help to control endometriosis for your specific situation.
