Endometriosis - All The Wrong Places

Endometriosis is F***ing terrible and there is no better way to say it.  Its painful, affects your fertility, digestion, causes pelvic inflammation, painful sex, and urinary issues.  Its also the most common cause for pelvic pain that we see here at SFIM.  Lena Dunham did a fantastic job detailing how having endometriosis can affect every aspect of a woman's life in The Sickest Girl.   

March is Endometriosis Awareness and I thought it would be a good time to let woman who are suffering with ednometriosis know that Chinese medicine and acupuncture can help. 

Just The Facts ...
Endometriosis generally occurs when uterine tissue migrates outside the uterus and attaches itself to organs in the abdominal cavity.   It is typically seen as pigmented or non-pigmented lesions, cysts, nodules or masses.  The lesions can be found on the colon, bladder, ovary, fallopian tubes, uterine ligaments or abdominal wall.  The lesions can be problematic in that they are stimulated by the same hormonal cues as the uterine lining.  This stimulation can lead to growth and microscopic bleeding of the lesions, which can result in scar tissue formation (adhesions), severe pain and inflammation.
​
The only way endometriosis can be confirmed is through laparoscopy.  Western medicine does have treatment for the symptoms; however a cure has been elusive.  If endometriosis is found, it will usually be removed surgically.  While surgery may be helpful at removing the some of the lesions or masses, it does little to stop the formation of new lesions or calm the body’s immune response to the endometriosis.

The Benefits Of Chinese Medicine For Endometriosis

Chinese herbal medicine can play an important role in helping women with endometriosis achieve pregnancy with its ability to treat the root and the symptoms aggravating the uterine environment.*  There are many herbs to treat some of the symptoms associated with endometriosis, having effects such as:

• decreasing prostaglandins (especially PGE2), which play a role in creating pain
• dissolving mucus accumulations and loosening of adhesions in the pelvic cavity
• encouraging flexibility and reducing mucus obstructions around the fallopian tubes
• settling the body’s immune response and calming the uterus

Other helpful suggestions to help calm an overactive immune system include:

• reducing consumption of dairy, wheat and animal products;
• supplementing with omega-3 rich sources like flax seed or fish oil; and
• adding super-antioxidants such as pycnogenol or OPC.

To Summarize...

• Chinese medicine is a great help when it comes to relieving the uncomfortable symptoms associated with endometriosis.
• Chinese medicine can help limit the proliferation of endometriosis
• Chinese medicine does not make current endometriosis disappear (although it may be able to reduce it).

What is most important from a Chinese medical standpoint is to identify the root of the imbalance and treat that accordingly.  If the root is treated along with the symptoms, then the likelihood of achieving a nurturing uterine environment and healthy pregnancy increases dramatically.

Interested in getting involved?  San Francisco is hosting the Worldwide Endometriosis March on March 25th!  More info here --> http://www.endomarch.org/ 


photo credit www.swoosh.com