Acupuncture
for endometriosis
Acupuncture for Endometriosis
Acupuncture for endometriosis is an effective alternative healing method to manage painful endometriosis. Endometriosis is the abnormal location of uterine tissue outside the uterus. It is a fairly common condition affecting up to 10 percent of women between the ages of 16 and 50, and it is believed to be the cause of infertility in 30 to 50 percent of all infertile women. What causes endometriosis is still unclear. It could be a variety of disorders: hormonal imbalances, immune system dysfunction, reflux menstruation and heredity factors. Patients usually suffer greatly and have few treatment options. Conventional medicine consists primarily of hormonal blockage and/or surgery. These therapies are only temporary, suppress the symptoms and, more often than not, cause significant side effects and a high rate of recurrence. So acupuncture for endometriosis has opened another possible approach to dealing with this condition.
Chinese medicine has been used successfully to treat a wide range of women’s health disorders, including endometriosis. Acupuncture and herbal medicine have been proven safe and effective in managing endometriosis – the result of thousands of years of practice and modern scientific studies – in terms of both pain relief and healing the condition at a deeper level.
Cause of endometriosis from the perspective of Chinese medicine
One of the key causes of endometriosis is “blood stasis.” Blood stasis is blood that coagulates or congeals, brought about by either blocked energy in the body’s pathways or insufficient energy to push the blood through the vessels. Blocked or insufficient energy may stem from emotional trauma, severe stress, constitutional weakness, surgical history and/or exposure to cold: either cold temperatures or the habitual consumption of cold foods, especially during menstruation. Signs of blood stasis include stabbing pain fixed in one location, frequent or heavy bleeding, and bleeding with dark purple clots. Chronic stagnation causes clots, which can have a tendency to manifest themselves as masses or lumps. Endometriosis, fibroids and ovarian cysts are all examples of blood stasis in women.
Endometriosis and infertility
A strong association exists between endometriosis and infertility. It is thought that scar tissue and adhesions may obstruct or distort the shape of the fallopian tubes, preventing the ovaries from releasing eggs. Endometriosis may also affect fertility by causing hormonal irregularities and a higher rate of early miscarriage. Because drug therapy completely shuts off the ovaries’ activity and surgery results show a very high rate of recurrence, women who have endometriosis and who try to get pregnant fare better with no therapy. Fortunately, acupuncture and herbal medicine can successfully treat this condition. More and more women are experiencing the benefits – not only completely cured or significantly improved endometriosis, but also the ability to conceive and carry a healthy baby to term.
Our treatment approaches
- Alleviate pain by increasing circulation in the pelvic organs
- Control and shrink endometriosis, and eliminate its growth and recurrence by utilizing herbal medicine to break down congealed blood/blot clots and dissolve masses.
- Enhance the immune and endocrine systems by stimulating the autonomic nervous system to help eliminate stray endometrial cells.
- Relieve stress and correct disruptions in the flow of the body’s energy, returning the body to good health.
- Warm the uterus, restore renal and adrenal function to correct irregular cycles, help ovulation and enhance fertility.
- Strengthen and balance general health and help with the effectiveness of IVF.
- Minimize undesired side effects and accumulated toxicity from medication and invasive procedures.
As a result of Dr. Zhou’s many years of experience, most of her patients have experienced dramatic results; their symptoms have improved or disappeared relatively quickly. Patients have felt much less cramping and are more relaxed immediately after treatment and during subsequent menstrual cycles. Because endometriosis tends to be a progressive disease, which means that symptoms usually worsen over time, and because acupuncture and herbal medicine work at a very deep level, Dr. Zhou strongly recommends that her patients commit to a treatment plan. This will give the treatment enough time to effectively rebalance the body’s systems. Six months or more of consistent treatment may be required, especially for infertility due to endometriosis.
Diet and supplements
- Avoid cold temperatures or the consumption of cold foods or iced drinks, especially during menstruation.
- Eat more soy products; soy has an anti-estrogen effect
- Avoid vigorous exercise during menstrual flow.
- Eat a low-fat diet; excess body fat increases estrogen production and can lead to various gynecological problems.
- Avoid alcohol, caffeine and chocolate, which can raise estrogen levels.
- Fish oils (2000mg twice daily) decrease inflammation and the growth of abnormal endometrial implants.
- Vitamin B6 (50-100 mg daily) reduces estrogen receptors.
- Vitamin E (400 IU daily) is an antioxidant that prevents inflammatory reaction and enhances immune response.
Acupuncture and herbal medicine naturally and effectively treat many gynecological disorders and often resolve problems in patients when Western medicine has been unsuccessful. This is the case with endometriosis. Dr. Zhou educates her patients to maximize a healthy menstrual life (see Menstruation). She emphasizes that any subtle signs of imbalance – including menstrual cramping, irregularity, heavy flow and PMS – should be balanced as soon as possible to prevent harmful, serious conditions (such as endometriosis) from developing. Her goal is to provide a preventative treatment program, harmonize women’s reproductive organs and help them achieve optimum health.
chinese herbal medicine
Chinese herbal medicine is a major facet of traditional Chinese medicine. The fundamental premise of Chinese medicine is that every condition is the result of energy deficiency, excess, or inactivity in our internal organs.
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