Endometriosis and Chinese Medicine

How can Chinese Medicine help you with this condition?

Endometriosis is defined as the presence of extra-uterine endometrial tissue. This means that the lining of the uterus (the endometrium) grows outside of the uterus, commonly in places such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes and bladder, although it has been found in many other places of the body also.

It causes severe pain and can affect fertility in 20-40% of women. Endometriosis is a stagnation of blood (like blood clotting) and when it grows in the uterus, it causes ovarian endometriomas or chocolate cysts. These are fluid filled cysts deep in the ovaries that get their name from their brown colour. They form from stasis of old menstrual blood.

Common endometriosis symptoms include:

1. Painful, heavy and/or irregular periods

2. Pain during or after sex

3. Difficulty conceiving

4. Pain on defecation

5. Pain during the period in different areas of the body. Examples are not limited to: bladder pain, abdominal pain, back pain.

6. Fatigue

Tests and investigations:

- Diagnosis is established by pathological examination of tissues retrieved during laparoscopy or laparotomy.

- It is associated with raised oestrogen levels and lowered progesterone levels, which can be identified at the 7DPO test and the day 2-4 test.

- Day 2-4 Blood Test – for FSH, LH, oestrogen, thyroid and insulin levels. This should be taken on the first few days of your cycle. In the UK this blood test is free and can be requested from your GP.

- Hysterectomy is used in severe cases that do not respond to medical therapy.

- Operations such as a laparoscopy can cause adhesions where scar tissue attaches to organs at the site of the operation and this causes further pain, especially when a patient has multiple laparoscopies.

Endometriosis facts and figures:

- 6-10% of women in the general population are diagnosed with endometriosis.

- Approximately 35-50% of women presenting with pelvic pain and/or infertility are found to have endometriosis.

- 20-40% of women with endometriosis report difficulty conceiving.

- Endometriosis usually has a familial link. If the Mother had endometriosis, the daughter can also suffer from it.

- Endometriosis can also be caused by accidental transfer of endometrial tissue during gynaecological surgery. For example, D&C, C section, laparotomy, amniocentesis and episiotomy.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) and Endometriosis

Acupuncturists in TCM diagnose in terms of organ patterns of disharmony. This means that we identify by signs, symptoms, pulse and tongue diagnoses what is wrong with particular organs in the body. These organs can either be in excess or deficient.

Endometriosis in Chinese Medicine is always diagnosed as Liver Blood Stagnation. Liver is one of the main organs pertaining to female fertility in TCM. The Liver Blood relates to the menstrual blood.

The signs and symptoms of Liver Blood Stagnation are:

- Severe, stabbing period pain

- Heavy periods

- Long period bleed

- Other physical pain

- Pain during the period, such as bladder pain

- Purple nails

- Purple tongue

What can you do to treat endometriosis?

Western Medicine:

1. Danazol (a synthetic androgen/male hormone) may be prescribed to suppress FSH and LH and calm the menstrual cycle.

2. Pain relief medication such as analgesics (this may help the pain somewhat but doesn’t positively affect fertility).

3. Surgery – to remove endometriotic lesions

Chinese Medicine:

1. Acupuncture –Acupuncture moves the Qi and the Blood. Specific points in the abdomen and on the legs in the Liver meridian move the Blood of the body and specifically the Liver Blood.

2. Chinese Herbal Medicine. Herbs can be very effective for endometriosis. Find a Chinese herbal practitioner in your area. Some acupuncturists are also trained to prescribe herbs.

3. Energy clearing meditations. These are included as part of the fertility acupuncture package at Creation Acupuncture. www.creationacupuncture.co.uk