Endometriosis
What is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is one of the most common gynecological diseases in the world, affecting approximately 6.5 million women in the United States alone. The number could be higher, as some women do not experience any symptoms and therefore never get officially diagnosed. There is no known cause of endometriosis, though some researchers are finding that retrograde menstrual flow and estrogen dominance appear to be contributing factors. It is considered an inflammatory disease with autoimmune factors.
Endometriosis happens when uterine tissue grows outside of the uterus, attaching to other organs nearby. During regular menstruation, the lining is shed from the uterus. However, endometrial lining that’s attached outside of the uterus cannot leave the body as easily. Tissue that cannot bleed away and be absorbed by the body can form painful lesions and scar tissue.
symptoms
Some of the most common symptoms and compications of endometriosis include:
Dysmenorrhea, or menstrual cramps, which can range from mild to debilitating
Heavy or irregular bleeding, including mid-cycle bleeding
Endometriomas, or “chocolate cysts” on the ovaries.
Cramping and pelvic pain, which can be constant or intermittent
Pain during ovulation, if endometriosis is found on the ovary
Pain during sex
Gastrointestinal symptoms that mimic Irritable Bowel Syndrome, such as diarrhea, constipation, bloating, and indigestion, when uterine tissue grows on the bowels. Bowel movements can be painful.
Low back pain
Infertility — Endometriosis is the third most common cause of infertility. According to the NIH, about “25-50% of infertile women have endometriosis, and 30-50% of women with endometriosis are infertile.” Some women with endometriosis do not get diagnosed until they have trouble getting pregnant.
TCM THEORY
Menstrual cramps and lower abdominal pain characterized by cold patterns, typically seen in endometriosis, stems from a chronic stagnation in the blood caused by underlying Yang deficiency. Think of Yang as fire, providing warmth to the body via blood vessels and meridians. When there is not enough Yang in the body, things slow down, and blood congeals, leading to local and systemic stagnation. In Traditional Chinese Medicine, endometriosis is a symptom of Blood stagnation.
Effective treatments involve Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture, moxibustion, and diet therapy. This holistic approach aims to break stagnation, relieve pain, reduce inflammation, and prevent new uterine growth.
Clinical Studies
Several clinical studies have shown that acupuncture and/or herbal medicine can help to reduce or eliminate symptoms associated with endometriosis, reduce inflammation, support healthier menstruation, and improve quality of life.
A clinical study on manual and electro-acupuncture treatments found reduced menstrual pain intensity and duration after three months of treatment, and this was sustained for up to one year after trial entry. Results showed no significant difference between changing mode of stimulation or frequency of treatment.
Serum CA-125 can be used as a marker to detect Stage III/IV endometriosis. Studies report that acupuncture can reduce the level of serum CA-125, relieving pelvic cavity pain associated with endometriosis.
Three studies were found including 99 women, 13-40 years old, with diagnosed endometriosis. The studies were different in research design, needle stimulation techniques, and evaluation instruments. Treatment effects in the quoted studies, irrespective of research design or treatment technique, was a decrease in pain associated with endometriosis.