Endometriosis is a medical condition that usually affects women of menstrual age. The condition is considered as one of the main causes for infertility in women. Endometriosis is said to occur when the body retains small amounts of the endometrium lining in the uterus after every menstrual cycle. If not treated in time, it can lead to severe health related complications apart from infertility.
Root Cause of Endometriosis
The endometrium is a lining in the uterus that usually passes out as menstrual blood during menses. In some cases, small amounts of this layer remain inside the body and get deposited outside the uterus in areas like the fallopian tube, cervix, bladder, large intestine, lungs and thorax. With time, these secretions swell up and start harming the surrounding tissues. This, in turn, leads to the formation of fibrous cysts (if in the fallopian tube) that prevent fertilization.
Symptoms of Endometriosis
The most common symptom of endometriosis is infertility. Apart from this, the condition can also cause abdominal cramping and pain during menses, fatigue, diarrhea, nausea, constipation, painful urination and bowel movements, and pain during intercourse, etc.
Woes of Conventional Western Medical Approaches
The standard treatment routine for endometriosis in the western world involves prescribing pain killers or hormone controlling drugs. These will assist in removing the residual endometrial tissue from the body while curbing the symptoms of endometriosis. In the worst case scenario, surgery may be performed to remove the tissue.
However, these approaches have potential side effects that can be harmful to the body in the long run. Perhaps this is why the majority of women with the condition have started drifting towards an alternative treatment method for more effective results; oriental medicines.
Use of Oriental Medicines to treat Endometriosis
Studies have revealed that traditional oriental medicines can be more effective in curing endometriosis and curbing its symptoms then their western counterparts. Chinese medicines in particular are known to be very effective in treating the condition and curing it completely.
Chinese medicine treats endometriosis as a condition that stems out of blood stasis. This is a condition where the blood moves to an area of the body where it ideally should not. As such, Chinese medicine employs the following treatments to curb the condition and its symptoms.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture involves placing needles in several areas of the body for a duration of 20- 45 minutes. This Chinese treatment aims to seek out trouble spots in the body and treat them effectively. Using acupuncture for endometriosis is known to relieve the pain and inflammation caused by the condition.
Herbal Medicines
Chinese medicines rely heavily on herbs to treat several conditions. Chinese herbs play a crucial role in treating endometriosis by balancing the hormonal levels in the body. This will allow the body to recover from the condition in its own time, without any side effects.
Some of the more common Chinese herbs that are recommended for treating endometriosis include angelica, bupleurumgonquai, notoginseng, peony and poria. The best way to intake these herbs is via tea while one can also opt for liquids, dried extracts and pills.
When taken regularly, these herbs can help bring down menstrual pain as well as reduce excessive bleeding and break blood stagnations in the problem areas.
Dietary Changes
Chinese medicine also advocates the use of a proper diet to treat endometriosis and its symptoms. This method focuses on cooked foods, utilizing natural ingredients while staying away from raw or processed foods.
In this case, women with endometriosis are advised to consume warm foods and liquids. They are also advised to consume healthier foods like flaxseed and fish oil to curb the symptoms of endometriosis. In addition to this, these women are asked to stay away from certain foods that can aggravate the symptoms and lead to more blood stagnation in the problem areas.
Some of these foods that need to be avoided or taken in great moderation include sugar, molasses, honey, maple syrup, fats, nuts, processed flours, red meat, chocolate, oils, fruits, eggs and dairy products, etc.
Regular Exercises
The Chinese treatment approach for endometriosis also recommends regular exercising as a way to increase body metabolism and positive energy. A regular exercise routine ranging from 20-30 minutes on a daily basis can do a great job in treating endometriosis and its symptoms, including pain and blood stagnation.
Stress Reduction
Chinese medicines focus on the body’s positive energy called qi and attribute its proper functioning to good health. Hence, women suffering from endometriosis are advised to control their emotions of anger, fear and stress, especially during menstruation. They are often recommended to avoid all negative thoughts during this period in order to not disturb the free flow of qi blood.
Endometriosis is a condition that is characterized by traces of the endometrial lining remaining in the body post menstruation. There are many Chinese medicines that can help alleviate the symptoms of endometriosis in addition to curing the condition effectively.
