| Endometriosis is the
abnormal location of uterine tissue outside of the uterus. It is a
fairly common condition affecting up to 10 % of women between
age16 and 50, and is believed to be the cause of infertility in
30-50% of all infertile women. The cause of 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 with very limited choices
of treatment. Conventional medicine, in the main, consists of
hormonal blockage and/or surgery. These therapies are only
temporary, suppress the symptoms and, more often, cause
significant side effects and a high rate of recurrence.
Chinese medicine has been used
successfully in treating a wide range of women’s health
disorders including endometriosis. Acupuncture and herbal medicine
has 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 in healing the condition
at a deeper level..
Cause of endometriosis from the
perspective of Chinese medicine
One of the most important causes of
endometriosis is “blood stasis”. Blood stasis is blood that
coagulates or congeals, brought about either by blocked energy in
the pathways of the body or by insufficient energy to push the
blood through the vessels. Blocked or insufficient energy may be
due to 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
that is fixed in one place, frequent or heavy bleeding, 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 & infertility
There is a strong association
between endometriosis and infertility. It is thought that scar
tissue and adhesions may obstruct or distort the shape of the
fallopian tubes and prevent the ovaries from releasing eggs.
Endometriosis may also affect fertility by causing hormonal
irregularities and a higher rate of early miscarriage. Since drug
therapy completely shuts off the activity of the ovaries and
surgery results show a very high rate of recurrence, women who
have endometriosis and try to get pregnant fair better with no
therapy. Fortunately, this condition can be successfully treated
with the help of acupuncture and herbal medicine. More and more
women are experiencing the benefits--not only either completely
cured or significantly improved endometriosis, but also the
ability to conceive and carry a healthy baby to full term.
Our treatment approaches
- Alleviate pain
by increasing circulation in the pelvic organs.
- Control and shrink
endometriosis, and eliminate growth and recurrence of
endometriosis 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 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, the majority of her patients have experienced
dramatic results and their symptoms have been improved or
alleviated relatively fast. Patients have felt much less cramping
and more relaxed immediately after treatment and during subsequent
menstrual cycles. Since endometriosis tends to be a progressive
disease, which means that symptoms usually get worse over time,
and acupuncture and herbal medicine work at a very deep level, Dr.
Zhou strongly suggests her patients commit to a treatment plan,
which will allow enough time for it 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 in the
diet since soy has an anti-estrogen effect.
- Avoid vigorous exercise during
menstrual flow.
- Eat a low-fat diet, since 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 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, such as 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 early as possible in order to prevent any harmful
serious condition such as endometriosis from developing. Her
goal is to provide a
preventative treatment program, harmonize woman’s reproductive
organs, and help them achieve optimum health.
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