Acupuncture, Herbs and Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a fairly common condition in women and girls. In fact, if may affect more than 11% of American women between 15 and 44, according to Womenshealth.gov, and is one of the leading causes of infertility. Endometriosis is when the lining of the uterus (endometrium) grows outside of it's rightful spot in the uterus. This can result adhesions on the ovaries, Fallopian tubes, intestines, bladder, and in rare cases even the lungs and brain. The main symptom of endometriosis is PAIN! Each case is different, some women only experience pain during their menstrual cycles, while others live in excruciating pain every single day. Many young girls, and even women well into their reproductive years, end up suffering in pain without a diagnosis. Some women don't get a diagnosis until they struggle with infertility and it is too late. Unfortunately, the only reliable way to diagnose endo is by laparoscopic surgery. While many doctors are starting to consider endometriosis sooner, there are still a lot of misconceptions about pain during menses. Many women believe it is normal to have pain and cramping during their period, which is not true! While mild cramping on day 1 or 2 is okay, anything excruciating or that lasts the entire duration should be of concern.

The treatment options for endometriosis are slim, usually adhesions will be removed during the diagnostic laparoscopic surgery, and then patients will be put on some sort of hormones to regulate, and when I say regulate I mean STOP their periods. This doesn't seem like much of a solution, since the cause of endometriosis is still unknown. Sure, stopping periods may help for a while, but the majority of patients see a return of endometriosis within a few months or years of surgery. In my opinion, this shows that we are not treating it effectively. There has to be something more.

I, myself was diagnosed with endometriosis at age 16, after about a year of being told I had ovarian cysts. Within a month of my diagnosis, I had surgery to remove the adhesions and then was put on a continuous low dose birth control. I felt okay for about 6 months, and then it came back. At the time I wanted another surgery, since I had met other girls my age who were already on their 3rd and 4th surgeries, but my doctor said I had to wait a year and a half. At the time I was disgruntled, but after meeting with others my age who had gone through numerous surgeries with no change in results, I soon decided I did not want another surgery. At a loss for what to do, my mom looked into acupuncture. I began treatments and quickly started seeing results. I still had some minor pain but it was manageable. I fell out of my regular acupuncture treatments when I went to college as a pre-dental student.

I was off to fulfill my dream of becoming an oral surgeon! After a brief internship with an oral surgeon, and a realization that I didn't want to go to school for 12 years, I changed my mind. I no longer wanted to be an oral suregeon, but wanted it for so long that I had no other backups. I was already a year into a pre-dental degree and didn't want it to go to waste. I recalled how much I enjoyed my acupuncture treatments and how interesting it seemed. I began to look up how to become an acupuncturist, secretly hoping it was some sort of short certification and I could get out of college all together! Not the case. I found that it was a 9 semester masters degree program, completed in 3 years. The best part was that all of my courses from my bachelors degree were pre-requisites, so I continued on.

Flash forward 6 years to my final year of acupuncture school, where I had been receiving weekly ( if not more frequent!) acupuncture treatments. I was pain free, no longer relying on hormones to regulate my cycle. Through a regimen of acupuncture, herbs and lifestyle changes, I was able to manage my endometriosis without medication or more surgery.

While everyone's story is different, I can say first hand how well acupuncture works in treating endometriosis. It is one of the conditions I am very passionate about treating, because I can relate on a personal level.

March is Endometriosis Awareness Month! If you or someone you know is struggling with pelvic pain, please encourage them to check with their doctor. Many girls and women wait years before getting a diagnosis, and it shouldn't have to be that way. Do your research, if your symptoms sound similar, suggest it to your doctor. Most importantly, be your own advocate! If you don't like the treatment options given to you, seek a second opinion. Many doctors are becoming much more accepting of holistic treatments, such as acupuncture, which is so important, because living with a chronic pain condition doesn't just effect you physically, it is also an emotional strain. Acupuncture is such a fantastic treatment method for any type of chronic pain because it can treat both mental and physical symptoms of your conditions, without the severe side effects that medications can come along with!

If you are struggling with endometriosis or another chronic pain disorder please reach out to me! I would be happy to discuss your treatment options. Don't let your diagnosis get in the way of living your life to the fullest!

Essence Community Acupuncture and Herbs

www.EssenceAcuHerbs.com

EssenceAcuHerbs@gmail.com

508-947-6408

Image Sources:

http://natural-fertility-info.com/march-is-endometriosis-awareness-month.html

https://www.news-medical.net/health/What-is-Endometriosis.aspx

https://dynamicbalance.com/chronic-pain-beyond-the-individual/