Fighting Endometriosis

Did you know that endometriosis affects an estimated 1 in 10 women during their reproductive years (usually between the ages of 15 to 49), which is about 176 million women in the world.

Yes, 176 million.

What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis (en-doe-me-tree-O-sis) is a painful inflammatory disorder in which tissues similar (not identical) to the endometrium that normally lines the inside of your uterus, grows outside your uterus. These tissues growths are mostly commonly found:

In and around the pelvis
On the fallopian tubes
On the surface of the uterus
On the ovaries
On the lining of the pelvic cavity
On or near the intestines or bladder
Far away such as the lungs

With endometriosis, endometrium-like tissues in the wrong places will continue to act as it normally would — it thickens, breaks down and bleeds during period. Because this displaced tissue has no way to come out of your body, it becomes trapped. And, because it’s not supposed to be there in the first place, the neighbouring tissues can become irritated and eventually become scar tissues and adhesions.

Causes of Endometriosis

There are so many hypotheses but there is no clear cut cause. No one knows, but most agree that is exacerbated by oestrogen.

Other factors include:

Metaplasia - Meaning that one normal type of tissue changes into another normal type of tissue, but in the wrong place. (Eg. Uterus cells shouldn’t be in the lungs). Celomic metaplasia theory suggests that undifferentiated cells of peritoneal cavity differentiate into endometrial cells during fetal development.
Retrograde menses - Menses blood goes the wrong way, towards the fallopian tubes and deposits on the pelvic organs where it sits and grows.
Genetics - First-degree relatives of women with this disease are more likely to develop endometriosis. Does your mother, aunt or sisters have it as well?
Lymphatic distribution - Endometrial fragments may travel through blood vessels or the lymphatic system to other parts of the body such as the lung, brain, skin, or eye.
Immune system dysfunction
Environment – Perhaps toxins may be the cause. Hot food and drinks in plastic containers, pollution, pesticides,etc.

Diagnosis of Endometriosis

Endometriosis can only be diagnosed via laparoscopy (mini key hole surgery through your belly button). Doctors need to see the tissues during surgery. This delays the diagnosis for up to 12 years! Doctors who are not specialised in this field may miss it during surgery and women themselves might not even know they have it.

7 common symptoms of Endometriosis

Pain in your pelvic area, belly or lower back. You may experience pelvic, lower back, or belly pain during your period or even longer.
Painful periods (dysmenorrhea). Pelvic pain and cramping may begin before your period and continue several days. Some are in so much pain that they have to take sick leave.
Pain during or after sex (dyspareunia). This pain may feel deep and often changes depending on position.
Excessive bleeding. Like changing your 25cm heavy flow pad every 1-2 hours is excessive. You may have occasional heavy periods or heavy bleeding between periods or spotting between periods. Normal period should clear in 7 days.
Short monthly menstrual cycles (<21 days).
Difficulty getting pregnant (infertility). Couples should get checked out if they have been trying for 1 year without contraception.
Pain with bowel movements or urination. Usually you’ll experience this during your period.
Fatigue and digestive symptoms, bloating or nausea, especially during your menstrual periods.

TCM and Endometriosis

According to the theories of Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), endometriosis is known as “Menstrual Pain” due to its symptoms. Instead of going against nature and suppressing menses, we dig for the cause of the pain, regulate it, and balance whatever is out of shape so that your body can cope and function properly with ease.

In TCM, endometriosis can be categorised into 2 different types.

1. Excess (let’s call this “Strong” type)

2. Deficient (let’s call this “Weak” type)

1) Strong type

This is more common and is caused by blood stasis. This blood stasis can be due to stagnated Qi or Cold. In this type, usually the Liver is affected.

Usual symptoms: Heavy menses, dark and/or bright red menses, severe pain (usually in a fixed area), lots of blood clots during menses.

2) Weak type

This type can be due to lack of Qi or Blood or Yin and affects, Spleen, Liver and Kidney. Usual symptoms: Brown or pale blood, scanty flow, irregular menses, pain is a dull and heavy, fatigue.

TCM herbs

Most of the time, herbs that vitalise blood circulation are used. This includes Dan Shen, Dang Gui, Chi Shao ,Tao Ren, Hong Hua. Decoctions such as Si Wu Tang, Wen Jing Tang and Tong Jing Tang are good for nourishing and dispersing stagnated blood.

TCM acupoints

These acupuncture points are aimed to relief pain, regulate blood circulation and correct Qi energy imbalances.

Here are some points that can be acupuncture according to different types.

Blood stagnation: Qi Hai, Zu San Li, Xue Hai, San Yin Jiao, He Gu, Tai Chong.
Cold stagnation: Guan Yuan, Zhong Ji.
Organ boosters: Add Zhang Men to boost Liver, Pi Shu to boost Spleen and Shen Shu to boost Kidney.
Ear acupuncture: Kidney, Liver, Spleen, Endocrine gland, Uterus, Ovary.
Master ear points: Shen Men & Point Zero - ultimate reset point.

Balance is a central concept in Traditional Chinese Medicine. By needling or pressing the Master points, it can bring the towards homeostasis, creating a balanced energy, brain activity and hormones.

Food therapy

Also known as Shi Liao 食疗, TCM places great importance on diet. We love our food cooked, not raw. Meaning less salad, less sashimi, less ice blended smoothies.

Say yes to warm food

It’s because the Stomach is like a cooking pot. It needs the “fire” to “cook” the food you’ve eaten. Cooking makes the nutrients in food more easily absorbed without stress thus resulting in a greater nutritional gain. Some may argue that cooking destroys the nutrients in some way, but cooking in the correct way (such as steaming instead of microwaving) can help us digest better.

Here are some warm food list below. Try to have a little every day, especially during your period.

Don’t soup-rice it

Also, you shouldn't drink too much water/tea before meal as it can dilute the stomach acid juice which may cause indigestion. In some Chinese cultures, they like to drink soup after the main course. Unlike the Westerners, they always have soup first.

Another habit that should be avoid is, putting soup on rice. When you eat soup-rice, you tend to drink the rice without biting properly. Digestion starts in the mouth, there the amylase in the saliva helps to break down the starch into small carbohydrate group better digestion in the small intestines.

Bye, sweetie

We all know that too much of a sweet thing is not good. Too much sugar or sweet food can weaken the Spleen and, therefore, the healthy creation of Qi and Blood. Avoid excess refined sugar, honey, molasse, maple syrup, simple carbohydrates. Other food such as very oily food, high fat food, meat and dairy pumped with antibiotics and hormones (choose grass fed, organic or free range meat) and alcohol should also be limited too.