.Periods and Endometriosis: Embracing Balance with TCM
Women may seem fine on the outside, but underneath they can be navigating the complexities of painful periods, including conditions like endometriosis.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a holistic approach to understanding and a gentle way to manage these issues. In this blog post, we will delve into how TCM, through acupuncture and Chinese herbs, provides unique perspective and strategies on endometriosis.
Understanding Good Menstrual Health:
This is about is achieving a harmonious and comfortable cycle. It involves balanced hormones, healthy blood flow (not too light, too dark , too heavy or scant) and a healthy uterus.
lass="yoast-text-mark" />>Endometriosis is a condition where tissue from or similar to the lining of the uterus grows outside the uterus, in a migrating fashion. It can produce severe pain, heavy bleeding and sometimes hinderances to fertility. Irregularities can be attributed to disruption to the resources of Qi, blood and Yang.
Traditional Chinese Medicine and Menstrual Health
TCM views the menstrual cycle as a reflection of a woman's overall health and vitality. Here are some key aspects of TCM's approach to looking at your period cycle and flow:
1. Regulating Qi and Blood: Acupuncture and Chinese herbs are used to ensure smooth and unobstructed flow of Qi and blood, reducing the likelihood of menstrual clots, pain and heaviness.
2. Supporting and nourishing Yin and Yang: Endometriosis in particular will include a disruption to Yin/Yang.
Acupuncture to help manage symptoms of Endometriosis
Acupuncture, is well known to support Women's Health. Here's how it can contribute to a broader health care plan for a more comfortable cycle:
1. Managing Pain: Acupuncture stimulates the release of endorphins, providing natural pain relief for menstrual cramps and endometriosis-related pain.
2. Neurotransmitters, Neuroplasticity and Mood: By stimulating the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovary axis, acupuncture can help moderate the brain and nervous system, the 'control centre' for hormones, mood and stress relief.
3. Easing Inflammation: One of Acupuncture's mechanisms that research studies show is reducing inflammation, whether it be back pain, or moderating the systemic inflammation associated with endometriosis.
Chinese Herbs to manage Period Pain
Chinese herbal medicine complements and may enhance any acupuncture by providing important support between sessions.
Here's how we approach it:
1. Moving Stagnation: Herbs like Chai Hu, Xiang Fu, Mu Xiang and Bai Shao can help release and alleviate stagnation in the pelvis. Stagnation would be compounding any pain and cramping, so we want to get on top of that.
2. Nourishing Blood and Yin: Herbs like Dang Gui and Rehmannia are used to nourish blood which can be helpful if a woman suffers from heavy periods, losing a lot of blood and as a result may have low iron levels.
Lifestyle and Dietary Recommendations
TCM emphasises the importance of lifestyle choices and diet in supporting any physical therapy. Recommendations may include:
• Balanced Diet: Prioritise whole, unprocessed foods, and limit inflammatory foods like sugar and processed grains.
• Stress Management: Incorporate practices like Yoga, Swimming, Walking, Tai Chi, Qi Gong, or meditation to reduce stress and promote relaxation. Movement through exercise is seen as beneficial in TCM because it moves the stagnation and improves circulation. In addition, it may also help get your mind off the pain in small phases.
Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a holistic approach to periods and particularly, symptoms associated with endometriosis. If you're dealing with persistent period irregularities or pain, consider consulting your doctor. Next step would be to seek help from a registered AHPRA TCM practitioner who focuses on women's health. If you're Sydney based and on the Northern Beaches, you can make a private consultation appointment here to see if Acupuncture or Chinese Herbal Medicine is right for you.
Further reading about Period cycles and Endometriosis:
Period pain relief: How can Acupuncture help?
What is 'Endo Belly'? and how do I manage it?
