Women are now combining western and Chinese medicine in their treatment of endometriosis, writes SYLVIA THOMPSON.
ENDOMETRIOSIS is one of those conditions that is not life-threatening but which can be extremely debilitating. And while some women can have endometriosis for years without knowing it, others suffer from severe physical pain and psychological stress that is extremely difficult to bear.
Conventional treatments for endometriosis include hormonal treatments which “shut down” the monthly cycle and/or surgery which removes or destroys the endometrial tissue. However, more and more women are opting for non-conventional approaches, either alongside conventional therapies or instead of them.
Clodagh Lynam (47) was diagnosed with stage-four endometriosis (grades one to four move from minimal to mild to moderate to severe) over two years ago. “I got a fever every month during my period and pain during ovulation. I was crippled with the pain,” she says.
Lynam opted for hormonal therapy for six months which she supplemented with weekly acupuncture sessions. “It’s hard to know what worked but I have been symptom-free for one-and-a-half years now,” she says.
Niamh O’Connor (32) has turned to acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine to help treat endometriosis following years of conventional treatment. “I’ve had various hormonal treatments which only worked for a couple of months. I’ve had three laparoscopies to remove endometrial tissue but each time it comes back,” she says.
Two years ago, O’Connor started going for acupuncture alongside hormonal therapy. Eighteen months ago, she started Tai Chi and now also takes Chinese herbs when she suffers from a particularly long period. “I feel like I’m getting my life back. These approaches are keeping the pain and the condition under control,” she says.
Celine Leonard is an acupuncturist and practitioner of Chinese herbal medicine based in Dublin. She specialises in treating women with endometriosis. “The results are promising,” she says.
A review of studies using Chinese medicine in the treatment of endometriosis concurs. Published earlier this month in the Cochrane Database, the review looked specifically at two studies in which women used Chinese herbal medicine alongside conventional treatment.
Women who had surgery to remove endometrial tissue were given either a hormonal treatment or Chinese herbs for three months following surgery. Nine out of 10 of the women in both groups said they no longer had symptoms such as pain or tiredness.
The second study was carried out on women with endometriosis who didn’t have surgery. In this study, more than half the women who took Chinese herbal medicine said they no longer had symptoms of endometriosis after treatment, compared to one in 10 women who took hormonal therapy. The researchers acknowledged that assessment was carried out after the treatment so the longer-term improvements were not known.
Leonard says in Chinese medicine, pain is viewed as a lack of circulation. “What Chinese medicine does is it treats each woman individually to stop the pain and strengthen and circulate the blood and increase her vitality,” she says.
“The strategies of Chinese medicine for gynaecological disorders are subtle and effective. The herbs are very important and acupuncture complements them,” she says.
Leonard also treats women who continue to receive hormonal therapy for the condition.
Acupuncturist Caoimhe McGlinchey, who represents the Acupuncture Foundation Professional Association (acupro.ie) is keen to point out that women with endometriosis should seek out acupuncturists and practitioners of Chinese herbal medicine who specialise in gynaecological problems.
THE FACTS
What is endometriosis?
It is a condition in which cells from the womb lining travel to other parts of the body, such as the bowel and the ovaries, and grow into patches of tissue. These patches respond to the hormones of the menstrual cycle and each month they thicken and build up with blood and then break down. But, unlike the lining of the womb, they have no where to go and can cause damage, inflammation, internal scarring and adhesions. Endometriosis is found in about a third of female infertility cases.
What are the symptoms?
The most common symptom is pain before and during periods. Other symptoms include pain during ovulation, pain during or after sex and heavy bleeding and clotting. Fatigue, flu-like symptoms and/or fever during menstruation, painful bowel movements, lower back pain and intestinal upsets with periods are other symptoms.
What causes it and how is it diagnosed?
There is some evidence of a genetic link or a link with the immune system. The only way to diagnose the condition is by laparoscopy.
What are the treatments?
There is no cure but a range of treatments help ease symptoms or slow the spread of the disease. Hormone therapies treat endometrial growth and can help restore fertility. Painkillers and anti-inflammatory drugs can help relieve pain. The endometrial growths can be surgically removed but there is no guarantee recurrence of symptoms won’t occur. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine are the most popular complementary therapies used to treat it.
Adapted from the Endometriosis Association Ireland website (endo.ie). The association is holding a support group meeting in Bia Bar, Lr Stephen’s Street, Dublin 2 on Saturday 25th July from 2.30pm. Tel: 01 873 5702, e-mail: info@endo.ie