To read about endometriosis, go to these links;
1. http://my.clevelandclinic.org/disorders/Endometriosis/hic_Endometriosis.aspx
2. http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/endometriosis/DS00289
According to Jane Lyttleton, a well respected fertility specialist, the following are what may hinder conception:
- "If there is a significant amount of endometriosis in a very inconvenient place such as the fallopian tubes or ovaries, it is not difficult to see how the distortions it causes could prevent conceptions. But this is the reason for difficulty in conceiving in only 5% of cases.
- Endometriosis tissue may affect fertility by attracting or activating more macrophages to the area. Macrophages are large cells which mop up cellular debris and bacteria and other foreign material. The peritoneal cavity of a woman has quite a large number of macrophages and one of their jobs is to finish off sperm that swim all the way out of the tubes and into the abdomen. When there is endometriosis present, the macrophages seem to become more activated and go on seek and destroy missions with great vigor. Unfortunately these vigilantes can enter the fallopian tubes and pick off sperm before they have had a chance to meet the egg. In women with partners with poor sperm counts this can be quite disastrous leaving no sperm at all to fertilize the egg.
- These same macrophages have also been shown to produce cytokines, which are chemicals which are toxic to sperm and to embryos, providing another damaging blow to fertility.
- The type of endometriosis that sits superficially on the membrane surrounding the pelvic structures has been shown to have glands similar to that found in the endometrium. These glands secrete mucus. This mucus can coat the fimbriae or the ovary, preventing the transfer of the egg to the tube. Such a phenomenon has been observed in animal studies.
- Endometriosis is associated with increased levels of prostaglandins (PGE2 and PGF), which appear to have a deleterious effect on the potency and flexibility of the fallopian tubes.
- Endometriosis is associated with a higher incidence of the ovulatory disturbance luteinised unruptured follicle syndrome (LUFS) and lower progesterone levels in the luteal phase. "
The following information was taken from:
http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/at/article.php?id=27820
Chinese Herbs from a Western Perspective
Many herbs have remarkable pain-relieving properties. Of these herbs, corydalis (yan hu suo) offers the most potent and consistent relief of pain. It works on the central nervous system and is effective in relieving both external and internal pain. With appropriate dosage levels, the analgesic effect of corydalis has been measured to the effect of morphine. Corydalis has many fewer side effects and complications (such as development of tolerance and dependence) than morphine, but morphine has a proportionately stronger analgesic effect and faster onset of action.1 The analgesic effect of corydalis can be further enhanced when combined with electroacupuncture.2
In addition to corydalis, there are many other herbs with strong analgesic effects. Mastic (ru xiang) and myrrh (mo yao) are effective against pain of skeletal muscles;3 cnidium (chuan xiong) is effective against neurogenic pain;4 and bupleurum (chai hu), angelica (bai zhi) and licorice (gan cao) have generalized analgesic effects.5,6,7
Tang kuei (dang gui) has long demonstrated effectiveness in treating disorders of the uterus. Administration of tang kuei is associated with both stimulating and inhibiting effects on uterine tissues. Laboratory studies have shown that water and alcohol extracts of tang kuei tend to stimulate the uterus, while the essential oil tends to inhibit the uterus.8 Furthermore, clinical studies have shown that when the uterus is in a state of relaxation, tang kuei can induce contraction. On the other hand, if the uterus is in a state of contraction, then tang kuei can induce relaxation.9 This dual action of the herb explains its therapeutic effect of relieving spasms and stopping pain.
Other herbs with marked effectiveness in treatment of gynecological disorders include bulrush (pu huang) and perilla (zi su ye). In a clinical study, 31 women with abnormal uterine contractions and continuous bleeding with blood clots were treated with three grams of bulrush three times daily for three consecutive days. Most women reported satisfactory result with a gradual decrease in both bleeding and clots.10 In another clinical study, patients with bleeding from the uterus or the cervix were treated with perilla topically. Of 108 patients treated, 86 (79.63%) reported satisfactory results.11
Chinese Herbs from an Eastern Perspective
In addition to the herbs discussed above, many herbs have shown excellent results in treating endometriosis but without laboratory or clinical studies to support their effect. Nonetheless, they are quite effective according to historical and traditional uses and applications. Below is a list of herbs with excellent effects according to traditional Chinese medicine explanations.
Corydalis, the strongest analgesic herb in the materia medica, is the king herb for pain relief in this formula. Bulrush, a blood regulator, and pteropus (wu ling zhi), a blood invigorator, are commonly used to ease painful menstruation. To treat the root of endometriosis, blood stagnation must be resolved. Mastic and myrrh are often paired together, as are scirpus (san leng) and zedoaria (e zhu). In this formula, both pairs are used synergistically to remove blood stasis in both the organs and channels. They are used in this formula to break up blood stasis in the lower burner (jiao) in the chong and ren channels. The chong channel is the point of emergence of all 12 regular channels, and is also considered to be the "sea of blood." Cnidium is commonly used to treat gynecological disorders, in part because its descending function is to enter the chong channel to regulate qi and blood circulation and normalize menstruation. Red peony (chi shao) enters the blood (xue) level to break up blood stagnation. It also assists the heat-clearing herbs in this formula to relieve inflammation of the pelvic cavity.
Pangolin scales (chuan shan jia) and cinnamon twigs (gui zhi) are strong herbs used to break up blood stagnation and open the channels and collaterals. Qi-regulating herbs such as lindera (wu yao), saussurea (mu xiang), magnolia bark (hou po) and fennel seed (xiao hui xiang) are used to address symptoms such as bloating and colicky pain associated with endometriosis. Besides relieving pain, these qi-regulating herbs assist the blood-invigorating herbs in dispersing stagnation. Aurantium (zhi ke) relieves distention; areca seed (bing lang) disperses stagnation and promotes the movement of qi. Bupleurum enters the liver and helps regulate menstruation.
http://www.acupuncturetoday.com/mpacms/at/article.php?id=27820
Lifestyle Instructions
- Adequate intake of vitamins and minerals on a daily basis is important. Vitamin E helps with hormone balance, while vitamin K is essential for normal blood clotting. Both are readily available in a balanced and diverse healthy diet, with vitamin K enhanced by moderate skin exposure to moderate sunlight. Iron is also needed, as heavy monthly bleeding contributes to iron deficiency.
- Advise the patient to avoid alcohol; caffeine; animal fats; butter; dairy products; fried foods; all hardened (hydrogenated) fats; junk food; fast foods; red meats; salt; shellfish; and sugar.13 If you eat poultry, select products from birds raised on organic food, without the administration of antibiotics or hormone supplements.
This study was done on endometriosis and Chinese medicine. If you click on the link below you can view the abstract. On the right of the page is a column listing the full text of the study in HTML or PDF form. To view the study in it's complete form you can download it from those two options.
Evolution of medical treatment form endometriosis: back to the roots?
