Treatment of Endometriosis & Fibroids with Acupuncture

What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is described as the abnormal growth of endometrial tissue outside the endometrium. Endometrial cells are those that are found in the uterine lining. When those cells are found in areas outside of the uterus, the diagnosis of endometriosis is made.

 

What are Uternine Fibroids?

Uterine Fiboids or myomas are benign tumors found in approximately 20% of women over 35 years of age. Uterine myomas are the most common neoplasm of the female reproductive organs, and are associated with menstrual pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, and fertility problems.

Fibroids may impair conception if they obstruct the uterine cavity or the entrance into the uterus from the fallopian tubes.

 

What do endometriosis and fibroids have in common?

 

They both have their place in preventing conception, and both are responsive to estrogen fluctuations. There is no western cure for either, except hysterectomy. Eastern medicine, however, gives them a common denominator - they are both considered processes of inhibited, stagnated uterine blood which doesn't flow freely. The menstruate has become blocked, and the normal process has become obstructed. Women with either of these conditions often experience a sediment-like menstrual flow with dark, brown, clotted, blood which has been allowed to oxidize. The rest of the body responds and the immune system reacts to this silty, old blood. Our neuroendocrine awareness is heightened. Remember, our body's immunologic priority is to keep us safe from external or internal insults. It recognizes the toxic state and mounts chemicals to clean up this debris. It knows that a fetus won't survive in this environment.

Luckily, both conditions respond very well to Chinese medicine. Given time and the proper treatment, the blood flow will improve, the sediment will clear, and the body will overcome its immunologic protective mechanisms. Our psycho-neuro-endocrinologic system will settle down. Our body can relax and allow conception to take place.

 

National Nutrition Month

March is National Nutrition Month, according to the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, and the theme for 2012 is "Get Your Plate in Shape." So what can we take from this? I like to advise people to arrange their plates like this:

Half the plate (or half the volume, if you are using a different vehicle (bowl, blender, etc.) would be VEGETABLES, such as: arugula, beet greens, broccoli, bauliflower, lettuces (but not iceberg!), snow peas, summer squash, watercress, asparagus, Brussels sprouts, celery, collard greens, eggplant, jalapeño peppers, mushrooms, radishes, shallots, Swiss chard, cabbage, endive, green beans, kale, mustard greens, radicchio, spinach, fennel, kohlrabi, nnions, spaghetti squash, turnip greens, bell peppers (red, yellow and green) 

One quarter of the plate (or percentage of the meal) would be PROTEIN: chicken, turkey breast, grass-fed beef, organic cage-free eggs, organic low fat cheese, whey protein (cool, processed and from grass-fed cows), Greek-style yogurt, Pea, rice, and hemp protein blends 

For the remaining quarter of the meal, half of that (so one eighth each) would be HEALTHY FATS and the other eighth would be either HIGH FIBER STARCHY CARBS or LOWER GLYCEMIC FRUITS. 

A serving of healthy fats is: 

A serving is usually a third of a large avocado, 10 nuts, 1 tbsp of nut butter, ¼ cup of coconut milk, 1 tbsp olive oil (or other cold-pressed oil)

High Fiber Starchy Carbs include:  

jicama, squash (acorn, butternut, winter), lima beans, turnips, black beans, great northern beans, navy beans, yellow beans, bulgar (tabouli), steel cut oats, whole grains, whole grain tortillas, legumes (chick peas, kidney beans, lentils, split peas, white beans, etc.), barley, millet, artichokes, pumpkin, brown rice, rye, whole grain breads, Ezekiel bread, yams or sweet potatoes, buckwheat (kasha), whole grain cooked cereals, Wasa crackers 

Lower Glycemic fruits include:

berries, apples, cherries, grapefruit, pears, peaches, apricots, nectarines, kiwi fruit, passion fruit, lemons, limes, persimmons, nectarines, plums, oranges

Bon appetit!