Deep Dive into Endometriosis: How Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Can Help
Understand what endometriosis is, signs to look out for, how to get diagnosed, treatment comparisons, Acupuncture and Chinese herbal Medicine for Endometriosis management.
I recently started treating a woman with sub-fertility, who has been trying to conceive for 4 years unsuccessfully. Only at age 38 was she finally diagnosed with Endometriosis. She’s part of a sub-group who have endometrial growths disrupting their internal reproductive structures, yet unexplainably causing no pain or discomfort. Hence the late diagnosis. This inspired me to write this endometriosis tell-all, outlining each step of your endometriosis journey all the way from diagnosis to treatment options. Let’s dive in!
Endometriosis is a condition that affects millions of women and non-binary people worldwide, yet it often goes undiagnosed for years. I see too many patients who feel trapped by their symptoms—unable to get out of bed, missing days of work, and suffering both physically and mentally. Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the lining inside the uterus grows outside of it. Unlike normal menstrual tissue, these growths cannot shed, leading to inflammation, scarring, and hormonal imbalances.
While managing endometriosis can be challenging, an increasing number of people are finding relief through complementary therapies like Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine, which work holistically to manage symptoms and address underlying imbalances.
Do I Have Endometriosis?
Primary signs of endometriosis include:
Severe pelvic pain
Heavy or irregular periods, spotting between periods
Painful intercourse (dyspareunia)
Fertility challenges
Secondary signs of endometriosis may include:
Mood swings, anxiety, and depression
Chronic fatigue, which can interfere with daily activities
Digestive issues, such as bloating, nausea, constipation, or diarrhoea
Painful urination or bowel movements, especially during menstruation
Lower back pain, particularly around menstruation
Leg / thigh pain linked to nerve involvement
Diagnosing Endometriosis
In Australia, the diagnostic process typically starts with a visit to your GP, who may recommend:
Transvaginal Ultrasound: Useful for identifying larger cysts or endometriomas but limited in detecting smaller or subtle lesions.
Laparoscopy: The gold standard for diagnosis, allowing specialists to confirm the presence of endometrial lesions or adhesions. However, it is a minimally invasive procedure with associated risks and recovery time.
Endometriosis Treatment Options and Challenges
Hormonal Therapies: Medications such as the contraceptive pill or GnRH agonists suppress hormone production to limit the growth of endometrial tissue. While effective for symptom management, severe side effects like mood changes, weight gain, and bone density loss are common (Taylor et al., 2017).
Pain Management: Over-the-counter and prescription painkillers may reduce pain but carry risks with long-term use, such as gastrointestinal issues (Lyttleton, 2013).
Surgical Intervention: Laparoscopy successfully removes endometrial growths, yet unfortunately regression is common. When the root cause is not resolved, endometriosis often grows back (AIHW, 2019).
Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine for Endometriosis Management
Chinese Medicine Treatments: These are tailored to the phases of the menstrual cycle, working with the body’s natural rhythms. During yin phases, acupuncture and herbs are used to nourish and build yin and blood. In yang phases, they help move and release pain, inflammation, and energetic stagnation.
Acupuncture
Acupuncture offers a safe and deeply relaxing option to manage endometriosis. Studies suggest it may significantly reduce pain and inflammation by lowering CA-125 levels, an inflammatory biomarker linked to endometriosis severity (Liu et al., 2010). By improving circulation and regulating the nervous system, acupuncture may alleviate pelvic pain and dysmenorrhea (Xu et al., 2017). For example, acupuncture has been found to outperform common medications like ibuprofen or hormonal therapies in lowering CA-125 levels and reducing endometriosis symptoms. Women in these studies also reported less pelvic pain and improved quality of life following acupuncture treatments (Sun & Chen, 2006; Xu et al., 2017).
Chinese Herbal Medicine
Chinese herbal medicine complements acupuncture by addressing hormonal imbalances and supporting the body’s natural healing processes. Research highlights the effectiveness of Chinese herbs in reducing inflammation, improving immune function, and alleviating pain. A systematic review by Xu et al. (2017) found that women using herbal medicine reported significant reductions in chronic pelvic pain and improved quality of life compared to those receiving conventional therapies. Similarly, Ding and Lian (2015) reported that herbal treatments enhanced symptom relief and improved reproductive outcomes. These results show that Chinese herbal medicine can help manage symptoms while addressing the root cause of endometriosis for long-term improvement.
Endometriosis is a challenging condition to live with. With tailored dietary and lifestyle recommendations, combined with Acupuncture and Chinese Herbal Medicine, I empower my clients to go beyond merely coping during that time of the month—to thriving and feeling themselves again.
If you’d like help in managing endometriosis or period pain, book an appointment online now, or a free 15-minute insight call now to discuss how Chinese Medicine may benefit you.
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References
Image photographer- Arielle Bobb-Willis
Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. (2019). Endometriosis in Australia: Prevalence and hospitalisations. Retrieved from https://www.aihw.gov.au/reports/chronic-disease/endometriosis-prevalence-and-hospitalisations/summary
Giudice, L. C. (2010). Clinical practice: Endometriosis. The New England Journal of Medicine, 362(25), 2389–2398. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMcp1000274
Liu, Y., et al. (2010). Measurement of serum human epididymis secretory protein 4 combined with CA125 assay in differential diagnosis of endometriosis cyst and ovarian benign and malignant tumours. PubMed, 45(5), 363–366.
Lyttleton, J. (2013). Treatment of Infertility with Chinese Medicine. Churchill Livingstone.
Sun, Y., & Chen, H. (2006). Controlled study on Shu-Mu point combination for treatment of endometriosis. PubMed, 26(12), 863–865.
Taylor, H. S., et al. (2017). Treatment of endometriosis-associated pain with elagolix, an oral GnRH antagonist. New England Journal of Medicine, 377(1), 28–40.
Xu, Y., et al. (2017). Effects of acupuncture for the treatment of endometriosis-related pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLOS One, 12(10), e0186616. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0186616
