Acupuncture is a branch of Traditional Chinese Medicine practiced worldwide and involves inserting small needles into specific areas of the body, usually along meridians that mirror the nervous, vascular, and musculoskeletal systems. Your acupuncturist will select points based on your symptoms and general evaluation as each and everyone is different.
While it may sound unusual, research shows that acupuncture effectively addresses many common endometriosis symptoms, such as:
- Dysmenorrhea (severe period pain)
- Gastrointestinal issues (bloating, nausea, constipation, diarrhea, IBS)
- Chronic stress, anxiety, and depression
- Infertility (related to inflammation and scarring)
- Fatigue
- Pelvic pain
- Scar tissue
Here’s how acupuncture can help manage these symptoms:
1) Enhances Blood Flow and Circulation
Acupuncture involves placing needles at specific points to target areas needing attention. This method stimulates the body’s natural healing processes, similar to how it responds to a wound, but without causing pain. For those with endometriosis, this technique improves blood flow and immune response, helping to reduce inflammation and pain and improve blood flow in the pelvic area.
2) Reduces Stress and Induces Calm
Acupuncture is highly effective for stress relief. Many patients feel deeply relaxed or even fall asleep during sessions. This is because acupuncture activates the parasympathetic nervous system and increases the production of calming brain chemicals.
3) Supports Fertility and Hormone Balance
Acupuncture helps regulate ovulation and balances hormones by positively impacting the nervous system and the hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian (HPO) axis. It enhances blood flow to the pelvis, which improves egg quality and uterine lining. Additionally, it helps balance hormones such as cortisol, insulin, estrogen, and testosterone.
4) Relieves Menstrual Pain
Regular acupuncture can help manage chronic inflammation, a major source of pain in endometriosis. By improving circulation and activating the parasympathetic response, acupuncture helps alleviate pain, including the uncommon pain related to endometriosis (sciatic pain, leg pain, abdomen and chest pain).
5) Supports Digestive Health
Acupuncture can improve gut health and address common digestive issues like nausea, constipation, bloating, and heartburn associated with endometriosis. It is particularly effective for treating SIBO, a frequent gut imbalance in endometriosis, by enhancing gut motility.
When seeking an acupuncturist for endometriosis, look for someone with a specialization in reproductive health.