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Endometriosis Signs and Symptoms and Treatment Options

By Amy | Published March 20, 2019

March is Endometriosis Awareness Month!

Endometriosis is a disease that affects around 11% of women worldwide.  But the kicker is it can often take years for women to receive the diagnosis.

 

What is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is when the cells that normally line the uterus are found outside the uterus.  When during a woman’s menstrual cycle those cells are shed from the uterus and menstruation begins, these other misplanted cells are also signaled to bleed, and that causes inflammation wherever they are.  These cells can be anywhere in the pelvic cavity and can also adhere to the intestines and even travel up to the chest cavity in more severe cases.  So endometriosis can cause all kinds of pain.

 

How Do You Know if you have endometriosis or just bad periods?

Here are the main signs of endometriosis:

  • Pelvic Pain
  • Severe stabbing pain especially before or during menstruation.
  • Pain during intercourse
  • Post-coital nausea
  • Getting very sick with the menstrual cycle such as fever and chills, vomiting, etc.
  • Pain with urination or bowel movements
  • Pain in legs and buttocks

Getting Diagnosed

The only way to definitively diagnose the disease is via laproscopy, which is sneaking a camera in the abdominal and pelvic cavities to look for the implanted endometrial cells. Many women find out they have endometriosis when they have difficulty conceiving.  This is because the continued bleeding of the misplanted cells can cause scar tissue and adhesions to build up, and often on the ovaries and/or fallopian tubes. This blocks the pathway for both egg and sperm.

Conventional treatment Options

There are two main ways medical doctors will treat endometriosis.  One is with surgery to either cut out the adhesions or to remove tissues or organs affected. The other is the use of hormonal birth control containing synthetic progesterone called progestin.  This counters the effect of estrogen which is the hormone that causes the endometrium to grow.

There are some negative possible outcomes with either drugs or surgery.   Hormonal birth control often creates side effects and risks such as blood clots, weight gain, or mood changes.  Likewise, serious problems with surgery include the adhesions growing back or scar tissue building up.  Often doctors recommend a hysterectomy, and understandably a woman may oppose this level of invasiveness.  Even with removal of the uterus and other tissues, endometriosis can still grow back in other tissues and areas.

Chinese Medicine Therapy for Endometriosis

Some women prefer to seek other options to hormonal drugs and surgery.  Acupuncture and herbal medicine have been used for many centuries to relieve menstrual pain, abdominal pain, and to improve hormonal imbalances.

What to Expect if going the natural route

Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine work to uncover the root causes of why a woman is having pain, heavy bleeding, etc, all the symptoms she experiences as part of her endometriosis diagnosis.  We as practitioners will examine the pulses, abdomen, and tongue, as well as ask many questions about the quality of the pain, blood, bowel movements, etc, to get a whole picture of what is not working right.

The Diagnosis and Treatment in Chinese Medicine

According to Chinese Medicine, most women with endometriosis have a form of what is called Blood Stasis, or Blood Stagnation.  In our medicine, refers to a poor quality of blood that is too thick or not fluid enough, and blood that is not free flowing througout the body and especially that gets obstructed in the uterus.  While these terms do not mean that there is something wrong with your blood according to conventional medicine, it refers to the way Chinese Medicine views the Blood as a grouping of functions in the body.  Once the Chinese Medical Diagnosis is determined, we can then ascertain which treatment approach to take.  For instance, if we determine the blood is stagnant, we may use herbs that invigorate the blood and points that promote circulation.

A treatment plan can be anywhere from 3 months to 9 months depending on the severity of the case.  Many women experience significant reduction of pain and bleeding and improved cycles with acupuncture and herbs, and often have noticeable improvements within the first few treatments.

finding hope for endometriosis

Here at Energy Flow Health, we support a woman’s decision, as we honor that a woman knows her body best.  It is helpful to explore the options, and if something isn’t feeling right then you always have the right to try something else.  There is hope, and if you would like to discuss working with Amy, please call 630-335-1069 for a complimentary consultation.

 

 

 

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Herbal Medicine for Kids – keys to unlock their own healing power

By Amy | Published February 14, 2019

Beyond Acupuncture

As Chinese Medicine is a system of 8 complimentary modalities, acupuncture is not always the one and only therapy I use for kids.  Another super effective and important solution is HERBS!  I don’t prescribe herbs for every kid I see, however, we will discuss whether this approach is the right approach for your child depending on his or her specific case.

Easy to Take granules – just scoop and mix with hot water!

Flavors Therapy

This brings up another objection from kids (and adults alike) – “If it tastes bad I won’t take it!”  – Ah, yes, the almighty tastebuds.  It’s amazing how much influence such tiny things have over so many of us, kids especially!  Of course nature intended this to prevent us from poisoning ourselves, but I assure you, our tastebuds nowadays have been well trained by the Standard American Diet which is markedly devoid of some of the main healing flavors such as Bitter or Sour or Acrid while being, honestly, overpoweringly sweet.  But it’s the use of 5 Flavors that is the secret to how this stuff works.

So what advice do I have to get the stuff into your kiddos?

  • Just get it down!  This could mean using a straw to get it down the hatch bypassing as much of the tongue as possible.
  • For very little kids, I’m ok with mixing it with applesauce or a spoonful of honey (sorry Mary Poppins, we’re going unrefined here ;).
  • Incentives? Bribery? Parents may need to resort to some sort of compensatory bargain to get kids to take their herbs.

Some kids are just motivated to feel better so when I explain that just 2 cups of a funny tasting tea a day will help them, they’re willing to go along.  Of course, it really helps if they see Mom or Dad taking their herbs! (Hint, hint.  More on that in another blog).

 

Why Do Parents Bring Their Kids In For Treatment? What can herbs help with?

Some conditions that may be best treated with acupuncture and/or herbs include:

  • Bedwetting
  • ADHD/ Behavioral or Emotional Disorders
  • Menstrual Issues with preteen and teen girls
  • Coughs and Colds
  • More serious conditions such as Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Joint Pain/Juvenile RA, etc.

Overall, we can help your child’s natural immunity and healing mechanisms to work better by removing impediments, calming the nervous system, and creating internal balance.

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Treating Kids – Overcoming Misconceptions About Acupuncture

By Amy | Published January 28, 2019

Before parents decide to bring their kids in for treatment, they may encounter some obstacles.  Let’s talk about it so we can clear up some myths and misconceptions and get on to healing!

Objections and Gaining Trust

Your kids might say something like this:

“No way! I hate needles! They hurt!” – Most kids in the US are vaccinated from birth through adolescence, and so their main exposure to needles is the syringe used to give “shots”.  Let me reassure you right now – I do NOT use syringes! Here’s a couple fun facts that give perspective:

  • Did you know that anywhere from 20-40 acupuncture needles can fit inside a syringe?
  • The average human hair at about .10mm in diameter is just a touch thinner than my needles, which are .14-.20mm in diameter.

While that may be reassuring to you, some kids may not grasp the concept.  Luckily, I have a few tricks up my sleeve to gain their trust to try it.  Usually once they try it they like it.  My youngest patients like to tell me how many they want and where! As a mom I have a good rapport with kids to put them at ease on the treatment table.

Non-Needle Options

Still not convinced your cutie will fall for it? Well, they don’t have to get acupuncture w/needles.  I also have non-needle techniques such as acupressure and massage that are effective for young kids due to their very sensitive nervous systems. There are also other tools used to stimulate acupuncture points without penetrating the skin.

In the next blog in this series, I will explain how herbal medicine is so great for getting kids healthier.

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Treating Kids with Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine

By Amy | Published January 23, 2019

Do kids get acupuncture and take herbs? You bet they do!  Here’s an intro to Chinese medicine for children.  It’s the first in a series of blogs on this topic.

*The beauty of choosing Chinese Medicine as a treatment modality for your kids is that they get better fast! The key is to bring them in at first signs of an issue – or even if they’re overall pretty healthy.  My methods find underlying patterns that have in the past or may in the future manifest in illness.

Here’s a list of common conditions I see kids for:

*frequent colds or flus or early stage of feeling like they’re coming down with something as well asactive colds or flus

*allergies, food sensitivities

*bedwetting/enuresis

*digestive complaints such as tummy aches, constipation, diarrhea, etc.

*anxiety

*failure to thrive

Usually a lot of kids’ common issues involve the digestive system – it’s weak and still developing in kids – especially the little ones!  Having kids in preschool, daycare, and public school makes it really hard to keep them on a healthy diet.  We live in a snack food culture and unfortunately many of the foods kids crave are energetically and nutritionally incompatible with their immature digestive systems.

While food therapy is important, acupuncture and herbs can really heal the imbalances and strengthen the weaknesses to make your kids more robust.

I welcome your questions and comments.  In my next blog, I will go over a couple of the common obstacles parents face when trying to choose whether this approach is right for their kids.

 

 

 

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Acupuncture During Pregnancy for Advanced Prenatal Care

By Amy | Published December 28, 2018

While this topic seems to be geared toward those expecting or planning to get pregnant, many of us have friends or family who plan to have a child, so the more ears and eyes aware of the tools out there that can help, the better.

It’s apparent that we’ve created a culture here in the US of fear around pregnancy – and I and other acupuncturists and herbalists are here to say that pregnancy can be a really wonderful experience and that it’s truly the beginning of someone’s life. The time in utero is a critical time and should be protected.

 

Acupuncture and herbs are safe throughout the entire pregnancy!

Of course choose someone who has experience and training in working with pregnant women.  At Energy Flow, we create a customized treatment plan to prepare someone for a healthy pregnancy, and we help support each stage of the pregnancy.

 

As you may know, the United States is behind most developed countries in maternal care and prenatal and postnatal health.  Acupuncturists who specialize in women’s health and pregnancy, like me, are here to change that.  We are dedicated to changing outcomes for the better.  Here’s more about some issues that can arise during and after pregnancy and how acupuncture and herbs can help.

 

 

Conditions treated during pregnancy:

  1. Pain

    Pain is blockage.  Acupuncture is specifically designed to release blockages in the energy meridians of the body thus removing the block to flow that results in pain.  Trust me, you don’t want drains on your energy during pregnancy – you need all the energy you can get to grow the baby and prepare for caring for the baby.  Not to mention all your other responsibilities.

  2. Nausea and Vomiting

    While some queasiness or nausea is normal and even can be a good sign in the first trimester, feeling sick beyond the first trimester, or continual vomiting in the first trimester, should be treated.  Hyperemesis gravidarum patients respond well to acupuncture and herbs.

  3. Keep the Bowels Moving!

    This is especially important during pregnancy and postpartum.  If you are not eliminating every day, this is a sign that your system needs rebalancing to adjust for baby’s presence.

  4. Indigestion, AKA acid reflux or heartburn

    When I was pregnant the first time, I thought it was normal to have heartburn and didn’t think of it as something that needed correcting other than to take baking soda water all the time! Again, this is not par for the course!  It can and should be eased.

  5. Urinary urgency, frequency, or stress incontinence

    Yes, there is a baby sitting on top of your bladder, however, the body is designed to compensate for this normally.  This can improve with treatment, making your life in those last months, especially, much more comfortable!

  6. Swelling and Fluid Imbalances

Acupuncture and herbs help tremendously with balancing fluids so that swelling is greatly reduced and amniotic fluid levels can be regulated in        cases of polyhydramnios or oligohydramnios.   Fluids metabolism and balance is a major focus of East Asian Medicine.

7. Improve Outcomes for High Risk Pregnancies

The known benefits of acupuncture including reducing stress, which helps to regulate metabolic functions like blood pressure, relieving pain, and     improving circulation are all going to be beneficial especially when treatments occur throughout the pregnancy regularly.  This is an excellent       addition to prenatal care for high risk pregnancies.

 

Homework Assignments for Expectant Parents

In addition to using acupuncture and herbs in the clinic, we also send expectant parents home with acupressure instructions including points for the partner to press or rub during labor.

Pregnancy and childbirth are very special times in a woman’s life, and we are passionate about partnering with families for support throughout. We’d love to discuss partnering with you, just call or text 630-335-1069 to schedule a complimentary consultation.

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