Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a complex condition that I suffered from and cured for myself even before becoming an Ayurvedic practitioner. I have been free from symptoms for the last nine years. My condition was very severe, and the pain resulting from it was crippling. I am very grateful that it is a distant memory now! But in this post, I will write not from a sufferer's perspective but a healer's.

In Ayurvedic terms, endometriosis is an apana vata imbalance (blood flow goes the opposite direction to where it should exit, and depositions of endometrium attach in the stomach cavity, causing pain) and a Rajah Vaha Srotas obstruction.

The imbalance typically develops due to an excess pitta (inflammation) in the womb (often made worse by spicy food, alcohol, and stress) and a diet of too many cold and raw foods/drinks.

From a modern science point of view, endometriosis is caused by imbalanced estrogen metabolism. This seems to be a very simplistic way of looking at things- typical of the allopathic method, yet it is relevant to some aspects of treatment, which I will cover later.

Most patients that I see suffering from endometriosis seem to have a pitta/vata or vata/pitta constitution and/or imbalance (prakruti and vikruti).

So, how would I help a patient with endometriosis?

Questions I ask to evaluate the condition further: 

-How is the elimination? ( to be able to see which agni deepana (enzymatic correction in the body) and ama pachana (detox) treatment would be best suited- eg. Is there constipation, loose stools or both).

-Are there any digestive complaints? (to assess if the digestion needs more pitta or vata support, so is it more acidity or bloating and indigestion, etc.).

-What is menstruation like when it starts? (I would like to know if the patient has stagnant blood in the beginning and clots that signal poor circulation or a tendency to heavy bleeding, as endometriosis often has both symptoms present due to the vata/pitta disturbances in the womb).

-How is the sleep? (To see if sleep support is needed).

-What ways has the patient found to manage her stress levels? ( to open that Pandora box and start THAT conversation). I would always gently and compassionately bring some light onto the importance of stress hormones and endometriosis. HPA and HPO axis will forever influence the overall hormonal balance in the body (hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenals and hypothalamus-pituitary-ovaries).

-When did the symptoms start? What changed around that time in the patient's life that might correspond? (to see if there was any other possible nidana (causative factor) that I might be overlooking).

This is where it all comes down to.

As for the diet, I would advise how the dhatu (bodily tissues) develop from the food quality and the prana(vital energy) present in that food. And how ojas, (the patient's immunity and vital force, energy to live a happy life in a good state of mind), is a direct 'leftover' from the production of the dhatu if any nutrition is left. If there is not enough nutrition to supply the dhatu chain, which is set in order of importance for the body's survival, the bodily tissues suffer, and ojas doesn't get produced. I would try to gently inspire the patient that eating food that is full of life (and not the very pitta-provoking, prana-dead microwave dinners or fast food) is the best investment into her health, beauty and well-being (a pitta person always responds to that ;) We could cover tips and tricks of healthy cooking for a busy person.

So now that we are cooking beautiful homemade meals that are more nutritious, I would explain why getting into salads and nuts is not a good idea for her constitution. Raw food is very provoking for the endometriosis pain, and I have learnt that the hard way, not in lectures ;)

The patient would always be better off opting for cooked, easily digestible soups, curries made on a bit of coconut milk or ghee, steamed veg, fish and non-red meat, and good quality dairy products (if she can tolerate dairy) from animals that are not treated with hormones, and if she fancies some greens and fruit it is better consumed at the midday meal when her digestion is the strongest but ideally only in warmer months.

Spicy food, red wine, red meat, red fish, tomatoes, peanuts and bananas would not be advised for her pitta imbalance. Cold, raw, and dry foods would not be recommended for her vata imbalance. This is, of course, just a rough list to give you an idea.

As for the lifestyle, I would suggest a more regular meal plan to pacify her vata and pitta. Vata needs grounding, and pitta needs something to digest in the agnis, or it gets overheated and aggravated. Win-win. 

In terms of exercise, I would advise shifting to swimming, dancing, walking and gentle yoga instead of cross-fit or running, which would be too aggressive for the patient's current imbalanced state. I would also attempt to talk about alternative nostril breathing pranayama in the morning and the left nostril breathing in the evening to address the stress response in the body and give the patient another tool for stress and anxiety. There are scientific images of individuals practising pranayama inside the MRI scan tube and how it massages the Vagus nerve. The tone of the vagus nerve is critical for the body's optimal function and relaxation. This could perhaps convince a visual pitta person to give it a go. If she were a science nerd, I would also suggest more modern inventions that are great for inducing more of the parasympathetic response in the body (but more of that in another post!).

Did you know that there is a link between commercial personal hygiene product's toxicity and the worsening of endometriosis symptoms? Commercial products are treated with various industrial chemicals that are highly toxic and get absorbed by the body transdermally. Some of those chemicals are estrogen-mimicking, and so I always suspected that it could be the reason why they dramatically worsen this condition, which is characterized by estrogenic dominance. I always advise a shift to more natural, organic cotton varieties.

Endometriosis, in my opinion, is strongly linked to emotional trauma. I keep that in mind during the consultation, and only if the opportunity to talk about it arose and the patient was willing and receptive would I talk about potential therapy options. In the Eastern tradition, this correlation could be explained by the chakras, the body's energetic centres. The womb's location shows endometriosis between the root and sacral chakra. Root chakra relates to safety, stability, trust, and abundance. The sacral chakra correlates to emotion, pleasure and sexuality. Physical signs of blockages in these energetic junctions manifest in many ways, and endometriosis is one of the possible symptoms. In terms of energy medicine, endometriosis is recognized as a feeling of inadequacy, being unacceptable, rejecting the female aspect of yourself, feeling depleted, unsupported, rejected, especially by a male figure, and denying yourself love and appreciation. If you have endometriosis, regardless of your belief in energy medicine, ask yourself if this sounds familiar?

Now that we have covered lifestyle and diet changes, I will mention that various excellent herbal remedies and supplements are available and effective to help treat and reverse endometriosis. Please book a consultation for a complete list, evaluation, herbal prescription, and a personalized plan. It is a complex imbalance to undo and will take time and dedication to do so, but I am living proof that leaving it behind is possible.

However, since you have read all the way to this part, I will leave you with one fantastic, inexpensive, readily available, delicious and straightforward remedy- Coriander seed tea!

Hot summer variety: cover two teaspoons with hot water overnight, strain and drink in the morning. Colder months variety (or if you have a cold or bloating): just boil enough water for a cup with three teaspoons of coriander seeds with some fresh ginger and a few black peppers in a pan for 10min; drink first thing in the morning. This remedy alkalizes, is anti-inflammatory, cooling, great for skin health, UTI's, detoxing, and pita balancing). Try it and watch your inflammation lessen.

Can I help you more? Would you like to book an Ayurvedic Consultation to address any particular symptoms or health goals? Please find the booking options in the Book Online tab on my website. A free discovery call is also available!

Was this helpful? Please share this with your loved ones and friends who are struggling with endometriosis. Also, say hello, and tell me how you feel after the coriander seed tea :)