ENDOMETRIOSIS AND MENSTRUAL CRAMPS

WHY IS THE MENSTRUAL CYCLE IMPORTANT IN TRADITIONAL EASTERN MEDICINE?

In Traditional Eastern medicine theory, women and men have different physiologies. Women have more ‘yin’ characteristics and they tend to attract diseases that are more ‘substance’ related. In the other hand, men have more ‘yang’ characteristics which attracts diseases that are more ‘energy’ related.

Diseases with ‘energy’ characteristics are ones that are usually related to body stamina like lethargy or chronic fatigue syndrome. So, men usually become sick when they expend too much energy by overexertion.

The characteristic of the body’s ‘yin’ is closely connected with the ‘blood’. So to speak, we can say that women’s diseases are closely connected to the blood. In Traditional Eastern medicine, the uterus is the major organ that controls the blood, so it is from here that almost all blood related diseases can be controlled. By analyzing the menstrual status, we can conjecture the state of the uterus, and also speculate the general health status of the women’s body.


WHAT CAUSES MENSTRUAL PAIN AND DISORDERS? ^top

There are two major reasons for menstrual pain and disorder in Traditional Eastern medicine, blood clot and coldness. When blood flow is smooth and harmonious, the body is healthy. But when the flow is disturbed by a blood clot or a ‘coldness’, the organs of the affected area are prevented from the supply of fresh oxygen and nutrients and they send out a signal that is interpreted as pain by the brain.

Blood clot appears when there are excessive toxins accumulated inside the blood stream. ‘Coldness’ appears when the body is invaded by the malice cold energy externally.


WHAT IS 'COLDNESS' AND HOW DOES IT AFFECT THE BODY? ^top

The body normally tries to maintain a certain level of heat by expending energy. But when the body becomes weakened and is unable to maintain that level of heat, external malice energy can invade the body. When external malice cold energy invades the body, the blood flow is slow down and slowed blood flow results in a shortage of needed nutrients and at the same time lead to an accumulation of toxins that need to be disposed.

The coldness consequentially leads to dysmenorrheal, endometriosis, irregular menstrual cycles and other disorders (amenorrhea, menorrhagia).


HOW ARE MENSTRUAL DISORDERS TREATED? ^top

The specific origin of the menstrual disorders may differ for each patient. But since generally the pain and disorders come from the coldness or blood clot, we use herbal medicine, certain acupuncture forms, sitz bath, inguinal fumigation or any other therapies that help increase the physiological heat and the regulation of blood.


WHAT IS A SITZ BATH? ^top

A sitz bath refers to a special kind of hydrotherapy where the pelvic region is immersed in hot water. Herbal solutions or herbs supplements can be used with the water to enhance the effect. It is possible to just take a normal bath in a sitting position, but using a smaller basin can be more practical. Sitz derives from the German word sitzen which means to sit.


WHAT IS AN INGUINAL FUMIGATION THERAPY? ^top

It is a therapy popularly used in Asian countries in treating gynecologic diseases. It works with a similar concept to a bidet but uses mugwort moxibustion fumes instead of hot water. Usually the patient sits on a toilet-seat-look-a-like stand after fume emitting mugwort cones are placed inside the bottom of the stand. Thus the patient’s genital areas are exposed to the fumes. Mugwort fumes have anti-inflammatory and anti-septic effect and also invigorates and heats up the blood flow of the exposed area. These therapies are very effective on male impotence, infertility, postnatal diseases, excessive vaginal discharges and other gynecologic diseases that caused by the coldness.