Endometriosis

There are many testimonials stating that ayurveda has cure for endometriosis. The natural way of cure is safe and does not have any side-effects, cure via ayurvedic herbs is always better than hormonal tablets.

Endometriosis is a painful disorder and this happens when tissues that normally lines the inside uterus i.e the endometrium, gets attached outside the uterus called the endometrial implants. This condition leads to unbearable condition called the endometriosis. Sometimes, endometrial tissue may also spread beyond pelvic organs. With the hormonal changes in the body this tissues starts bleeding leading to heavy menstrual cycle which is prolonged with heavy clots. It is also found that 25 to 35 percentage of infertility is because of endometriosis.

Endometriosis vs. Menstrual Cramps

■ Really long or extremely heavy periods
■ Spotting before menstrual cycle
■ Severe migraines or lower back pain during your period
■ Painful bowel movements
■ Allergies that get worse around your period
■ Bleeding between periods
■ Fatigue
■ Nausea
■ Diarrhoea

The hormonal therapy NSAIDS is mostly used by doctors to treat endometriosis but in ayurveda the treatments includes treating hormonal balance and mind relaxation.

Diagnoses of Endometriosis

■ Pelvic examination: During a pelvic examination, cysts may be felt but it is not possible to feel small areas of endometriosis unless cysts have formed.
■Ultrasound: A standard ultrasound imaging won't definitively tell whether there is endometriosis, but it can identify cysts associated with endometriosis.
■ Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): This helps with surgical planning, giving the surgeon detailed information about the location, size of endometrial implants.
■ Laparoscopy: This is done under general anesthesia, the surgeon inserts a slender viewing instrument (laparoscope) to check affected tissue outside the uterus.

Ayurvedic Treatment

Treatments via drugs and surgery have not provided complete cure. In ayurveda, endometriosis is treated for toxin accumulation, poor nutrition, poor digestion, and imbalances of the mind and nervous system and thus offers cure.

Treatment includes steps to correct the imbalances and reverse the process of disease. The goal of the ayurvedic approach is to enliven the body's natural self-healing abilities but also to create a state of health and well-being. Since endometriosis is a condition of ama accumulation, the treatment focuses on detoxification/reduction or Shodana therapy in order to remove the ama and get the doshas back into their original location. Therefore, pancha karma is directed along with agni therapy. Most importantly, the liver is cleansed or toned as it has a role in menstruation and hormone production.

The process begins with daily ayurvedic oil massages and body treatments to loosen up the ama, collect it from different parts of the body, and bring it back to the digestive system for elimination. These treatments will also help pacify the mind and the emotions as the patient undergoes cleansing. According to several sources, a combination of abhyanga, swedana, shirodhara and basti are given daily for seven days or more while the patient consumes a diet of broths and balanced food.

The next step is to eliminate the excess pitta through virechena. Patient is given castor oil and placed on a diet of broth for 24 hours. Through the purgation that results, pitta ama is eliminated from the small intestine, thus pacifying the second dosha involved in the causation of endometriosis.