Infertility, abnormal oestrous cycle, severe pain before and during menstruation. More and more women are affected. Some women spend their entire menstruation in the bathtub, others try to reduce the cramps with strong painkillers. However, they are often left alone in the search for the causes of pain. Often, period pains are considered normal and many doctors describe them as such because of the large number of people affected. But they are not. What is not given any further attention in Western medicine is not considered normal at all in the alternative healing methods of Ayurveda and traditional Chinese medicine. “Menstruation and its accompanying symptoms are a mirror of a woman’s state of health. Normally, menstruation proceeds without any complaints and regularly. Irregularities and complaints such as heavy blood loss or thick, dark, lumpy blood show a disturbance in the organism,” explains Dr. Hua Zou, a practicing alternative practitioner in Heidelberg.
Period pains have a cause
Although severe period pains are a major handicap, the problem is still hardly discussed publicly. Often, women encounter incomprehension in the workplace or among friends and acquaintances when they have to be absent for two or three days every month or spontaneously cancel their birthday party. Period pains? It can’t be that bad. Banalizing the problems frustrates and leads to many women tormenting themselves through the pain and day instead of giving their body the rest it needs. This is because severe pain often has serious causes that require treatment, such as endometriosis or myoma.
“Painkillers have stopped helping a long time ago, I have simply resigned myself to the fact that I just have to bear it,” says a young woman who has been suffering from severe period pains for over ten years and who came to the gynaecological practice of Anja Busert, a specialist in gynaecology in Darmstadt, after an unusually severe, long-lasting loss of blood and mucous membranes. “After the incident, pressure pains and an inflammatory feeling in the abdomen remained for a whole month.” An MRI confirmed Busert’s suspicion: the uterus is greatly enlarged and affected by endometriosis.
Endometriosis, myoma and the menstrual cycle
“Pain in endometriosis and myoma is related to the monthly cycle,” explains Anja Busert, a specialist in gynaecology from Darmstadt. “During the monthly cycle, various sex hormones such as oestradiol and progesterone stimulate the build-up of the uterine lining. After ovulation, the woman’s ovum travels through the fallopian tube to the uterus, where it is implanted in the mucous membrane. If the egg is not fertilised, i.e. if the woman is not pregnant, the mucous membrane breaks down and is eliminated with the menstrual blood. There is a reason why endometriosis pain usually occurs shortly before and during menstruation: “Endometriosis means that during the menstrual cycle the lining of the uterus grows in places where it does not belong, for example in the wall of the uterus. Normally the cells are flushed out again by bleeding. However, with the binned cells blood and mucous membrane accumulate and cannot drain away, resulting in inflammation, cysts and scars.
These cause severe pain,” says the specialist. It is not known how these cells get there. “In all women, a suction effect occurs in the middle of the cycle. This is caused by the cilia on the mucous membrane in the fallopian tubes and usually draws sperm to the egg. One theory suggests that the suction effect draws the cells out of the uterus and into the abdominal cavity, where they remain for unknown reasons. “Even in healthy women, cells enter the abdominal cavity through so-called retrograde menstruation, but they do not grow any further, but are eliminated by the body’s own defence cells,” explains the expert. A second assumption is that endometriosis develops where it is found. However, according to Western medicine, it is not clear why the affected cells undergo pathological changes. “Endometriosis cells have even been found in the lungs and brain. Other women have blood in their stool during their periods because the cells have entered the intestinal wall.”
On average, it takes six years for a woman to be diagnosed with endometriosis
Affected women are mostly between 15-45 years old, almost every tenth woman is affected. Nevertheless, it takes an average of six years before the correct diagnosis is made. “Often the women come to the doctor for severe pain or unfulfilled desire for children. Pain during bowel movement or urination can also be indications. It is important to note that edometriosis is not cancer and is not dangerous, but it can severely restrict the quality of life due to the pain. And depending on its location in the abdominal cavity, it exerts pressure on the bladder, sciatic nerve or intestine,” says Busert. However, endometriosis is not restricted to the uterus. Endometriosis lesions are often found in the peritoneal cavity and peritoneum, vaginal wall, intestine and ovaries.
Ultrasound and MRI are used for a more precise clarification of endometriosis in order to also detect foci that are located on the internal reproductive organs. “Small foci, however, can only be identified by means of a laparoscopy. In this minimally invasive procedure under general anesthesia, two to three small incisions are made in the abdominal wall through which a video camera is inserted. The abdomen is slightly inflated with gas and visible foci are removed immediately. These serve as tissue samples and prove the presence of endometriosis,” says the gynaecologist.
Alternative healing methods instead of surgery and synthetic hormones
In addition to laparoscopy, which is used both for diagnosis and therapy, conventional medicine treats endometriosis with synthetic hormones. These must usually be taken until menopause. “Treatment is with gestagens or GnRH analogues. Endometriosis pain is related to the female cycle and usually persists for the entire fertile life of a woman until menstruation stops – due to pregnancy or menopause. Hormone therapies are used to artificially create these conditions,” said Busert. “Progestins change the lining of the uterus in the second half of the cycle, so that a fertilised egg could implant itself. The gestagens artificially maintain this state so that no further ovulation is triggered, similar to pregnancy. As a result, the mucous membrane does not grow any further and even becomes thinner, which also causes the endometriosis lesions to shrink and the pain to subside. GnRH analogues simulate the menopause. Here too, the effect of oestrogens is suppressed, causing the endometriosis cells to shrink.” The problem: The symptoms are combated, but endometriosis is not really cured, the hormones must be taken until menopause.
Analogues are synthetic reproductions of the GnRH hormone. GnRH stimulates the release of the fertility hormones LH (luteinising hormone) and FSH (follicle stimulating hormone), which stimulate the production of oestrogen and progesterone in the ovaries. The synthetic hormone blocks the receptors of the natural hormone without imitating its action. The result: the follicle does not mature and does not produce oestrogen. The growth of the mucous membrane and the formation of new endometriosis foci are thus prevented. Possible side effects, however, may be symptoms similar to those of the menopause, and the resulting oestrogen deficiency may lead to the loss of bone mass.
Therefore, treatment with synthetic GnRH analogues is limited to six months. During treatment, the preparation is injected under the skin monthly or every three months.
Synthetic gestagens, on the other hand, ensure that the uterine lining is permanently in a state similar to the second half of the cycle, i.e. no longer growing, thus drying out the endometriosis lesions. The preparation is taken daily as a tablet, the duration of treatment is not limited as no reduction in bone mass has been observed so far. However, scientific studies suggest that synthetic progestins, which are also used in contraceptives, could lead to breast cancer.
It is clear, however, that neither treatment method cures endometriosis. A good half of the women who undergo laparoscopy develop new lesions and are dependent on hormonal therapies until menopause.
“My patient’s MRI showed that the endometriosis focus is 5.5×6.3x8cm in size and weighs a good 500g,” says the gynaecologist. “At the Darmstadt Gynaecological Clinic, the patient was informed that only the removal of the diseased cells was not possible due to the extent of the endometriosis. The patient was advised to remove the entire uterus. Even a drug treatment with synthetic hormones would only reduce the pain but would not improve the condition of the uterus to such an extent that the organ could be preserved and is also rejected by my patient”. And further: “Actually the patient is too young for a complete hysterectomy of the uterus. It also takes months until the patient is fit again after such an operation. Therefore, I fully support my patient’s alternative course of action.”
Healing through nutrition
Kerstin Rosenberg is author and managing director of the Rosenberg Ayurveda Academy with an affiliated cure and competence centre in Birstein. Here too, women with endometriosis and myomas are regularly treated naturally. “Up to 100 women with these symptoms come to our therapy centre every year and often we can achieve good results. The curative treatment methods of Panchakarma are proven methods that can lead to a reduction in the size of the altered tissue or even healing,” says Rosenberg. “It is important to consider and treat each patient individually. There is no general recipe. According to Ayurvedic teachings, myoma and endometriosis are caused by too much Kapha, one of the three doshas, i.e. life forces, of the human being,” says the managing director. Vata, Pitta, Kapha stand for dynamic functional principles that determine the individual constitution of a person’s body and metabolism. Kapha types are often large, compact to cumbersome and overweight. “With too much Kapha, individuals tend to accumulate tissue and mucus. Therefore, nutrition plays a decisive role. The aim is to change the tissue through a long-term change in diet towards a meatless or temporarily vegan diet,” says Rosenberg. “Whether myoma or endometriosis, both require a diet of leafy vegetables, desiccating foods such as barley, sesame, fenugreek, king cumin, honey and legumes such as chickpeas and mung beans. These provide vegetarians with sufficient proteins. Bitter substances and heating substances that stimulate the metabolism and burn off excess Kapha are also particularly important, including turmeric, ginger and long pepper, the so-called Pippali. Mucilaginous and heavy foods such as cheese, meat and cream should be avoided at all costs.” In addition, the clinic works with Ayurvedic doctors with a focus on gynaecology from India.
The female cycle requires a rhythmic life
Besides the constitution, hormonal, psychological and emotional factors also play a role. “Many women today suffer from Vata- and Kapha-related complaints, which have a direct effect on hormone balance and fertility,” says the author. “One problem is that today many women have lost access to their femininity and live a more male-structured everyday life. It’s all about constant performance. Mental and physical stress and an irregular life without resting influence Vata and Kapha and thus the endocrine system, which creates an imbalance in the oestrogen balance.
However, the female cycle requires a rhythmic life. Women live with a hormone cycle, so they are constantly changing. In some phases they can perform, in others they need to rest due to their biology.” Rosenberg continues: “Female disorders are still not socially acceptable, nobody talks about it. This is why women repress their weak moments, which leads to a repression of emotions and to cramping of the uterus, intestines and bladder because especially in the abdomen, Vata and the nervous system are strongly developed.” That’s why emotional support for the patient is important. “As a traditional medicine, Ayurveda is very good in the field of fertility medicine, because at that time it was the doctor’s job to care for many offspring. Today’s problem lies in the modern lifestyle. Not infrequently, when women come to us because of an unfulfilled desire to have children, I hear statements from our Indian doctors such as: ‘The woman wants a child, but has no time for a child. She is too busy and expects her body to function. But what a healthy femininity needs, there is no place for it in the modern, achievement-oriented society’.”
At the Rosenberg Clinic, patients are cared for both as outpatients and inpatients. The cure, which usually lasts two weeks, is divided into three phases: An approximately 3-day preparatory treatment with internal and external ointment. This is followed by a drainage phase with drains or enemas, then a regeneration phase. “Besides individually tailored oil massages and herbal therapies, the Panchakarma cure also includes a special diet, yoga, lectures and cooking classes. In addition, emotional support and plenty of rest is important, because the tissue metabolism only reacts when the nervous system is relaxed.”
Scientific study proves effectiveness of Ayurveda
A study by Dr. Kamini Dhiman, published in 2014 in Ayurjournal, an international scientific journal, proves a successful treatment of endometriosis and myoma with the Ayurvedic remedies Kanchanara Guggulu, Shigru Guggulu and Haridra Khand. Ultrasound examinations confirmed a reduction or complete regression of the diseased cells in the study participants after seven weeks. Kanchanara Guggulu is known in Ayurvedic medicine for its detoxifying, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. It reduces the accumulation of Kapha in the body tissues, stimulates the lymphatic and digestive systems and thus prevents the re-accumulation of Kapha. It is also used in the fight against tumours. Shigru Guggulu is very rich in iodine. Iodine is an important component of the thyroid hormones T3 and T4. Harirdra Khand contains turmeric among other things, which has a blood-purifying effect. The Triphala contained in it is successfully used in the therapy of tumours, where it kills diseased cells, while healthy cells remain unaffected. The active ingredient Trikatu binds toxins in the body, improves digestion and strengthens the reproductive organs. In her study, Dhiman also emphasizes that women should take a 20-minute break every day.
Ayurveda and TCM agree
In Chinese medicine, too, a slow metabolism and the resulting energy accumulation (Qi stagnation) in the organs and meridians, the energy channels of the human body, are considered the cause of endometriosis and myoma. “Blood is of fundamental importance for the regularity of female body function,” explains Dr. Zou. “Liver and liver meridians play an important role in the treatment of endometriosis and myoma, because they determine the rhythm and the occurrence of menstruation. The liver is responsible for storing blood and the amount of blood going to the uterus. In Chinese medicine, the kidneys are considered the root of life and play a major role in the development of menstruation over the course of life. Kidney and blood form the basis for the biological activity of the female body. Heart and Heart Qi activate the blood flow to the uterus. Spleen and stomach in turn are responsible for the production of blood and Qi: the spleen conducts the nutrients from food upwards, the stomach conducts the waste products downwards for elimination. The lungs also play a role in the female cycle, as they are the main organ for qi. Weak lung qi leads to a weak circulation of qi. The heart, spleen, lungs, liver and kidneys are storage organs and are directly related to menstruation,” says Zou. “Endometriosis and myoma are caused by a congestion in these organs and their meridians, which weakens the organs. The blood clumps together and drains off haltingly. Period blood becomes lumpy and dark.” Zou further explains: “Depression, anxiety and anger lead to stagnation of liver-Qi, causing a congestion of blood, which in turn causes pain. Temperature also has a decisive influence: Cold and moisture that penetrate the body from outside, e.g. when swimming or through cold rooms, lead to hypothermia and accumulation of moisture in the uterus. The blood now flows more slowly, clumped together. The aim of the treatment is to activate the Qi, dissolve the blood congestion and warm the uterus. Both alternative healing methods therefore see the metabolism as the treatable cause of the diseases, which they support in a natural way – with good success.”
Lisa Alix Brandau, 0178 4811188
Foto: © Johannes Stasing, www.sta-fotografie.de