Most women have a hard time coping with the pain and discomfort caused during menstruation. Often to make things worse, they develop endometriosis, a condition where tissues lining the uterus grow outside of it. This commonly occurs on the different parts of the lower abdomen.
What causes Endometriosis?
The exact cause of endometriosis is unknown. The possible cause for this condition could be:
Retrograde Menstruation – This is a condition where the blood and tissues, flushed out during menstruation, travel backward into the abdominal cavity, through the fallopian tube.
Anatomical Abnormality – In this condition, certain cells present in different parts of the body change into the type of cells that line the uterus.
Endometrial tissues have been found in various unlikely parts of the body, like the thumb or even the knee.
Surgery – Endometriosis may also spread due to surgery. Often endometrial cells get attached to the point of abdominal incision and form scar tissues.
Ayurvedic View: Vata Obstruction causes retrograde menstruation and leads to the accumulation or movement of endometrial tissue to settle in the extra uterine surfaces like fallopian tubes and pelvic cavity. Often associated with severe pain and scanty menstruation are due to aggravated vata, bleeding and burning sensation due to associated pitta dosha and heaviness, lethargy and slimy mucus bleeding is due to associated aggravated Kapha dosha.
What are the symptoms of Endometriosis?
Endometriosis affects most women. What differs is the intensity of the symptoms of this condition. The most common symptoms of endometriosis are:
- Pain during menstruation
- Pain during sexual intercourse
- Painful bowel movement
Role of Ayurveda in Dealing with Endometriosis
Regularizing Apana Vata, Detoxifying Pitta and bringing kapha under normal levels with Panchkarma therapies will help to keep problem at bay. Nidan parivarjan(avoiding causative factors) is the first line of treatment. Agni chikitsa will be done before initiation of treatment and after Nidan parivarjan. Once it’s achieved detoxification therapies will be started to remove the toxins out of the body i.e Panchkarma therapies. Panchakarma treatments are effective and safe.
1. Virechan: It means medicated purgation for removing AMA i.e Toxins from the body by providing medicines.
2. Vasti Chikitsa: Medicated enema should be done as per the dosha for balancing Vata Disorder.
3. Abhyanga or Snehan – It is a specialised oil massage that stimulates blood and lymph circulation in their respective vessels.
4. Swedana – This process includes steam baths with herbs, where the head and heart are kept cool while the body is cleansed by the warmth of the medicinal vapour.
5. Pizichil – Here the body is massaged while a warm herbal oil slowly drips on the body. The massage is done in a synchronised manner and it helps to deep cleanse the body tissues.
6. Udvartana – It is a way to release the toxins present in your lymphatic system. A deep penetrating paste is made from herbs which is used for a lymphatic massage.
7. Uttarvasti: Uttarbasti is an intrauterine instillation of sterile medicated oil or ghee. It acts on endometrial receptors.
Ayurvedic treatment has been seen to provide promising results in treating endometriosis. To avoid aggravation of this condition one should choose the right treatment plan. Certain lifestyle measures like quitting smoking, drinking alcohol, keeping one’s body weight healthy, Practicing appropriate meditation and yoga etc. could also help to reduce the severity of endometriosis and prevent its relapse.