Endometriosis - A Possible Therapy In Ayruveda!

Endometriosis is a painful disorder wherein, a tissue that normally belongs to the inside of a woman’s uterus starts to grow out of the uterus. It commonly involves a woman’s ovaries, fallopian tubes and the tissue, which lines the pelvis. In the case of endometriosis, the displaced endometrial tissue continues to act like normal, becomes thick, breaks down and leads to bleeding with each menstrual cycle. Endometriosis can lead to pain, which might be severe, especially during a woman’s period. 

Causes of Endometriosis:

1. Embryonic Cells Getting Transformed: Hormones like estrogen might transform the cells, which are in the early stage of development, into implantation of endometrial cells at the time of puberty. 
2. Surgical Scar Implantation: After undergoing surgery like a hysterectomy or C-section, the endometrial cells might get attached to the incisions done for conducting the surgery. 
3. Transport of Endometrial Cells: The tissue fluid system or the blood vessels might transport the endometrial cells to different parts of the body. 

Let us take a look at some of the symptoms of endometriosis: 

1. Periods that become painful 
2. The pain suffered during or after the intercourse. 
3. Feeling pain during bowel movements 
4. Excess bleeding 
5. Infertility 

Possible location of endometriosis: 

1. Ovaries(the most common site) 
2. Fallopian tubes 
3. Back of the uterus 
4. Front of the uterus 
5. Uterine ligaments such as the broad or round ligament of the uterus 
6. Pelvic walls 
7. Intestines 
8. Urinary bladder and ureters 

Investigations Required in Endometriosis 
The investigations required in endometriosis are as follows: 

1. Pelvic Exam – In this exam, a doctor manually tends to feel certain areas in the pelvis for any kind of abnormalities like cysts or the reproductive organs or scars behind the uterus. 
2. Ultrasound – High-frequency sound waves are used to create certain images inside the body, by capturing them via a device known as a transducer and getting it pressed against a woman’s abdomen.
3. MRI – MRI by way of magnetic field and radio waves help to get detailed images of the tissues and organs in the body. 
4. Laparoscopy Endometriosis through the eyes of ayurveda: The signs and symptoms mentioned in endometriosis are described in Ayurveda under the heading of vataja yonivyapadh and udavartha.
   • Apana Vata is considered the main functioning agent to maintain normal menstruation. 
   • This is vitiated due to a sedentary lifestyle, lack of exercise, sleep, irregular sleep, stressful professional atmosphere, mental tensions and unhealthy food habits. 
   • The deranged Apana Vata causes retrograde menstruation leading to endometriosis. Along with this, the other two doshas-pitta and Kapha are vitiated leading to hormonal imbalance and abnormal growth of endometrium respectively. Hence, the first and foremost step is to restore the physiology of these doshas. 

What are shodhanas? 
Shodhanas are detoxifying procedures like snehana, svedana, vamana, virechana and basti. Benefits of shodhana in female reproductive system: 

• Biological systems return to normalcy. 
• Revitalizes body tissues 
• Potentiates pharmacological actions of internal medicines
• Removes toxins 
• Improves physiological functions and gut absorption. 

Also, improper metabolism is corrected 

• Mental faculties, strength and vitality are enhanced 
• Fine tunes the endocrine system (hormonal balance correcting hypothalamus-pituitary-ovarian axis). 
• Promotive-promotes fertility, preventive-prevents recurrence and curative- cures from the root and rehabilitative too. 

Ayurvedic Treatment for Endometriosis 
Endometriosis’s treatment in Ayurveda requires an anti-Pitta diet and regimen, where there would be complete avoidance of all spices, except coriander, turmeric and saffron. One must also refrain from having 

1. Salt 
2. Alcohol 
3. Refined sugar 

Good herbs might get included in the form of: 

1. Shatavari 
2. Kumari Saar 
3. Kanchanar 
4. Ashoka 
5. Lodhra 
6. Pradranta Churna 

As per Ayurveda, Endometriosis happens as a result of more Kapha due to increased growth of the uterine membrane. Anti-kapha, anti-tumor and general detoxification can be helpful along with some typical herbs like Guggul, Myrrh, Turmeric and Dandelion. 

How can Diet and Yoga help to improve Endometriosis? 
Modifications in diet by switching to the intake of healthy foods and Yoga can help to a great extent in improving Endometriosis. Some of the diet tips include: 

1. Avoiding foods like cakes, donuts and fries that contain trans fats. 
2. Cut down on the consumption of red meat. 
3. Have lots of fruit, vegetables and whole grains 
4. Put a check on the consumption of caffeine and alcohol 
5. Reduce the intake of processed foods. 

Impact of Yoga 
Yoga’s positive impact in treating endometriosis includes: 

1. Yoga, with its structured approach towards the body help reduce the symptoms of emdometriosis, while improving the general functioning of the body & oxygenation to the organs. 
2. Women, who have tried out Yoga in order to decrease pain, also observed that there has been an improvement in their condition through healing. 
3. Control in the breathing exercises decrease anxiety and a general sense of well-being is promoted. 
4. Yoga helps to ease out menstrual pain, improves fertility and helps in bringing about hormonal balance.