Endometriosis affects one in ten women of a reproductive age. For some women, the symptoms can lead to severe and debilitating pain. However some women can remain symptom free, and as a result endometriosis may be the cause of 50% of unexplained infertility. It is a chronic condition characterised by the growth of endometrial tissue in sites other than the uterus, such as the ovaries, bladder and bowel.
Management of pain using conventional methods can sometimes be inadequate. Acupuncture has been shown to stimulate areas of the brain that are known to reduce sensitivity to stress and pain (Wu 1999). There is also preliminary evidence to support acupuncture as an effective treatment for endometriosis (Wayne 2008).
Read more about Acupuncture and the benefits of Chinese Herbal Medicine in the UK’s Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists paper here.