While acupuncture isn’t traditionally included in the treatment program for endometriosis, many people find it helpful for alleviating their symptoms. Some people even report getting relief when their medications didn’t make a difference. If you haven’t thought about trying acupuncture for your endometriosis, here are a few reasons to consider it.
Why You Should Try Acupuncture
1. It Can Reduce Your Pain
It’s estimated that acupuncture increases the release of endorphins in the body. It can also affect your dopamine and serotonin levels. When study participants were asked to rate their pain level after undergoing acupuncture, many of them ranked their pain as being much less. They also said it improved their ability to carry out daily tasks.
2. It Can Reduce Inflammation
Studies show that people with endometriosis have more inflammation in their bodies. This inflammation can be measured via their serum CA-125 levels. According to a recent study, though, people who did acupuncture regularly had lower levels of serum CA-125.
Reduced inflammation can lead to less pain and a lower risk of developing conditions like heart disease that are associated with chronic inflammation.
3. It Can Reduce Your Estrogen Levels
One characteristic of endometriosis is that you can have endometrial cells in different areas of the body. These cells usually release a form of estrogen, which can then encourage the growth of more endometrial cells.
According to a recent study, acupuncture can reduce these estrogen levels and thus decrease the likelihood of the growth of more endometrial cells.
4. It Can Boost Your Fertility
Statistics show that up to 50 percent of those who have endometriosis are also affected by infertility. During a study that focused on how acupuncture might increase fertility, researchers found that there was as much as a 20 percent boost in pregnancy in those who had acupuncture during the study.
RELATED: Endometriosis: What All Black Women Need To Know
Why It Works
Acupuncture is based on the principle of allowing energy and resources to flow effectively through the body. Put more simply, acupuncture can help improve the flow of blood and oxygen in the body while also helping systems to communicate effectively.
According to Traditional Chinese Medicine, your body has 12 pathways and 361 acupoints. These acupoints correspond to