I started the endo diet exactly 2 months ago and have completed 4 acupuncture sessions. Is it working?
Besides the tangible changes (shown in the chart below), I have learned a lot. I am not a doctor so below represents only my interpretation of doctor comments, reading several books, web research, and personal experience.
Excess estrogen exacerbates endometriosis. Besides eliminating inflammatory foods, the Endo Diet reduces estrogen, estrogen stimulating, or estrogen emulating foods. It also helps maintain enough progesterone to balance estrogen and prevent estrogen dominance. Acupuncture helps stimulate flow of blood and Qi to reduce blood stagnation. Period bleeding with lots of clots or dark color is one sign of blood stagnation. During acupuncture, the doctor presses on areas of the legs, arms, feet that feel very tender before inserting a needle in those locations. These are on the path to the liver. The liver filters out toxins, impurities, and metabolizes hormones including estrogen. I envision blood stagnation like a bunch of rivers in my body all plugged with sediment and rocks. I imagine the needles moving a few key rocks to help stimulate the flow in the rivers so as much as possible gets to the liver for filtering. Toxins like sugar, alcohol, and pesticides as well as excess estrogen can overload the poor little liver. It can only filter so much. The Endo Diet helps reduce the extra junk the liver has to deal with, which allows it to do a better job filtering the blood and balancing hormones. Improved energy, better circulation (warmer hands and feet), and lighter color period blood without clots are signs that blood stagnation is reducing.
Besides the tangible changes (shown in the chart below), I have learned a lot. I am not a doctor so below represents only my interpretation of doctor comments, reading several books, web research, and personal experience.
Excess estrogen exacerbates endometriosis. Besides eliminating inflammatory foods, the Endo Diet reduces estrogen, estrogen stimulating, or estrogen emulating foods. It also helps maintain enough progesterone to balance estrogen and prevent estrogen dominance. Acupuncture helps stimulate flow of blood and Qi to reduce blood stagnation. Period bleeding with lots of clots or dark color is one sign of blood stagnation. During acupuncture, the doctor presses on areas of the legs, arms, feet that feel very tender before inserting a needle in those locations. These are on the path to the liver. The liver filters out toxins, impurities, and metabolizes hormones including estrogen. I envision blood stagnation like a bunch of rivers in my body all plugged with sediment and rocks. I imagine the needles moving a few key rocks to help stimulate the flow in the rivers so as much as possible gets to the liver for filtering. Toxins like sugar, alcohol, and pesticides as well as excess estrogen can overload the poor little liver. It can only filter so much. The Endo Diet helps reduce the extra junk the liver has to deal with, which allows it to do a better job filtering the blood and balancing hormones. Improved energy, better circulation (warmer hands and feet), and lighter color period blood without clots are signs that blood stagnation is reducing.
Stress and desk jobs can further impact hormone balance and endometriosis. The endocrine system (including the liver) handles hormone production and balancing. Endometriosis is sometimes called the career-woman's disease and is strongly linked with high stress. The adrenal glands secrete cortisol to help you handle stress. Frequent stress and cortisol production can wear out the adrenal glands. Eventually cortisol levels go down and can contribute to fatigue, endometriosis, and other health issues. Sitting at my desk all day also seems to squish those blood rivers in my legs and worsen my circulation and blood stagnation. I make an effort now to block out my lunch time to go for a run or play volleyball with co-workers. This gets blood flowing and produces endorphins, reducing stress, blood stagnation, and improving my overall mood and concentration. Getting outside in the sunshine also gives me a dose of Vitamin D that I might not get since it's often dark by the time I leave the office.
Among the Endo Diet, reducing stress, exercising more, and doing acupuncture, what had the most impact?
For me, eliminating sugar, dairy, meats, gluten, soy, and switching to organic had an almost immediate effect on my body. The impact was greater than I imagined and the Endo Diet was much easier to follow than I thought. Acupuncture seems to have much less of a direct effect so far, but what I have learned through going to the sessions has been extremely valuable and caused me to change other habits and activities.
How do I feel after 2 months of Endo Diet and Acupuncture? As the chart above shows, in general my whole body has improved. I used to go through a bottle of Advil a month between headaches, cramps, and other pain. Now I only use it on the first day or two of my period, saving me money to pay for the organic veggies I'm eating! The one disappointment so far is that the first day of my period has been worse pain than even before. Excruciating and debilitating, I've had to leave work early (which I never do!), and moan in pain on the couch while my annoyed boyfriend brings me more water to gulp down tons of Advil. I am hoping with a little more time this improves as well.
What about fertility? Well I am not pregnant yet, but I'm ovulating this week so wish me luck! Time for some romance and prayers...
For me, eliminating sugar, dairy, meats, gluten, soy, and switching to organic had an almost immediate effect on my body. The impact was greater than I imagined and the Endo Diet was much easier to follow than I thought. Acupuncture seems to have much less of a direct effect so far, but what I have learned through going to the sessions has been extremely valuable and caused me to change other habits and activities.
How do I feel after 2 months of Endo Diet and Acupuncture? As the chart above shows, in general my whole body has improved. I used to go through a bottle of Advil a month between headaches, cramps, and other pain. Now I only use it on the first day or two of my period, saving me money to pay for the organic veggies I'm eating! The one disappointment so far is that the first day of my period has been worse pain than even before. Excruciating and debilitating, I've had to leave work early (which I never do!), and moan in pain on the couch while my annoyed boyfriend brings me more water to gulp down tons of Advil. I am hoping with a little more time this improves as well.
What about fertility? Well I am not pregnant yet, but I'm ovulating this week so wish me luck! Time for some romance and prayers...