This endometriosis acupuncture research was conducted at Nanjing Traditional Chinese Medicine University and Haian Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital. They concluded that acupuncture combined with herbs effectively resolved endometriosis.
The six month study compared two treatments groups. Group 1 received Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) while Group 1 received mifepristone (a synthetic steroid that inhibits progesterone action, used for the treatment endometriosis). Labs included ultrasonography for detection of endometriomas and growths plus blood tests to determine treatment efficacy. The bloodwork and ultrasonography found that both TCM and drug therapy were equally effective in relieving endometriosis.
What Is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a condition where endometrial cells accumulate outside the uterus and its lining (endometrium). This often leads to dysmenorrhea (painful periods), chronic pelvic pain, dyspareunia (painful intercourse), or infertility. Effective treatment is important because symptoms tend to increase in severity over time. Western medical treatment focuses on steroid medications and surgery.
How Acupuncture Works
The following acupuncture points were used in this endometriosis acupuncture research study. CV3 (Zhongji) is located on the Conception meridian. Anatomically, CV3 corresponds with the location of the uterus. It is the meeting point of the Ren meridian with the spleen, liver, and kidney channels and is also the front mu (alarm) point of the bladder channel. CV3 has both a nourishing and clearing effect, and is used to regulate blood and qi of the Chong and Ren meridians, which nourish the uterus.
ST36 (Zusanli) is a major acupuncture point on the stomach meridian. It stimulates the regeneration of yuan (source) qi, promoting the body’s ability to heal itself. Based on their uses and functions within TCM, these two acupuncture points were chosen as two of the primary points for the study.
Objective Measurements
Blood tests and ultrasonography were compared before and after treatment to assess the clinical benefit of the treatments. Blood tests measured CA-125 levels and EMAb positive rates. Ultrasound examinations were used for pelvic region imaging. The researchers noted that increases in CA-125 levels correlate with increased dysmenorrhea. The positive rates for anti-endometrial antibodies were also tested because positive EMAb rates are higher in women with endometriosis.
Results
Results from the endometriosis acupuncture research included the following. The effective rate for the acupuncture plus herbs group was 90%, compared to the mifepristone group which had an 86% effective rate. Acupuncture and herbs produced clinically equivalent results as that of mifepristone (P > 0.05).
EMab
Blood tests revealed that both groups started off with an equivalent percentage of patients that were EMAb positive, with 70.00% in the acupuncture plus herbs group and 66.67% for the mifepristone group (P > 0.05). After TCM treatment, 33.33% of patients tested positive; after mifepristone treatment, 35.00% of patients tested positive. Based on the knowledge that endometriosis patients have a higher EMAb positive rate, the numerical improvements indicate that TCM and drug therapy produce similar results.
CA-125
CA-125 levels in both groups were equivalent prior to treatment. After treatment, both groups saw an equally significant decline in CA-125 levels (P > 0.05). The mean CA-125 level for the acupuncture and herbs group was 31.75 ± 6.74 U/mL, while the mifepristone group was 31.94 ± 6.32 U/mL. This suggests that both treatment modalities were equally able to alleviate dysmenorrhea and reduce endometriosis growth proliferation.
Patients In The Study
60 patients from Haian TCM Hospital were treated and evaluated in the endometriosis acupuncture research study. They were diagnosed with endometriosis between January 2003 and December 2013. Patients were randomly divided into the TCM treatment group and the drug control group, with 30 patients in each group.
The mean age and duration of illness was similar in both groups (P > 0.05). Subjects were selected based on the diagnostic standards set by the Gynecology Committee of the Chinese Medical Association in 2006. All patients met the following criteria:
- Dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain or dyspareunia.
- Endometriosis abnormalities detected in pelvic examination through abdominal/vaginal ultrasound and pelvic CT/MRI.
- Slightly/moderately elevated blood levels of CA125 and EMAb.
- Gross pathological findings or biopsy confirmation of endometriosis from laparoscopy.
The primary acupuncture points used for the TCM treatment group included the following:
- Zhongji (CV3)
- Guanyuan (CV4)
- Daheng (SP15)
- Tianshu (ST25)
- Wailing (ST26)
- Zusanli (ST36)
- Sanyinjiao (SP6)
Secondary acupuncture points were used based on TCM differential diagnosis. Patients presenting with lower abdominal pain with dyspareunia had the folowing points added:
- Shuidao (ST28)
- Qixue (KD13)
For lower abdominal and lumbosacral pain, the following acupoints were added:
- Shuidao (ST28)
- Qipang
Treatment Protocol
After disinfection, the acupuncture points were inserted in the following order: CV3, CV4, SP15, ST25, ST26, ST28 (if added), KD13 (if added), Qipang (if added), ST36, SP6. For ST36 and SP6, the needles were manipulated with a tonifying technique.
After twenty minutes of needle retention, the needles were removed in the order that they were inserted. Acupuncture treatments were given for six months. For the TCM herbal treatment, a modified Lichongtang herbal formula was prepared and orally ingested. Each decoction included the following herbs:
- Huangqi (20g)
- Dangshen (20g)
- Baizhu (15g)
- Shanyao (15g)
- Sanling (15g)
- Ezhu (15g)
- Jineijin (10g)
- Danshen (15g)
- Danggui (15g)
- Taoren (10g)
- Honghua (10g)
- Yanhusuo (15g)
- Xiangfu (10g)
- Zhigancao (5g)
Herbs were taken twice a day, one dose in the morning and one at night. Patients took the herbal decoction for 6 months.
Medications Prescribed
The drug control group in the endometriosis acupuncture research study received 12.5 mg of mifepristone orally administered each evening for 6 months.
Conclusion
The results of the endometriosis acupuncture research study, based on ultrasonography and blood tests, demonstrate that acupuncture and herbs are a viable treatment option for women with endometriosis.
We see this in our our acupuncture clinic at Raleigh Acupuncture. Women respond favorably to acupuncture and herb treatment, with a reduction in the symptoms of endometriosis. Pain levels are reduced and infertility is resolved.
Next Steps
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References
Endometriosis Diagnosis and Treatment Regulations [J]. Gynaecology Committee of Chinese Medical Association, Beijing: 2006.
Jiangsu Health Department. Clinical Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines [M]. Nanjing: Jiangsu Scientific Technology Publishing House, 1990: 616.
Ni SJ, Li XY. Acupuncture in Treating Dysmenorrhea of Endometriosis [J]. Shanghai Acupuncture Magazine, 1992(1): 16-17.
Zhu XF, Jiang FY. Correlation of blood CA125, EMAb with endometriosis dysmenorrhea [J]. West Medical, 2007, 19(5): 873-874.
Shi YF. Endometriosis [M]. Shanghai: Shanghai Scientific Technology Publishing House, 2002: 16-24.
Endometriosis Acupuncture Research
There is new endometriosis acupuncture research being published each year from all over the world about the benefits of acupuncture in the treatment of endometriosis and painful periods. Acupuncture should be available as a first line treatment for all women since it is safe and highly effective.
