Endometriosis
Effective and Natural Treatment for Endometriosis
Reduce pain and increase your vitality…
We can address all stages and symptoms of endometriosis:
- Severe pain before, during or after your period
- Irregular periods
- Heavy periods
- Stage III and IV Endo
- Severe PMS
- Painful ovulation
- Recurrent endometriosis
- Irregular bleeding
Why Our Approach Works…
We get to the root
Our process includes addressing the actual root cause of your endometriosis. This approach has allowed us to help the most severe endo patients even those with a long family history of endometriosis.
We keep things simple
While endometriosis may be a complicated disease process, it doesn’t have to take a long time or extensive interventions to feel better. We use specific nutritional and lifestyle changes individualized for you along with acupuncture and herbs to get you feeling better quickly.
We trust your body’s own innate healing capacity
We believe it is possible to take control of your hormones and resolve endometriosis naturally. Your body knows how to heal itself. It just needs the right support. Our targeted therapies help awaken your body’s own natural healing system to that you can live a more energized, pain-free life.
We focus on how your feel
You are not just a set of lab results and medical images. We focus on you, your story and how you feel. Do your hormones feel “out of whack?” Are you exhausted? How’s your mood? We understand that stress is often a key component of endometriosis and other hormonally driven issues. By promoting relaxation and improving sleep quality, we can help your body’s own healing systems resolve endometriosis on its own.
How our process works:
Schedule a Free Consultation
During your initial consultation, you will have the opportunity to discuss your case with us. You will also give us a quick summary of your medical history, a list of what if any medications you are taking, and your goals with treatment. Before moving forward, we want to feel confident that you are a good candidate for acupuncture.
Orientation and Treatment Plan
Your first appointment will include an acupuncture session and a more in-depth health interview. At this time, we will also go over your individualized treatment plan. Your plan will include a specific frequency of acupuncture sessions, a few simple diet and lifestyle modifications, and any supplements or herbal recommendations we believe would help address the root of your endometriosis.
Active Treatment with Weekly Acupuncture
Weekly acupuncture visits ensure that your neuroendocrine system (the delicate connection between your nervous and hormonal systems) is rebalancing in a way that supports optimal hormonal health and wellness. Many patients report positive shifts very quickly when starting acupuncture. For endometriosis, we expect to see: a reduction in pain, more regular periods, normal menstrual flow, good energy and quality sleep.
Reduction in Acupuncture Visits
Once we see stable improvements, we will begin to reduce the frequency of visits. This process usually occurs after 8 to 12 visits. Initially, you will come every other week, then once a month, and then you may not need regular treatments anymore. Of course, we are always here if you feel the need for a “tune-up” or if you have other health concerns you would like to address.
Taking Care of your Friends and Loved Ones
Most of our new patients are referred to us by other patients or people in the community who have witnessed their friends and family change their lives through our approach. And, we very much look forward to helping your friends and loved ones on their journey to a more joyful, energetic, and purposeful life.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
What is Acupuncture?
Acupuncture is part of a larger system of medicine know as Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) which has a recorded clinical history of over 2,000 years. Several modalities of treatment are included under the umbrella of TCM. The most common include: acupuncture, herbs, massage, and dietary therapy. Acupuncture is the insertion of fine, sterile and disposable needles into the body at specific points. The stimulation of these points restores balance to the body’s energetic systems, healing body, mind and spirit.
What is a Typical Acupuncture Treatment Like?
The first treatment will last approximately 60 minutes and includes a full health history and treatment. You will lay comfortable on a massage table with relaxing music during your treatment. Most people get deeply relaxed any many feel it is “more relaxing than a massage.”
Upon completion, a customized treatment plan will be developed. Follow up visits last 30-45 minutes. The number of treatments required depends on your condition. Many can be treated in 3-8 treatments, while chronic or degenerative conditions may require tune-ups after the initial series of treatments.
We use only single-use, disposable needles.
Does Acupuncture Hurt?
NO! Acupuncture needles are extremely fine, flexible, and are about the diameter of a human hair. They are nothing like the hypodermic needles we remember as children and no medicine is forced into the muscle. Acupuncture needles are sterile, vacuum packaged, single-use and are disposed of after use. In almost all cases, insertion by a qualified practitioner is performed with a minimum of discomfort. Most patients find treatments very relaxing and many fall asleep during treatments. Treatments can also be tailored to patients using acupuncture styles with very shallow needle insertion. For the needle phobic patient, many conditions can be well treated with Chinese Herbs only.
How Does Acupuncture Work?
- Releases endorphins, the body’s natural pain medicine
- Activates certain brain centers, resulting in a broad spectrum of effects
- Alters neurotransmitters, affecting mood and regulatory functions
- Changes the regulation of blood flow
- Benefits immune function
The Chinese diagnostic system is based on a system of pattern recognition. Through question and examination, the TCM practitioner determines patterns of imbalance in the flow of vital energy or Qi (pronounced “chee”). Once the pattern is identified, acupuncture and herbs can be used to bring the body back into harmony.
How Can Chinese Herbs Help?
Chinese herbal medicine is the most highly developed and most commonly used system of herbal medicine in the world. It can be used independently or together with acupuncture to treat a wide variety of health conditions. Herbs are given in standard combinations or formulas of approximately 4 – 15 herbs and are prescribed based on TCM pattern diagnosis. Herbs are combined to:
- Enhance the effects of similarly acting herbs
- Moderate or balance the effects of other herbs in the formula
- Treat multiple symptom patterns
- Treat both symptom and constitutional patterns simultaneously
There are over 400 individual herbs and 250 standard formulas in the Chinese Herbal Medicine Materia Medica. They can be combined in almost infinite combinations to customize your treatment. Their effects, based on thousands of years of experience and refinement, include the following TCM treatment principals:
- Regulate and Nourish the Blood (think PMS/menopausal symptoms)
- Move the Blood (think pain)
- Tonify Qi (think fatigue)
- Warm the Interior (think arthritis that’s worse in winter)
- Calm the Spirit (think anxiety/stress/depression)
- Clear Heat (think hot sore throat, or hot rash)
- Transform Phlegm & Stop Cough
- Resolving Dampness (think stuffy nose/sinuses, or diarrhea)
- Relieve Food Stagnation
Herbs are from reputable suppliers who test for insecticides and heavy metals. Research and vast anecdotal evidence suggest that Chinese herbs may be safely combined with most western medication. You should inform your practitioner if you have high blood pressure, clotting disorders, or may be pregnant.
How Do I Choose an Acupuncturist?
The State of Tennessee began licensing acupuncturists in 2003. You should seek out a licensed acupuncturist trained in an ACAOM approved school who is nationally board certified by the NCCAOM. ACAOM approval insures a well rounded education of at least 3 years duration in both Chinese and Western medical theory including a minimum of 700 clinical hours.
Most medical doctors and chiropractors who practice acupuncture have only 150-200 hours of total training. While their western medical background may provide additional benefits, they are not versed in the subtleties of TCM. Be sure to ask about their background and experience. Finally, choose someone you feel comfortable with, who will answers your questions, and willingly communicates expectations and feedback.
What Does Treatment Cost?
Question and Answer (15 min Q&A) – No Charge
Rachel’s Services
Ann’s Services
Herbs – $10 – $20 per week
Will insurance cover treatment?
Call your insurance company to find out if acupuncture is a covered service. There are currently no provider networks in TN, but we can give you the appropriate forms to submit if you are covered. Payment is due at the time of service. Health savings accounts can be used as payment for acupuncture but not for herbal medicine.
What Can Traditional Chinese Medicine Treat?
- Specialties of treatment include:
- Musculoskeletal Pain and Injuries
- Infertility and Enhancing ART
- Allergies and Sinusitis
- Headaches
- Menstrual/Menopausal Symptoms
- Weight Loss and Digestive Issues
- Stress/Anxiety
- General Medicine
TCM is a complete system of medicine that treats numerous other conditions. For more information on a specific condition, email or call Rachel.
- Musculoskeletal Pain and Injuries
- Infertility and Enhancing ART
- Allergies and Sinusitis
- Headaches
- Menstrual/Menopausal Symptoms
- Weight Loss and Digestive Issues
- Stress/Anxiety
- General Medicine
