Acupuncture For Endometriosis
Endometriosis affects an estimated 1 in 10 women and is one of the most common causes of chronic pelvic pain. Yet for many patients, finding lasting relief can feel frustrating and overwhelming.
As a Doctor of Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine, I often see patients who have tried everything yet continue to struggle with painful periods, pelvic discomfort, digestive symptoms, fatigue, and inflammation.
Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine offer a natural and integrative approach to endometriosis that focuses not only on symptom relief, but on correcting the underlying causes of the condition, leading to long term improvement.
What Is Endometriosis?
Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus. These growths can occur on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, ligaments, bladder, bowel, and surrounding pelvic structures.
Because this tissue responds to hormonal fluctuations, it can trigger inflammation, swelling, and pain throughout the menstrual cycle.
Common symptoms include:
- Painful menstrual cramps
- Chronic pelvic pain
- Pain with ovulation or intercourse
- Heavy or irregular periods
- Bloating and digestive symptoms
- Fatigue
- Fertility challenges
The Chinese Medicine View of Endometriosis
Traditional Chinese Medicine evaluates the underlying pattern imbalances that contribute to endometriosis. You symptoms such as the qualities and intensity of the pain, timing of your cycle, digestive health, and overall wellbeing along with your tongue and pulse will inform the decision making process of determining the underlying imbalance.
Common patterns include:
- Blood Stasis – Sharp pain, clots, severe cramping
- Qi Stagnation (often Liver Qi stagnation) – PMS, emotional tension, fluctuating pain
- Cold in the Uterus – Stabbing pain relieved by heat, dark menstrual blood
- Dampness and Phlegm Accumulation – Bloating, heaviness, cysts or masses
Most patients present with a combination of patterns, which is why individualized care is more effective.
How Acupuncture Helps Endometriosis
Acupuncture supports the body on multiple levels:
- Reduces Pelvic Pain- Acupuncture improves circulation, relaxes uterine and pelvic musculature, and decreases prostaglandin-driven cramping
- Lowers Inflammation- It helps to regulates inflammatory cytokine and improve microcirculation.
- Regulates Hormones Acupuncture supports healthy hypothalamic–pituitary–ovarian (HPO) axis signaling and helps stabilize hormonal fluctuations throughout the cycle
- Calms the Nervous System It reduces pain sensitization, improves stress response and sleep
- Improves Digestive Symptoms
Many endometriosis patients experience IBS-like symptoms. Acupuncture supports gut motility and reduces abdominal tension.
What Does the Research Say?
Growing research supports acupuncture as an effective integrative therapy for endometriosis-related pain.
A 2023 multicenter randomized controlled evaluated acupuncture for endometriosis-associated pain. The study showed a significant reduction in menstrual pain, shorter duration of pelvic pain, improved quality of life and emotional wellbeing.
The authors concluded acupuncture is a “safe and effective treatment for reducing dysmenorrhea and improving quality of life in women with endometriosis.” (1)
Additional articles have shown acupuncture may reduce pain intensity, improve daily functioning, and serve as a valuable non-hormonal treatment option when used alone or alongside medical care.(2)
Chinese Herbal Medicine Addresses the Root Cause of Endometriosis
Chinese herbal medicine plays an important role in treating endometriosis. It works to correct the underlying imbalances that cause the pain and inflammation. Your specific symptoms help me determine the primary pattern imbalance.
Chinese herbal formulas are customized to target one or more of the following imbalances, depending on your symptoms:
- Cold and Blood Stasis – Sharp or fixed pelvic pain, severe cramping, dark menstrual blood, clots, pain relieved by heat
- Qi Stagnation (often stress-related) – Cyclical pain, PMS, breast tenderness, bloating, emotional tension
- Dampness – Pelvic heaviness, bloating, ovarian cysts or endometriomas
- Kidney Deficiency – Fatigue, low back pain, hormonal instability
Most patients experience a combination of these patterns rather than a single cause, which is why individualized herbal prescriptions are essential.
How Herbal Medicine Works
Herbs are selected to work synergistically — warming where circulation is impaired, moving blood where stagnation causes pain, and gently clearing inflammation.
Unlike pain medication, which blocks sensation, herbal therapy supports the body’s ability to regulate inflammation and circulation on its own. We will have a goal of reducing the severity of menstrual pain, shorten pain duration, and help prevent recurrence.
A Personalized Approach
Two people with endometriosis may share the same diagnosis but require different herbal strategies. Herbal formulas are customized based on symptoms such as pain quality, response to heat, menstrual flow, clots, digestion, and energy levels.
This individualized approach allows Chinese herbal medicine to address not just symptoms, but the root imbalance driving endometriosis — supporting long-term improvement rather than short-term suppression.
What Acupuncture Treatment Typically Looks Like
During your first visit, I will conduct a comprehensive review of your health concerns and medical history, considering aspects beyond menstrual issues such as digestion, stress, and sleep patterns. Diagnostic methods include pulse taking and tongue examination to pinpoint specific imbalances.
We may many therapies including:
- Acupuncture
- Electro-acupuncture
- Moxibustion
- Abdominal and distal points along the meridians
- Chinese herbal medicine
Many patients begin noticing changes within 1–3 menstrual cycles, with continued improvement over time.
Can Acupuncture Help If You’ve Had Surgery or Are on Hormones?
Yes. Acupuncture is commonly used to:
- Support recovery after laparoscopy
- Improve pelvic circulation
- Lower recurrence of pain
- Complement hormonal or fertility treatments
Feel Better, Get Acupuncture
Endometriosis can be physically and emotionally exhausting, but relief is possible.
Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine offer a safe, natural, and research-supported approach to managing pain, reducing inflammation, and improving quality of life.
By treating the whole person, Chinese medicine provides a powerful integrative option for women seeking long-term support and vitality.
Please call us at 212-319-5757 to make your appointment or you can also make your appointment online.
References:
- Li PS, Peng XM, Niu XX, et al. Efficacy of acupuncture for endometriosis-associated pain: a multicenter randomized single-blind placebo-controlled trial. Fertil Steril. 2023;119(5):815-823. doi:10.1016/j.fertnstert.2023.03.008
- Xu Y, Zhao W, Li T, Zhao Y, Bu H, Song S. Effects of acupuncture for the treatment of endometriosis-related pain: A systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS ONE. 2017;12(10):e0186616. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0186616.