ARTICLE
Meditation in the management of endometriosis
Bradley McEwen | PhD , MHSc ( Hum Nutr ), BHSc , ND ( Adv ), DBM , DNutr , DSM , M . ATMS , Naturopath , Nutritionist , and Mentor . Adjunct Senior Lecturer , School of Health and Human Sciences , Southern Cross University .
Abstract Endometriosis is a chronic multifactorial and complex disease that affects 10-15 % of women of reproductive age . Some of the symptoms of endometriosis include dysmenorrhoea , pain , chronic pelvic pain , inflammation , and infertility . Meditation has been shown to reduce pain , depression , anxiety , stress , and inflammation , and improve mood , cognition , and creativity . Meditation shows potential in the management of endometriosis .
Introduction
March is Endometriosis Awareness Month . In this issue of JATMS , there are several articles discussing lifestyle and nutritional management of endometriosis , such as meditation , magnesium , and Vitamin D . A previous issue of JATMS ( Vol . 24 Iss . 3 ) 1 discussed the potential of herbal medicine in the management of endometriosis . Endometriosis is a multifactorial and severe complex disease that often requires multi-therapeutic strategies to manage the symptoms . 2 Women with endometriosis experience dysmenorrhoea , dyspareunia , pelvic pain , 3-8 chronic pelvic pain , 9 , 10 11 , 12
stress , bowel conditions , 3-9 , 12 and thyroid conditions . 12 Lifestyle can affect the risk of developing endometriosis . 13 A cross-sectional online survey by Australian researchers found that 47 % of women who completed the survey used meditation or breathing exercises to manage their symptoms of endometriosis . 14 Meditation has been found to reduce stress , 15-17 15 , 16
anxiety , depression 15 , 16 , 18 , 19 and chronic pain , 16 and improve mood . 16 This article aims to bring attention to the beneficial effects of meditation in the management of endometriosis .
Endometriosis
Endometriosis is a chronic severe multifactorial inflammatory disease characterised by the presence of endometrial tissue outside the uterine cavity . 4 , 6 , 9 , 20 The migration of uterine endometrial cells into the pelvic cavity forms lesions on multiple sites across multiple organs . 9 Endometriosis is one of the most common gynaecological diseases in women 21 , affecting around 15 % of women of reproductive age . 21 Adolescent women with endometriosis are at particular risk as there are often significant diagnostic delays , which in turn can increase pain . 20 Women with endometriosis experience dysmenorrhoea , dyspareunia , pelvic pain , 3-8 chronic pelvic pain , 9 , 10 , 20 irritable bowel syndrome , 9 inflammatory bowel disease , 12 constipation , 3-8 and thyroid conditions . 12 Endometriosis can also be asymptomatic , 21 leading to silent suffering . There are also increased inflammation , 9 , 22 neurogenic inflammation , 9 oxidative stress , 21 development of scarring and adhesions , 22 peripheral sensitisation , central sensitisation , enhanced pelvic nociception , 9 fatigue , 22 11 , 12
stress , chronic stress , 11 and negative impacts on quality of life . 22 The intensity of stress correlates with pain severity and severity of endometriosis . 11 Inflammation and fibrosis can result in persistent pain . 20 Endometriosis is the
22 | vol27 | no1 | JATMS