Healing Stories: Endometriosis Treated With Panchakarma

In this article, Ananda in the Himalayas explain how Panchkarma treatments helped a woman to better manage the symptoms of Endometriosis.

What is Endometriosis? 

Endometriosis is a benign condition that behaves in a malignant fashion- up to 30% to 50% of women with endometriosis may experience infertility. Despite its prevalence and impact, endometriosis remains a relatively misunderstood and underdiagnosed condition. It is a chronic and often an extremely painful event in the body that has a profound impact on the emotional state of a woman. It occurs when tissue similar to the lining of the uterus, known as the endometrium, grows outside the uterus. In some cases, it spreads to organs within the pelvic cavity, such as the ovaries, fallopian tubes, as well as in other areas of the body.

A 48-year-old modestly built woman, diagnosed with endometriosis 15 years ago, began to encounter a convoluted pattern of symptoms in her lower abdomen and pelvic region, till she decided to seek the wisdom of Ayurveda to walk the healing path. Severe intermittent abdominal discomfort, dysmenorrhea, heavy menstruation, high stress levels, disrupted sleep patterns, and gastrointestinal difficulties like severe belching, bloating, and heaviness were all depriving her of mental peace. With a history of haemorrhoids and previous surgery, getting forward required patience and perseverance.

Ayurveda’s approach & understanding of Endometriosis

Ayurveda, the ancient Indian system of medicine, views endometriosis as a disorder primarily related to imbalances in the body's doshas or bio circulatory forces, particularly Vata and Pitta doshas comprising of the fire, air, and space element. Endometriosis is the accumulation of toxins or ama in the body disrupts the natural flow of prana (life force or energy), which leads to the formation of abnormal tissues in the reproductive system.

Emotionally, living with endometriosis takes a toll on mental health and well-being. Chronic pain and other physical symptoms lead to feelings of frustration, anxiety, and depression. The unpredictable nature of the condition, coupled with the challenges of obtaining an accurate diagnosis and effective treatment, exacerbate emotional distress. Additionally, the impact of endometriosis on daily activities, relationships, and work productivity contribute to feelings of isolation and reduced self-esteem.

Dr Naresh Perumbuduri, an Ayurveda physician at Ananda in the Himalayas who specialises in hormonal health and fertility, firmly believes that addressing the emotional-behavioural patterns for someone struggling with endometriosis is a critical part of the treatment and often turns out to be the most effective solution.

Endometriosis cannot be codified under a single disease entity according to Ayurveda classics. Charak Samhita Chikitsa, the ancient Ayurvedic text has emphasised on symptoms like pain during menstruation and heavy bleeding in a dedicated chapter on gynaecological disorders such as vatiki yoni vyapad, udavartini yoni vyapad, Artavavaha srotodushti and more, which bear close resemblance to the clinical picture of endometriosis.

Upon arrival at Ananda, the guest’s focus was clear: a quest to eradicate the discomfort in her abdominal cavity and alleviate the weight of emotional distress caused due to painful menstruation and lack of sleep.

Tailoring the wellness journey

Following a thorough assessment, the guest's dosha was discovered to be a vata predominant pitta personality. Struggling with endometriosis, additional symptoms like acid reflux, sour belches, poor digestive ability, and sleep quality were expected for a vata-pitta body type.

Understanding her symptoms the Ayurveda physicians suggested a customised Panchakarma with elements to de-stress and detox in stages. This programme protocol aimed to address the digestive issues and alleviate the underlying emotional stress. The structured programme integrated deepana-ama pachana, sneha pana, virechanam and a series of vastis and samsarjana procedures for restoration.

Panchakarma at Ananda 

The programme included consistent customisation of dietary suggestions and affirmative mental activities. Sneha pana, a technique that involves consuming medicated ghee to prepare the body for intensive Panchakarma therapies, was performed in an intensified manner, alongside a specific diet therapy to digest ama. Unless the Ama (toxins) levels reduce, therapies and other interventions are not optimal in their affect. Meditations, mantra chanting and gentle yogic asanas played out an important role to calm the mind ridden with anxiety, also bringing the desired adjustment in her sleep patterns during the first phase.

Vasti treatments were administered for the majority of the stay, gradually increasing the intensity of the therapy as the body became more receptive to the thought of releasing the stored toxins. The guest had considerable weariness during the second phase, which is normal and frequent throughout this period. The Bhagavad Gita and Vedanta lessons increased the mind's frequency towards acceptance, while pranayama and breathing practices began to regulate the flow of prana.

Samsarjana is the restorative phase used to increase Agni or fire levels and balance the body's physiological functioning. During this phase, the guest began to restore her vitality, with signs of improved digestion and a significant reduction in symptoms such as bloating and frequent belching. This stage also involved Ayurveda shamana or pacifying therapies like abhyanga, along with specific de-stressing therapies to balance the Vata.

The results of the programme

During the first online follow-up, 20 days after departure, the patient reported experiencing pain and discomfort during menstruation, but at a lower intensity. The doctors urged her to follow the recommended diet and lifestyle.

After 60 days, the patient experienced a menstrual cycle without any symptoms, prompting the doctors to request thorough blood testing for hormonal assay and a pelvic ultrasound. The results indicated hormonal stability and normal uterine thickness and position.

At her last post programme follow up after 3 months, she described feeling more energetic and accepting of life in general. The guest was quite delighted with her capacity to sleep better and digest her food without any discomfort for the first time in 15 years!