Dr. Sarita Shresta
Ayurveda has been practiced in the US for only about 30 years, yet it is one of the systems of medicine native to India and is thousands of years old.
Question: I have stage four endometriosis with adhesions on my bowel. I was operated on using laporoscopy three times. I am currently trying to get pregnant. My in vitro fertilization (IVF) was unsuccessful. A few years ago, I pursued Ayurvedic treatment and was advised to take hingwashtaka churna and sukumara gritham early in the morning on an empty stomach. However, my symptoms did not abate. Could you please suggest a diet, exercise and lifestyle changes to help me conceive soon? I am thirty-five years old and have never been pregnant.
Answer: If you have endometriosis and you have had surgery three times and IVF failed, it could be likely that endometriosis and/or the resultant adhesions are contributing to the cause of your infertility. The fertility seems to be your greatest concern in relation to the endometriosis, as you have not discussed pain or any of the other symptoms (such as bleeding) that can occur with endometriosis. Because a great deal of interference occurs as a result of IVF, pregnancy after IVF can be difficult with natural methods.
The cause of this imbalance is likely rooted in the vata dosha (the air and ether elements). The development of adhesions is a symptom of a tridoshic disturbance. It is important in your case to treat vata with a variety of techniques, including the use of calming food and restorative Yoga practice. Since we don’t know what your body type or structure, what you look like, whether you are under or overweight, it is still important to treat vata.
Pranayama
Kapalabhati and bhastrika are suitable if you are not hypertensive, emaciated nor vata-provoked. Learn these powerful, heating and cleansing breath techniques from a qualified teacher and carefully monitor how you feel with the practice. Both of these bring a lot of movement to the abdominal region; they can be helpful in removing mild adhesions. They can also help throw out the impurities
lodged in the abdominal region, especially impurities in the form of kapha (the water and earth elements).
Herbs
Even though you have tried it before, again, take one pinch of hingwashtaka churna on an empty stomach as a digestive herb.
Aloe vera is also an important herbal remedy for you as it has the ability to stimulate contraction in the uterus to throw out excess foreign particles. Endometriosis is a foreign particle. In addition, aloe vera balances the hormones, especially estrogen, even though it is not necessarily proven to be a phytoestrogen. (Because of both of these effects, do not use aloe vera during pregnancy.) Take aloe vera once a day, two hours after breakfast. If you’re drinking liquid aloe vera or aloe vera juice, take two tablespoons. If you’re taking gel, take one tablespoon.
Herbal remedies or foods for healing need to be consumed continuously for at least six weeks. Whenever we are addressing anything related to women’s health or hormones, the remedy must be taken long enough to affect a full hormonal cycle plus some more time. A full hormonal cycle is thirty-five days, so the herbs need to be taken for at least forty-five days. To be realistic, you need to give it at least that amount of time, or even better, three months, before expecting the issue to come into balance.
Asana or Exercise
Focus on practices that open and increase circulation in the pelvic region and low back, including:
- Supta badhakonasana, gentle reclining butterfly or bound angle pose, often with a bolster or support.
- Butterfly with movement linked to the breath.
- Child’s pose with your arms behind you.
- Cooling moon salutations.
- Paschimottanasana (seated forward fold).
- Restorative postures.
Food
Avoid food that is too spicy, too dry, too oily, too heavy or too rich. Choose moderation: food that is light, not very heavy, less rich and with good nutrients is important. Sometimes people mistakenly cut out everything and go to one extreme or the other rather than remaining in a place of moderation. Cutting out an excess amount of fat does not mean cutting out all fat. And eating some fat does not mean overindulging in fatty food.
Drinks
Begin your day with one to two glasses of warm water to flush the system. During the day, have one to two cups of green tea, which flushes the pelvic region. Warm lemon water with honey also helps to decrease excess build up in the pelvic region. It can be okay to continue to have honey in small amounts during pregnancy.
Massage
At least once a week, give yourself or get a massage of your abdominal area and/or low back. Choose from the following oils in this order of preference:
- Mustard: This oil is sharp and heating. It penetrates the body and can help dissolve excess endometrial tissue. While it has a small effect in and of itself, if used consistently, it helps to address and balance apana vata, the downward movement of the vata dosha.
- Olive: Also by its nature, olive is heating, although it is not as strong as mustard. Choose olive for massage in this situation when mustard is not commonly available.
- Sunflower: As its name suggests, this oil contains the quality of solar energy that is helpful in breaking up endometriosis.
Sometimes people ask about sesame oil, which is used frequently in Ayurveda. Sesame is nourishing and builds up tissues. In this case, we want to draw things out from the tissues, not build them up.
The information provided here is for educational purposes only and should not be a substitute for medical care. These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Before using any Ayurvedic remedies, consult with a qualified Ayurvedic practitioner or healthcare provider. It is important to rule out serious conditions when appropriate. This article represents the opinion and recommendation of the author and does not necessarily reflect the views of LA YOGA Ayurveda and Health magazine.
Dr. Sarita Shresta BAMS, MD (Ayurveda) has taught and consulted for twenty years in government institutes, hospitals, and international clinics and has presented at many international conferences. Dr. Shresta has received awards and special recognition as the first woman Ayurvedic physician and obstetrics-gynecology specialist in Nepal. She is the founder-director of Devi Ma Kunja Hospital in Sidapole, Nepal. Proceeds from her programs support this hospital which provides traditional Ayurvedic care to all according to their means: saritashrestha.org.
