Natural Approaches: Massage Benefits for Endometriosis

This article dives into how massage for endometriosis can support healing. We’ll discuss the benefits of pelvic massage and the role of castor oil. Let’s explore these holistic approaches together.

“Endometriosis is not like other period problems. It’s not a hormonal condition like PMS and PCOS. It’s affected by hormones, yes, but fundamentally endometriosis is an inflammatory disease and probably an autoimmune disease.” From Dr. Lara Briden’s article Endometriosis: 5 Natural Treatments That Really Work.

Dr. Aviva Romm also has some wonderful tips on The Natural Approach to Endometriosis: Getting to Your Root Causes  and says “Endometriosis typically progresses and worsens over time as the chronic inflammation leads to accumulation of scar tissue causing  “adhesions” that cause the organs like the intestines and bladder to become fixed in place leading to frequent or even pain with bowel movements and urination, and painful sex.”

In addition to the suggestions from Dr. Lara Briden and Dr. Aviva Romm, I also recommend abdominal therapy from a trained abdominal therapist who has experience working with abdominal adhesions. I understand that Dr. Romm recommended Arvigo® Therapy to address adhesions in the article. However, I would not describe the goal as simply “breaking up” adhesions. With Arvigo® therapy, the goal is to restore uterine position and hemodynamics, allowing the body to maintain optimal homeostasis (balance within).

In the study, Abdominal Visceral Manipulation Prevents and Reduces Peritoneal Adhesions “It was concluded that visceral manipulation has a positive benefit not only of lysing adhesions but also of preventing them as well. Physiologically, visceral manipulation may decrease the formation of adhesions because it causes disruption of fibrin and inhibits fibroblast migration to the injured area. Additionally, the increase in fluid movement due to manipulation could have caused increased metabolite exchange and, as a result, fibrinolysis. Rats were not sedated during manipulation, and the force needed to mobilize abdominal contents did not elicit flinching, or biting. In fact, the investigators noted during manipulation that the rats became calm and allowed deep palpation and treatment.” I think it is important to note this. A great deal can be accomplished with minimal force. We certainly don’t want to exacerbate inflammation in a body already suffering from an inflammatory condition. “Breaking up” adhesions causes wounding and the potential for more adhesions to form. I prefer to work with the body’s intelligence. That’s why I created the Free The Belly-Self-Care for Working With Abdominal Restrictions and the Womb Care Course. I offer a low-force way of working with abdominal adhesions for women who didn’t have a practitioner near them.

In the past, I have been cautious about recommending castor oil packs (COP) for endometriosis. This is due to the autoimmune aspect of the condition. My concern was that COPs increase T11 cells and total lymphocytes. I worried this might worsen endometriosis symptoms. But after reading an article on endo news and learning that one or more studies found “reduced activity of cytotoxic T cells and NK cells, secretion of cytokines by T helper cells, and autoantibody production by B lymphocytes have been implicated in endometriosis.” If I’m interreting the study titled Immunomodulation Through Castor Oil Packs correctly (disclaimer: I’m not a biologist), it looks like B lymphocytes (A type of white blood cell that makes antibodies) are decreased with COPs and T cells increased, so it makes sense that COPs are actually beneficial for those who have endometriosis.T11 activation results in the triggering of the cytolytic mechanism of NK cells (the dissolution or destruction of a cell). Did you get that? So, endo has an underactive immune function of T11 cells and NK cells, as well as increased production of B cells. COP does the opposite… increases T11 cells and NK cells and decreases B cells.
Now there can be an individual, unique response, so I suggest always listening to your body first, doing it in doses your body can handle, and paying attention to its responses. A typical routine for managing endometriosis typically involves three sessions per week. These sessions would occur on three consecutive days, followed by a break for the rest of the week. I would combine the COP with self-abdominal massage for endometriosis. 

In addition to abdominal massage for endometriosis and castor oil packs, make sure you aren’t adding to the toxin inflammatory load. “The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stated in its Draft Dioxin Reassessment (1994) that the ‘general population’s current body burdens and exposures of dioxin are already at levels which affect our health.” One of the health effects EPA specifically identified was “a higher probability of experiencing endometriosis and the reduced ability to withstand an immunological challenge.”  From Endo and Dioxins by the Endometriosis Association.  Dioxins are found in meat and dairy products from animals that consume pesticide- and herbicide-laden foods, fish from contaminated water, and in tampons and menstrual pads made from bleached cotton and rayon. Read more here.

Summary

• Follow Dr. Romm and Dr. Briden’s suggestions for reducing inflammation and getting to the root cause
• Receive an abdominal pelvic massage for endometriosis
• Learn Self-Abdominal Massage for Uterine Health
  Learn Self-Abdominal Massage for adhesions
• Castor oil packs
• Ditch the bleached cotton and rayon menstrual products
• Avoid dioxins and PCB exposure as much as possible

Resources:

The role of the B lymphocytes in endometriosis: A systematic review

Endometriosis, Immune Dysfunction, and the Microbiome

The Natural Approach: Getting to Your Root Causes

 5 Natural Treatments That Really Work

Endometriosis persisting after hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy: Removing the disease, not organs, is key to long-term relief

Environmental Dioxins and Endometriosis

Nancy’s Nook Endometriosis Education Facebook Page educates patients, practitioners, and their loved ones about endometriosis with evidence-based information and resources. If you’re thinking about excision surgery, or just want to educate yourself this is the place to visit. Nancy’s Nook has lists of doctors who specialize in excision surgery.

If you’re in the Portland area, Dr. Rosenfield at the Pearl Women’s Health Center specializes in excision surgery, which is more effective than the more common practice of burning or cauterizing endometriosis.

Ovarian Remnant Syndrome (or: when you have had your ovaries removed and they find one on an ultrasound!)

Author: Barbara Horsley has more than 26 years of experience as a licensed massage therapist. She specializes in abdominal massage and Visceral Manipulation™ and is an NCBTMB-approved educator. In addition to being certified in abdominal massage, she also studied biomechanics and restorative exercise. She is also a Certified Women’s Herbal Educator and a graduate of the IWHI Perimenopause & Menopause Certificate Program.