 Do you have Endometriosis and you’re looking for a natural solution to manage it? Endometriosis affects millions of women worldwide, bringing with it chronic pain, fatigue and emotional challenges. While Western medicine often focuses on managing symptoms through medications or surgery, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) offers a holistic perspective, aiming to restore balance and promote long-term wellness. If you're living with endometriosis, this ancient system of healing could provide the inspiration and tools you need to care for yourself in a deeply nourishing way. The Chinese Medicine View of Endometriosis In TCM, endometriosis is often associated with stagnation of Qi (energy) and blood. When the flow of energy and blood stagnates, it can lead to pain, inflammation and the formation of masses or lesions, as seen in endometriosis. This stagnation may come from various imbalances, such as:
Holistic Self-Care Tips Here are some practical, everyday steps you can take to support your health and manage endometriosis:- 1. Nourish Your Body with Warm, Healing Foods Cold foods and beverages can exacerbate stagnation, so focus on warm, easily digestible meals like soups, stews, and cooked vegetables. Incorporate these foods into your diet:
Blood Sugar Levels, Hormones and Insulin Resistance If you have high blood sugar levels, this can cause an inflammatory response in the body. We know that endometriosis is an inflammatory disease which is driven by inflammatory chemicals such as PGE22, and so having chronically elevated blood sugar levels may potentially provide further fuel for endo growth. This is such a big subject to talk about here so to learn more about metabolic health and how high blood sugar can affect your symptoms, click on the link below.. endometriosisnews.com/2018/07/05/endometriosis-imbalance-blood-sugar/ 2. Move Gently but Consistently Physical activity helps keep energy and blood flowing smoothly. Practices like yoga, tai chi qigong are especially beneficial as they combine gentle movement with breathwork to release tension and promote circulation. Even a daily walk can make a difference in reducing pain and stiffness. 3. Support Emotional Balance Stress is a major contributor to liver Qi stagnation, which can intensify endometriosis symptoms. Mind-body practices such as meditation, journaling or receiving shiatsu can help calm the mind and restore emotional harmony. Consider taking five minutes each day to practice deep belly breathing: inhale for a count of four, hold for four, and exhale for six. This simple exercise can help regulate your nervous system and ease tension. 4. Prioritise Rest and Sleep The body repairs itself during rest, making quality sleep an important part of healing. Create a calming evening routine, make sure it's cosy and restful, dim the lights, avoid screens and sip on a soothing herbal tea like chamomile or lavender. The Role of Shiatsu Shiatsu can help with managing endometriosis by targeting specific meridian points, it can:
Finding Balance in a Modern World Healing from endometriosis is not just about treating the physical body, it’s about embracing a lifestyle that supports your overall well-being. By incorporating these principles into your daily routine, you can create a foundation of balance, resilience and self-care. Remember, every small step you take - whether it’s sipping a warm tea, taking a mindful walk, or scheduling your shiatsu session, brings you closer to feeling whole and empowered in your journey. Your health is your greatest treasure. Treat it with love, care and patience. Have Questions? Let’s Connect If you’re curious about how Chinese medicine could support you, contact Sarah or drop your questions in the comments below. Together, we can explore a path to healing that honours your unique journey. Sarah is passionate about helping women regain control over their lives and experience reduced pain and discomfort. If you are struggling or in pain, book your Shiatsu session with Sarah today. "Running water is never stagnant and a door hinge never gets worm eaten. This is what motion is all about... If the body does not move then the Jing will not flow. And if the Jing does not flow the Qi stagnates." Lu Shi
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 Happy New Year! I hope you've had a good break this Christmas time and you feel you have rested and rejuvenated and raring to go this year.... or not?
As you ease into the New Year you may be thinking about taking better care of you, ways of reducing stress and anxiety or pain in the body or a wish to improve energy levels and better sleep. Struggling to get going after Christmas? Christmas is a time where there is so much pressure on us to be perfect and for some of us it’s always a relief when it’s over. We feel pressure to buy the perfect Christmas tree and decorate it perfectly, find the perfect presents, cook the perfect meal etc… then on the day it gives us pleasure to see others enjoying themselves but you’re too exhausted and stressed to enjoy the day yourself. Are you the one who is running around doing all of this? Maybe it’s time to allow yourself some slack and not worry about getting it right to please others. Many of my clients that come to me for Shiatsu find it hard to completely relax because they’re holding tension in the body either due to taking on too much responsibility, fear of letting go, holding it all together, holding on to the past, fear of failure, striving to be perfect and doing more and more instead of saying I am enough. These can be patterns learnt in childhood, a need to please a parent for example to get validation or praise. If you’re feeling any of the above symptoms of stress or anxiety, pain or overwhelm, book in for a Shiatsu massage to help ease you back into the New Year and give your body and mind time to relax and unburden yourself of these pressures in a safe and supported space.
What digestive conditions can Shiatsu help?
A successful result for one of my clients suffering with chronic IBS. “My IBS symptoms have gone as I don’t need to take the medication I was on anymore, thank you”. Lynn Tips to reduce digestive symptoms 1. Don’t rush while you are eating Stress can affect your digestion so eating in a relaxing and calm atmosphere activates the parasympathetic nervous system which releases the digestive enzymes and activates absorption. Eating on the go or regularly eat while doing other things at the same time activates the sympathetic nervous system, which inhibits the digestive functions. 2. Chew each mouthful thoroughly. Chewing your food slowly helps to mix the food with saliva, activates digestive secretions and prepares the stomach for the next stage of the process. It also prevents feeling bloated and you will find that you actually eat less if you chew well. 3. Give your solar plexus a massage or receive a shiatsu massage Massages are highly effective when dealing with digestive problems. The solar plexus is the energetic centre of the middle organs and upper digestive organs. Bad eating habits can cause the organs around the solar plexus to get clogged up by fats and toxins over time which can weaken the whole digestive system. The massage helps to activate the digestive energy. How to massage your belly: Using your finger tips, do a circular massage in the solar plexus area directly below the centre of the rib cage. Progressively penetrate deeper as you rotate 10-12 times. Repeat, rotating the massaging motion in the opposite direction. Try this circular massage after you wake up and before and after each meal.
My own journey
I know what it's like to experience anxiety and panic attacks and how it interferes with daily living. My own experience of panic attacks started in my early 20's, I was busy working full time and had split up from a relationship. I noticed changes after my father died when I was 18, feelings of not being able to cope. I was very close to him and always felt supported and protected. I looked for a replacement relationship that could support and protect me in the same way my father had. Of course this doesn't really happen and I ended up giving my power away to someone I thought would or could support me just for the sake of being in a relationship. This lead to unhappiness and a continual searching for someone to help me feel safe and needed. I wasn't happy being on my own and this affected my sleep at night, I was always in 'alert mode'. My panic attacks usually started if I didn't feel comfortable or safe in an environment or company of others, in other words not being my true self. This also stems from not being able to express my feelings when I was young, which lead to the need to please others (needing approval from my father) to take the focus off myself. Low self-esteem and approval seeking. In some cases sufferers of anxiety and depression also struggle with low self-esteem and approval seeking like myself. If this is you then your well-being is probably being affected by your level of confidence, how much you value yourself and what you think of yourself. Low self-esteem is associated with self-criticism, self-doubt, suppressed anger, and shame and social isolation. It can also lead to self-punishment or self-harm and in my case the eating disorder anorexia nervosa. What I have learned along the way in my journey is it's not about fixing anxiety, because anxiety is there to protect us; it is about your relationship with anxiety. I understand now that I wasn't able to support myself when I was young and needed others to do this for me, I had very low self-esteem and was always looking for approval from my father because I lacked confidence. Through lots of self healing and learning Shiatsu it has helped me take back my power, feel confident and believe in myself. My steps of overcoming anxiety
I have helped many clients overcome anxiety in my treatments and I can help you If you have had enough of anxiety, stress or depression controlling your life, it's time to take action. Shiatsu uses gentle “listening” touch and respectful dialogue and presence to help you reconnect with feelings and emotions that have been held back and locked away in our bodies. As you become more aware of the roots of your problems, the barriers that have been created can begin to dissolve, the muscles can relax and let go leading to more physical ease; liberating your potential to live a life you really care about. If this resonates with you, please contact me to arrange a Free 15 minute consultation. We can talk about what is going on for you and how I can help. |
