Why does acupuncture for endometriosis target gut health?

Practical clinic work of acupuncture is based on incredibly old medicine. We have archeological evidence the Nei Jing was written around 2000 years ago and it has an oral history that is probably much older.

So modern research that widens the theory of why it works, is always an exciting read. Yan et al 2026 explored the connection between the profile of gut and reproductive microbiota and the effect on the body as a whole for patients with endometriosis. They discovered that people with endometriosis have abnormal gut microbiota that:

• Affect oestrogen metabolism (oestrogen is a key hormone in endometriosis growth)

• Influences immune dysregulation, so it’s harder to fight off an illness like a cold

• Affects inflammation system wide, which is why so many sufferers have low grade fever and pain is not restricted to the abdomen nor areas of internal bleeding

It also illustrates that the effects of endometriosis are not confined to the pelvis: pain, inflammation and immunity irregularities can occur anywhere in the body. So it's a systemic illness not purely a menstrual issue.

In my clinic many patients know what they should eat, but often don’t feel hungry at the right time or crave the wrong foods and these abnormal gut tract microbiota are the reason why it’s so hard to get out of the rut.

How can acupuncture help endometriosis gut health?

One of the key principals in acupuncture for endometriosis is to ‘nourish the Earth’, which is the way we describe how to support processing of food in the body. If you have bloating, loose stools, nausea, constipation, belching, hunger that won’t go or pain after eating, these are clear indicators your digestive system is under some stress and is treatable with acupuncture.

There are points on the arms and legs that are really effective if your belly is too tender to touch. Back points, especially around the sacrum are useful too. Needles can always be replaced with tiny warming moxa creating a similar impact. Book a treatment to find out for yourself.

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What can you do at home to nourish your gut & reproductive system?

Eat less in the evening so you are hungry in the morning.

Have your main meal earlier in the day and avoid food after 7pm.

Avoid cold drinks, frozen foods and eat salad with a warming soup

Start the day with lemon in hot water to stimulate the Liver

Drink ginger tea during the day to warm the digestion so it functions better.

Swap your sugar snack for something with more protein and fiber like nuts or carrot sticks

Swap white foods for wholegrains i.e. brown rice, whole grain bread, quinoa

Support your gut microbiome with sauerkraut, kimchi, sourdough and yogurt.

A good probiotic like acidophilus can help jump start your gut health too.

If you have vaginal issues, yogurt in the vagina can be restorative.

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