Tampons and acupuncture

[Guest guest]

Thank you Lauren for explaining the purpose of the group. I am just about

to start the final year of my acupuncture degree and some of the posts on

this group are useful and educational. On that basis, I would just like to

explain to Jack and Lee, why the discussion regarding the use of tampons and

endometriosis is related to acupuncture!

 

When we talk about acupuncture, we talk about Qi, its movement, where it

gets blocked etc etc.

The following is taken from Stephen Gascoignes's book and is basically

talking about endometriosis and " perverse Qi " - this means that Qi which is

flowing the wrong way, its also called " rebellious Qi " .

" At menstruation the blood should normally flow down and out and

endometriosis would seem to suggest that the opposite is happening. There

may be several preceding events which lead to this development. The

associations mentioned above of tampon use, intercourse during menstruation

and the use of the intra-uterine contraceptive device are all associated

with energy and blood flowing upwards rather than downwards. Tampons block

the normal downward flow of menstrual blood. Intercourse leads to energy

flowing upwards and the " coil " is also associated with a backward flow in

the reproductive organs since ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy developing in a

fallopian tube) is much commoner in this situation. It has also been noted

that peristalsis along the fallopian tube is often reversed in cases of the

coil. In terms of prevention, it would seem that certain measures may be

helpful. The use of sanitary towels rather than tampons, abstinence from

intercourse during menstruation and the use of alternative methods of

contraception may go a long way to reducing the incidence of endometriosis.

As for treatment of the condition once it has developed, it is important to

consider the underlying energetic diagnosis. In terms of Chinese medicine,

endometriosis usually corresponds to Stagnation of Blood in the Lower Jiao. "

P409-410

The Manual of Conventional Medicine for Alternative Practitioners

Stephen Gascoigne. 1994

 

As Lauren points out, when dealing with issues of health, then as a

practitioner all body fluids are relevant. As a human being then just view

menstruation as just one of the many wonders of nature and humanity and I

make no apologies if not everyone enjoys this wonder as much as I do!

 

Finally, my original post asked if there were any practitioners out there on

this list who had a view about perverse Qi and endometriosis - so is there?

 

Susie

 

 

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