What is Abdominal Therapy? It’s a healing system of bodywork and adjacent care founded by my teacher Dr. Rosita Arvigo. This work is equally helpful for digestive or reproductive conditions for anyone, and is based on her knowledge of bodywork and herbs combined with the wealth of learning she gained from her many years as a student and friend of the great Belizan traditional Maya healer, Don Elijio Panti. The Maya people have practiced abdominal manipulation as part of their healing system since time immemorial and continue to do so today. The basic premise is that congestion in the gut is the leading cause of much of what ails us, and gentle, skilled manual work relieves this stagnation and promotes optimal circulation in the five systems of flow: venous and arterial blood, nerve impulses, energy, and lymph, leading to a more efficient flushing-out of metabolic waste and better health overall. Gentle hands on the belly calm the nervous system and help the body find its balance.
What is endometriosis? It’s an inflammatory condition in which tissue similar to endometrium (the tissue that lines the uterus each month in preparation for a pregnancy that is shed in menstruation if no pregnancy occurs) migrates outside the uterus and grows into the pelvic bowl or even higher within the abdominal cavity, creating lesions, adhesions, and scar tissue. This exterior tissue responds to the hormonal cycle, and thickens, breaks down and bleeds with the period, which can cause or co-occur with a variety of symptoms: painful periods or pain all month, pain during sex, pain with bowel movements or urination, excessive bleeding, fertility challenges, fatigue, diarrhea, constipation, back pain, an off-center or tipped uterus, interstitial cystitis, IBS, and bloating.
What causes it? The cause is not certain. It’s complicated, and there are many possible factors. One is the traditional idea in yoga that a woman should avoid inverted postures (headstand, shoulder stand, etc.) during her period, the reason being that we don’t want to contradict the downward flow during that time; we don’t want endometrial tissue to backflow into the fallopian tubes. For this reason, traditional healers also warn against having penetrative sex while menstruating. Genetics may be a factor, and as usual, the question is, what turns the potential in the genes on or off? We are all exposed to estrogen-mimicking chemicals in modern life, and this is a very likely contributor. Some women have endometriosis with no symptoms, and the condition is only discovered for some other medical reason. In such cases, the exterior endometrial tissue is not responding to the monthly hormonal cycle, and this may be due to a strong immune system at work. It is also known that a high number of endometriosis sufferers have a history of sexual abuse in childhood or adolescence[1], and those with unresolved childhood trauma could be stuck in sympathetic nervous system activation (fight or flight) which causes chronic suppression of the immune system.
What helps? Medical interventions include hormonal therapies like birth control and surgery. Synthetic hormones may or may not help with symptoms, and they disrupt the system in a way that’s not healing but is in itself another cause of imbalance. Before trying either, I recommend seeing me because my work is healing on all fronts. With consistent care over time, we can expect substantial improvement in symptoms, fertility, and overall wellbeing. In broad strokes: we want to reduce the stress on the nervous system, relieve inflammation, increase healthy circulation throughout the abdominal cavity top to bottom, dissolve adhesions, center the uterus in the pelvis, add warmth, dispel cold, and awaken the dormant immune system. Seeing me for Abdominal Therapy on a regular basis will help with all of the above (once a week or twice a month to start, after improvement begins, once a month until symptoms are completely resolved), and in addition, adding specific self-care to the weekly routine has been shown to reduce pain and symptoms considerably. In addition to bodywork, in our first office visit I teach each client to massage their own abdomen, and I recommend doing this daily (except during menstruation) to continue the decongesting process. Castor oil packs and vaginal steaming are highly recommended, both to calm the nervous system, warm the pelvic tissues, melt adhesions, increase circulation, and manage pain. A colleague who is a naturopath tells me daily steaming is the only thing that makes her life with endometriosis bearable, without it she was in continual pain. Finding ways to relax and have fun are highly recommended. I have tonics formulated by Rosita with Belizan rainforest herbs that are effective in helping regulate the female reproductive system. An anti-inflammatory diet can help. My clients who do the most consistent selfcare report the best outcomes: we are aiming first and foremost for a reduction in monthly pain, and I have seen this happen many times with clients. If after some months of consistent care, symptoms are not adequately reduced, surgery is an option if the surgeon is skilled in excision without using ablation or doing a hysterectomy. After surgery, we definitely want to pursue a healing path like Abdominal Therapy in order to prevent recurrence.
Another factor would be the continual sympathetic activation that’s turning off the immune system. While all the above will help with that, another part of my approach to overall healing is Mind/Body Wellness Coaching (scroll down here in the blog section for more about that). Old emotional pain may be the cause of or a factor in current physical pain. In talk sessions, we gently contact those parts of us who remain stuck in a fearful past. At their own pace, we get to know them, befriend them, and eventually help bring them into the present. Once they realize they are no longer in danger they will allow the immune system to function optimally again.
Women do improve their symptoms and even get pregnant under my care. We want the body to repair and renew itself as it’s designed to, and this work facilitates that, with patience, self-love and compassionate touch.
[1] Childhood abuse linked to greater risk of endometriosis | ScienceDaily