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Tips and Information on Endometriosis: A Monthly Feature

July, 2010

Tip: Mindfulness, Mind-Body Medicine And Endometriosis

Endometriosis and pelvic pain can be devastating to women suffering from this disease. Unfortunately the lack of effective medical care and thus response to treatment all too often results in the patient being told that it is all a result of stress or previous trauma. This is not true.

It is true, however, that stress and our ability to deal with the stress effects both how the pain is perceived and affects the efficacy of the other treatments. Mind-body medicine is an emerging field that addresses the mind body interaction and how this not only affects one’s ability to handle stress but how it physiologically affects the nervous system and our immune system. This does not replace other methods of treatment. Mind-body medicine is a therapy that is provided in addition to all the other conventional therapies normally used to treat disease. Mind-body medicine has been shown to reduce pain scores, cancer recurrence, reduce blood pressure and lower the rate of heart disease.

For patients that do not have access to a mind-body support group locally, there are books or audio books that can be followed. Jon Kabat-Zinn, Ph.D. from the Stress Reduction Clinic University of Massachusetts Medical Center has authored a book titled ”Full Catastrophe Living”. This book provides a good overview of the mind-body concept. Most patients will find implementation of these concepts helpful in their healing process.

Submitted by:

Andrew S. Cook, M.D, OBGYN.net Endometriosis Advisory Board Member
Reproductive Endocrinologist / Gynecologist
Medical Director / Founder
Vital Health Institute
http://www.vitalhealth.com/ 
Los Gatos, CA