Evidence-based Clinical Chinese Medicine - Volume 28: Endometriosis

Book excerpt: Endometriosis is a chronic health complaint that is experienced by up to 10% of women of reproductive age. Endometriosis results in significant psychological and financial burden. Surgical and pharmacological management can alleviate symptoms, but recurrence of endometriosis within one year is common. Many women use complementary and alternative therapies when the response to conventional medical treatments is inadequate.The latest book in the Evidence-based Clinical Chinese Medicine series uses a 'whole evidence' approach to summarise the management of endometriosis with Chinese medicine treatments. The current understanding of endometriosis — including symptoms, diagnosis and treatment — is summarised from conventional medicine and Chinese medicine perspectives. Next, a systematic approach is used to understand how endometriosis was treated with Chinese medicine in past eras.Internationally recognised scientific methods are used to identify and evaluate the clinical evidence for Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture and related therapies. The potential mechanisms of herbal medicines are identified from experimental studies. The final chapter synthesises the evidence from the different literature sources and offers suggestions for contemporary clinical practice and future research.This book is a handy desktop reference for both clinicians and students of Chinese and integrative medicine. It provides a comprehensive synthesis of both traditional and contemporary knowledge that can inform clinical decision-making.