A multi-modality integrative approach addressing pelvic pain, inflammation and cycle irregularity — working alongside your specialist care team, not instead of it.
Book a Consultation Women's HealthEndometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition in which tissue similar to the endometrium (the lining of the uterus) grows outside the uterus — on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, bowel, bladder and peritoneum. It affects an estimated one in nine Australian women of reproductive age and is associated with significant pelvic pain, painful periods, pain during intercourse, bowel and bladder symptoms, and reduced fertility.
Despite its prevalence, endometriosis is historically under-diagnosed — with an average of seven to ten years between the onset of symptoms and formal diagnosis. Many women living with endometriosis are told their pain is normal, are prescribed contraceptive hormones without investigation, or find that conventional management alone does not adequately address their quality of life.
At Health Therapies Clinics in Lane Cove, we offer integrative support for women with endometriosis — drawing on acupuncture, Chinese herbal medicine, naturopathy and nutritional medicine to address pain, inflammation, cycle regularity and the systemic impact of this condition. We work in collaboration with your gynaecologist, endometriosis specialist or GP, and consider ourselves part of your wider care team.
Fee: $200 / 90 minutes
Follow-up: $175 / 60 minutes
Herbal/Telehealth: $95 / 30 minutes
Hours: Monday – Sunday, 9am – 9pm
Location: Suite 1, Level 1, 141 Longueville Road, Lane Cove NSW 2066
Private Health: HICAPS — Medibank, BUPA, HCF, NIB, HBF, AHM
Please bring any relevant specialist reports, ultrasound or laparoscopy findings to your first consultation.
Book OnlineTraditional Chinese Medicine provides a sophisticated framework for understanding endometriosis that is both conceptually distinct from Western biomedicine and remarkably complementary to it. The TCM diagnosis most commonly applied to endometriosis involves two primary patterns.
In TCM, Blood Stasis describes a state in which the free flow of Blood through the channels and vessels is obstructed — resulting in fixed, stabbing, worsening-at-night pain; dark, clotted menstrual blood; and the formation of masses (in biomedical terms, endometriotic lesions and adhesions). The principle of treatment is to move the Blood, dissolve the stasis and reduce the pain and inflammatory response associated with stagnation.
Acupuncture points such as SP-8 (Diji), SP-10 (Xuehai), LI-4, LV-3 and CV-3 are commonly used to move Blood and reduce pelvic pain. Chinese herbal formulas such as Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan and modified Shao Fu Zhu Yu Tang are classical prescriptions for Blood Stasis in the lower jiao.
Liver Qi Stagnation describes a state of emotional and physical tension — in which the free flow of Qi through the body is impeded, resulting in premenstrual breast tenderness, mood changes, irritability, bloating, cramping that responds to heat, and pain that is relieved temporarily by expression or movement. The Liver governs the smooth flow of Qi and the regulation of Blood — making it central to menstrual health.
Addressing Liver Qi Stagnation through acupuncture (LV-3, LV-14, GB-34, PC-6), herbal medicine and lifestyle guidance is an essential part of the integrative endometriosis protocol. Stress management, regular gentle movement and addressing emotional patterns are also important components.
Weekly acupuncture during the premenstrual and menstrual phases targets pain reduction, Blood movement and Liver regulation. Treatment is adjusted through the cycle — supporting ovulation and follicular development in the proliferative phase; clearing Heat, moving Blood and reducing inflammation in the luteal phase; and focusing on pain relief and Blood clearance during menstruation.
Customised herbal formulas prescribed by our TCM practitioners are adjusted through the menstrual cycle in a phase-based protocol. Cycle-specific prescribing allows the formula to support the different physiological processes occurring at each phase rather than applying a single static formula throughout. Herbal medicine is typically prescribed alongside acupuncture for best results.
Our naturopath addresses the inflammatory and oestrogen-related drivers of endometriosis through nutritional medicine, targeted supplementation (omega-3s, curcumin, resveratrol, magnesium, vitamin D) and dietary guidance. An anti-inflammatory diet, gut health optimisation and oestrogen metabolism support (through the gut microbiome and liver) are central to this approach.
Treatment frequency depends on symptom severity and where you are in your menstrual cycle. Weekly acupuncture in the initial three months is commonly recommended, reducing to fortnightly or monthly maintenance as symptoms improve. Chinese herbal medicine is typically taken daily throughout the cycle.
Endometriosis is associated with reduced fertility in a significant proportion of affected women — both through direct effects (tubal damage, distorted anatomy, reduced ovarian reserve) and indirect effects (impaired implantation, altered immune environment in the pelvis). However, many women with endometriosis do conceive, with or without medical intervention.
Our integrative fertility support for women with endometriosis includes improving pelvic blood flow and reducing inflammation through acupuncture; supporting ovarian reserve and egg quality through herbal medicine and targeted nutrition; addressing the immune environment in the pelvis; cycle tracking to optimise timing; and coordinating care with your fertility specialist if IVF or other assisted reproductive technologies are being considered.
We do not replace your gynaecologist, endometriosis specialist, or fertility specialist. We work as a complementary team around you. We are experienced in supporting women on hormone therapy, before and after laparoscopy, and through IVF cycles. Please bring your specialist's notes and any surgical or imaging reports to your first consultation — the more we understand your medical picture, the better we can tailor your integrative care.
No. Endometriosis is a complex chronic condition that currently has no cure. Acupuncture and integrative therapies can significantly reduce pain, improve cycle regularity, support fertility and improve quality of life — but they cannot remove endometriotic lesions or reverse structural damage. They are best understood as an important part of a comprehensive management strategy that includes appropriate specialist medical care.
Yes. Acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can generally be used alongside hormonal treatments including the combined oral contraceptive pill, progestin-only therapies, Mirena IUD and GnRH analogues. Please inform your practitioner of all medications you are taking so that herbal prescriptions can be reviewed for any potential interactions.
Most women with endometriosis notice some reduction in pain and improvement in premenstrual symptoms within two to three menstrual cycles of consistent treatment. Significant improvement in cycle regularity and fertility markers typically requires three to six months of sustained treatment. Endometriosis is a chronic condition — sustainable improvement takes time and consistency.
Yes. We support women across all stages of endometriosis. Women with more severe staging may have more complex symptoms and greater impact on fertility, and we work collaboratively with their specialist team accordingly. Severe endometriosis may require surgical intervention that is beyond our scope — in such cases, we support before and after surgery to optimise recovery and outcomes.
Integrative endometriosis care at Health Therapies Clinics, Lane Cove. Serving women from Chatswood, Artarmon, Willoughby and across the North Shore. Open seven days, 9am–9pm.
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