When an organ has prolapsed it means that the organ has fallen out of its proper place from where it should be positioned in the body. The uterus, bladder, and rectum are the organs that commonly become prolapsed. According to Chinese medicine, hernias can also be categorized under prolapse. Some researchers state that around 13% of all hysterectomies conducted were due to the prolapse of the uterus causing it to protrude into the vagina. These conditions are usually not painful.
From the viewpoint of Chinese medicine, the cause of prolapse is very different to that of Western medicine which makes the treatment also radically different. In Western medicine, the prolapse of the uterus is the result of a history of having large babies or of excessive pushing from labor. The risk can increase if the person is overweight. The modern Western medical treatment for uterine prolapse is surgery.
Chinese medicine believes that the spleen plays a major role in the prevention of prolapse. It is the organ that provides the body with power and strength to hold all the organs up and maintain them in their proper place. To treat prolapse, traditional Chinese medicine focuses in reinforcing the spleen, and sometimes, other organs, as well.
A lot of individuals think that certain illnesses can only be resolved through surgery and that acupuncture is only able to relieve pain temporarily. The fact is acupuncture sets the self-healing processes of the body in motion, rejuvenates the body, and as a side effect ameliorates pain during a course of treatment.
Ancient Chinese medical texts regarding acupuncture reveal several references of acupoints for prolapse that are used to treat the rectum, uterus, and other organs. Some of these acupoints are the spleen meridian points as well as many others. One interesting acupoint is called the bai hui which means “a hundred meetings” due to the fact that it has been traditionally used to treat a hundred diseases. This acupoint is located right on the top of the head and is a major point in the treatment of prolapse and is usually combined with moxibustion. The stimulation of this point draws up the energy in the lower part of the body that has sunken and collapsed causing problems like hemorrhoids and rectal prolapse.
In the treatment of uterus prolapse, acupoints associated with the liver are also often used. In Western medicine, there is no correlation between prolapse and the liver. Chinese medicine, on the other hand, considers the liver as an important organ responsible for the storing of blood that plays a huge role in women’s conditions. It is the organ used to treat issues such as dysmenorrhea (painful menses) and infertility. When treating uterine prolapse, acupuncturists sometimes use the liver acupoint and meridian located in the lower leg.
New Mexico doctor, Skya Abbate M.D. states that in her practice several cases of prolapse were successfully treated with acupuncture in West Orange that otherwise would have escalated to surgery.
Prolapse can also be treated with Chinese herbs. Bu shong yi tsi tang is just one among many classical herbal remedies that qualified Chinese herbalists have at their disposal in treating prolapse. Since every person is unique, all Chinese herbal remedies are customized to address the specific needs of the patient. Western medicine uses the one size fits all approach. No Western medical drug has been created that can help raise prolapse.