Arvigo Abdominal Massage as a complementary therapy for Endometriosis

Arvigo Abdominal Massage as a complementary therapy for Endometriosis

by Magüi Moreno

I recently had an abdominal massage as part of my research on complementary therapies for treating endometriosis. I wanted to share my experience for any other women out there who maybe thinking about it, and especially for those that are not yet aware of this technique.

The Arvigo techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy Simply was first devised by Dr. Rosita Arvigo, a US naturopath, based on ancient Maya healing practices from Central America. Like all massage techniques, it works to improve the flow of blood and lymph to the targeted area - abdomen, pelvis, and lower back. As with any other natural healing, the Arvigo Technique seeks to restore the body to its natural balance.

What's interesting about the Maya Abdominal Therapy is that it is based on the understanding of the importance of the correct positioning of the reproductive and digestive organs for pelvic and abdominal health. This technique claims to correct the surrounding muscles and ligaments, improve organ function, normalize hormones and flush out toxins.

My therapist emailed me quite an extensive consultation form prior to treatment. You only complete what you feel comfortable sharing, but it is quite exhaustive and goes beyond the usual medical history questions to include emotional and psychological wellbeing.

At the beginning of the first session, we had a lengthy chat over the questionnaire as well as issues important to me. The session included a 1-hour massage concentrating on the belly, pelvis and back (you start lying on your back and then turn around to lie on your tummy). My therapist also showed me a simple yet relaxing self-care massage sequence. In addition we discussed how other modalities, such as castor oil packs, can support my healing journey. The first session lasts up to two hours, subsequent sessions up to 60-90 minutes. I was very surprised how quickly the time went....

According to my therapist, most people will feel the benefits of Maya massage after just one session, and that is all they need. Some health conditions will take longer to improve and/or resolve. I found my two periods since the massage have been lighter and significantly less painful.

Ideally,  the massage needs to be 'carried on' at home by the patient - this is quite an important aspect of the Arvigo technique. There are several reasons for this:

1. First, we all need to feel empowered to influence our own healing and health. It is frustrating and emotionally damaging when other people appear to control our wellbeing and this is very much the case with endometriosis. By taking back responsibility for our health, through positive action, we benefit from both the physical improvements and the psychological assurance that comes from being able to do something positive for our bodies!

2.   Second, most medical conditions take a while to improve just as they took time to develop. While Maya Abdominal Therapy may jump start the healing process, a few minutes of self-massage a day can be really useful to restoring and supporting a sense of improved health.

3.   Third, you are always available to yourself, your Arvigo Therapist is not. You maximize the benefits from the treatment, and you can have far fewer treatments to get great results.

     Based on my personal experience, I would certainly recommend it bearing in mind that - at best, it can improve endometriosis symptoms (in my case, a lighter period and a lot less pain). At worst, it is a pleasant and relaxing massage, despite the fact that it can feel a bit weird to have your belly massaged. Because we tend to hold a lot of tightness in that area, it can be really beneficial. The lower back portion of the massage releases a lot of tension and is a real treat! 

      Having said all that, it is always worth including the disclaimer that, as with all therapies, it needs to be tailored to you and your circumstances. It is also vital that you find a trained, certified and well experienced therapist in this particular massage. Unfortunately in Scotland there are only 2 Arvigo Massage therapist (contact details below). The other aspect worth mentioning is that the cost can be significant (I paid £85 for the first 2-hour session and £55 for any 1-hour follow-up sessions). However, I was impressed about the focus on self-care and my therapist has been very supportive in this regard sending me detailed information about how to self-massage and the use of other related techniques that may be beneficial. If you see it as part-therapeutic, part-training (for your own use) then it is not that expensive.

For more information:

https://arvigotherapy.com, where you can find a directory of UK-based certified therapists

As far as I'm aware there are only 2 certified Arvigo therapists in Scotland:

Joanna Anderson
Practitioner in The Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy
& Complementary Health Therapist

Mobile: 07833 685604
jo@joanna-anderson.co.uk
www.joanna-anderson.co.uk
 

Karen Harris

Practitioner in The Arvigo Techniques of Maya Abdominal Therapy
& Massage Therapist

Marischal Place

Edinburgh EH4 3NE

Mobile:  0774 0704159

Mindfulness and Endometriosis

by Magüi Moreno

Mindfulness has become a trendy topic. Whereas not that long ago mindfulness and meditation were associated with Eastern spiritual practices and new age living; mindfulness has now broken through to the mainstream and is being applied in areas as diverse as education, healthcare, and the business. It's even got politicians interested - the UK Parliament recently held a session discussing the many benefits of mindfulness and its applications in a whole host of policy areas.

But what is mindfulness? Simply put, it is to pay attention to everything in (thoughts, feelings, body sensations) and around (noises, other people's talk, sights, etc) us without passing judgement. Mindfulness is being aware of our judgements, our thoughts... in short, all that passes before and within us. Sounds easy, doesn't it? And don't we do that all day anyway? Think about the last time you were eating: were you savouring every bite, focusing on all the sensations in your mouth, slowly chewing, and just enjoying the mere act of eating? Or were you thinking about all the things you need to get done, replaying a disagreement you had with someone yesterday, or wondering who's going to win 'Strictly' this year? (As well as checking emails, Facebook, Instagram and the weather forecast on your phone)?

Mindfulness if about paying attention to the right here, right now with acceptance - to observe everything as it unfolds. It doesn't require you to do anything (no need to get incense sticks out, or sit in the lotus position for hours). You just need to 'take time out' from our busy lives (a few minutes here and there) to breathe, be aware of your body and of the constant mental chatter in the background. Our brains are designed to never stop producing thoughts - and that's fine. But it is beneficial for the mind itself (as well as the body) to press the 'pause' button sometimes and simply pull back from thoughts and feelings to see them for what they are: thoughts and feelings. As they come, they go.

How is mindfulness good for women suffering endometriosis? Why would we want to be fully present with our pain, our discomfort, our bloating, our fatigue, our mood swings?

1. Mindfulness reduces stress. When your body is in pain, the mind automatically kicks in to try to do something to take the pain away. That's normal. Unfortunately the mind cannot always help, rather it's responsible for creating stress. The mind tends to operate in the past (worrying that something you did or didn't do is the cause for your current pain) and in the future (creating all kinds of dire scenarios in your head). None of this mental chatter helps you deal with your pain RIGHT NOW. In fact, it makes it worse as you get increasingly frustrated, anxious or depressed.
2. Pain is a way for the body to communicate. Turning towards the pain, rather than away from it, can give us lots of information that we can then use to 'fix' the situation - to get treatment, or change current treatment. Pain is a complex set of signals: when, where, intensity, duration, quality (throbbing, pulling, sharp, etc). These are all aspects of pain that we can pay attention to whilst we breathe deeply, physically rest, and keep the thoughts coming and going - rather than getting stuck in them.
3. Mindfulness is not a substitute for medication. For those of us suffering with chronic illnesses, such as endo, the hard truth is that surgery, pills and pain are part of our lives. But it doesn't have to be the whole picture. Let's break the chain of 'It hurts, I medicate' by creating a bit more space for self-discovery in there. You might find that you do less reacting and more responding. What that means is that your actions are more in-tune with what your body actually needs.
4. Above all, mindfulness can help you be more compassionate with yourself. Part of the mind's remit is to judge, assess and categorize reality: 'This is good, this is bad.' Compassion allows us to accept what is (the pain) whilst taking better care of ourselves. We can't magically erase endometriosis, but we can be kinder, less judgemental of ourselves and of others. This allows us to seek support where we can get it (better professional help) and to move on from situations that don't work for us (unsympathetic GPs, unsupportive friends) - with hopefully fewer regrets and resentment.

Endometriosis is an infuriatingly complex disease and mindful living is one of many approaches towards a better quality of life for those who suffer it. It rests on being aware of the present moment, paying attention to and respecting our bodies, and becoming more conscious of how our minds work (and the role they play in creating stress!). It is a journey of self-discovery and awareness of what we do, what we think, what we feel. And it can have a profound impact on our level of contentment, for the better.

Practical ideas:

• Find moments throughout the day when you find it easier to press the 'pause' button in the mental broadcast! Is it whilst doing the dishes, cooking, or taking a shower? Use these moments to practice simply being present in the right here, right now.
• Use your phone to set random bell alarms throughout the day (or the evening, or at weekends) to remind you to stop for 1 minute and simply observe your breath.
• Try conscious breathing exercises when you are relaxed. See below for resources. A simple one is simply to sit and count your breaths up to 20 or 40 (with inhale and exhale being 1).
• If guided relaxation techniques work for you (they don't for everyone!), try listening to them at night whilst lying in bed. This can also help you to doze off and get a good night's sleep! A good place for free audio is yoganidranetwork.org
• When in pain or discomfort, try some simple relaxation or body scan techniques. When pain arises, the brain reacts automatically with thoughts, such as “I hate this, what am I going to do?” Though you can’t stop these first few negative thoughts, you can calm your mind by focusing on your breath. This automatically lessens anxiety levels and increases endorphins. A body scan involves bringing awareness to each body part. When in pain, you’re bringing attention to what the brain wants to move away from. However, instead of immediately reacting to it, the body scan teaches your brain the experience that it can actually be with what’s there.
• Paying attention to the body is a sure way to work through difficult emotions. Just let them unfold (particularly when at home or another safe environment) and observe how they feel in your body. Do you have a lump in your throat? Do you feel a tightness around your chest? You do not need to explain away these sensations. Just let them be and in time, you'll be better able to 'read your body'.
• When going to a medical appointment, or any other potentially stressful meeting, try to focus on your breath before, during and after. A couple of minutes of conscious breathing before can really help settle your mind and your body, so that you can be centred on what you want to achieve.

For more information:

The Mindfulness Solution to Pain by Jon Kabat-Zinn

Mindfulness for Health by Vidyamala Burch and Danny Penman

http://www.breathworks-mindfulness.org.uk for UK-based courses and resources on mindfulness for chronic illness

http://www.endoyoga.com for Yoga and Breathing Exercises for Endometriosis and Pelvic Pain

http://alwayswellwithin.com/body-scan-meditation/ for helpful videos with guided body scans

A curious thing

Submitted by Fiona King

Endometriosis is a curious thing.  It presents itself in ways that makes the sufferer believe that it might be nothing; just a bad period is all.  It makes you think that what others are saying to you is true, that you're simply over thinking things and it’s nothing to worry about.  It lingers, settles in, and takes its time to do its job of massacring your insides. You don't know how long it’s been like that, all the time, or most of the time? Who knows? All I know now is that I have it.

My early teens consisted of dealing with it. Just how it is, millions of females the world over and they go through this period malarkey every month so why can't I? So I dealt with it. Alone.

My late teens and twenties consisted of questioning it.  I think this unusual discharge is not normal, are you sure you found nothing in the barrage of tests?  Are you sure it’s just thrush/infection? Being put on the pill by my mum at 17 was probably the best thing that could have happened. Not to treat Endo you understand but as I was about to embark on my first holiday with my friends my mum thought it best to 'prepare' me. Best thing ever.

My mid to late twenties were when I demanded to speak to someone other than a GP.  I had come off the pill when I was around 23 due to breakthrough bleeding and I just wanted to be hormone free for a while. Big mistake as it all sprouted wings and flew about my insides. So it was when I was around 27 years old I eventually saw a Gynaecologist, she didn't take me seriously at all. Eventually she agreed to a laparoscopy.

This is when it got very interesting for me. I saw first-hand how negatively a person can react when they are proven wrong.  In this case it was my gynaecologist.  She practically yelled at me after the surgery 'why didn't you tell me about the pain?’ Sorry doc, my bad.  You see my left ovary was stuck down to my pelvic wall with adhesions.  I should have had significant pain but I hadn't as I only had this vaginal discharge and having two periods a month (my big one and my little one I used to call them)

My late twenties and early thirties were all about research and information gathering. What is this affliction? Is there a cure? Interestingly enough I was told by the same Gynaecologist that it was all gone 'I'm cured'. I asked if it would come back and 'no' was the answer.  I never saw that Gynaecologist again.

It came back. Five years later and I had moved address and surgeries since then and got a new GP who instantly referred me to a Gynaecologist who spoke to me like I was an adult and I was put through the usual pill trials (again) but couldn't settle for that so after discussing the options it was agreed to have my third laparoscopy. I was in a new hospital, new doctor. The treatment was so much better.  I may not be cured; I didn’t ask if it will come back and the most important of all I was more in control of the advice I receive and the treatment I undertake.

You see Endometriosis is a curious thing, the treatment also rather curious but the medical profession well, I feel is the most curious of all.