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Seven Strategies For Healing Blocked Tubes

Fallopian tubes are nothing short of amazing. Each tube is about 10 cm long

and 5 mm or so wide and is lined with tiny hair-like cilia that beat

vigorously to waft the embryo along in perfect time. The wafting cilia are

helped by the muscular contractions of the tube which together help theembryo to move along.

Simultaneously, the tubes secrete a blend of nutrient-rich fluids to feed

the rapidly growing embryo which is then detained at a specific point along

the tube for a period of intensive nourishment. The whole process of tubal

nourishment, holding and movement takes about 4 days.

A HSG (hysterosalpingogram) is commonly used to establish whether you tubes

are clear - or not - by flushing a water-based dye through both tubes. This

creates an X-ray image of the flow of the dye which shows the dye either

spilling out the end of the tube, or being blocked and unable to pass

through.

The way that the dye spills into the pelvis when it exits the tube can be

revealing also, the 'spill pattern' can reveal possible areas of scar tissue

or adhesions where the dye pools in pockets.

However, an HSG can only tell if your tubes are clear - or relaxed - enough

for fluid to pass through. A HSG cannot tell whether the tube is functional,

whether the cilia waft the embryo along vigorously enough, hold it at the

appropriate place for the right amount of time and secrete the right

nutrients for healthy embryo development. A clear HSG does not mean that

your tubes are working optimally, it just means that they are clear.

PID can be caused by sexually transmitted organisms the most common of which

is Chlamydia, currently the most common sexually transmitted disease.

Chlamydia is often symptomless in women allowing the organism to cause

blocked tubes before you even know that you have a hidden infection. An

antibody test can show if you have had a prior infection with chlamydia.

It is very common for tubes to be blocked in some way, shape or form. Tubal

factor infertility is very common and has various causes and

manifestations. A frequent cause of blocked fallopian tubes is current or

historical pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) which can cause inflammation

and scarring within the tube long after the infection is cleared. Active

infections can be subtle and hidden making accurate diagnosis tricky.

A diagnosis of blocked tubes can be real or false. The tiny tubes can spasm,

or plug with mucus which creates the appearance of a blockage but the

blockage may be only temporary. A repeat HSG should always be ordered to

confirm the diagnosis if the tubes appear blocked. If a tube is

intermittently blocked on HSG you might be a good candidate for natural

treatments.

Natural treatments for tube blockages are ideally suited to tubes that

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spasm, are prone to mucus plugs or are intermittently blocked. If there

is infection, antibiotics and conventional medicine is essential to stop

the progression of disease. It is always important to have a full diagnostic

work-up before choosing a treatment strategy as inappropriately treated

tubal infections can cause irreversible damage.

If a tube is suffering due to scar tissue, adhesions and damage due to ahistorical infection, natural methods can sometimes help immensely. Some

women have had pregnancy success naturally even when the blockage was

thought to be severe. I have seen at least one client who had been diagnosed

with severely blocked tubes and advised to pursue IVF - which failed - who

went on to conceive naturally after some months of natural treatments.

Even if IVF is the chosen route to conception, the health of the tubes are

still important. If a tube is infected it can contain toxic fluids

accumulations - called a hydrosalpynx - this fluid can leak into the uterus

making conception difficult even with IVF. Any tube infections must be

thoroughly evaluated and treated before pursuing IVF which sometimes

requires removal of the tube if a hydrosalpynx is present.

Many women have partially or intermittently blocked tubes that may be

responsive to natural healing techniques when natural conception is

desired, or when IVF is simply not an option. Here is an overview of the

techniques I have used in my acupuncture practice - or have referred clients

to receive - that have been helpful:

1. Clear Passage. This unusual healing system has an excellent reputation

for restoring fallopian tube health and is a form of intensive physical

therapy. The work of Clear Passage has been the subject of a number of

scientific studies, the results of which were very positive.

Patients receive specialized physical therapy every day in a week long

intensive administered by specially trained physical therapists.

Treatments involve bodywork directly over the fallopian tubes and ovaries,

and much of the work is done internally to directly loosen scar tissue and

adhesions on the ligaments, tubes and ovaries. It is potent work, I have

had a number of clients do the one week intensive and they have found it

to be very powerful and profoundly relaxing.

2. Maya Massage. The beauty of this massage technique - which is performed

externally over the low abdomen - is that the practitioner can teach you

how to do the massage technique yourself so treatment can be applied daily.

This is a noninvasive technique.

Simply having one Maya massage session can teach you how to treat yourself

every day which can have huge impact on circulation because of the frequency

with which you can apply the technique. The Maya massage also works on the

lower back and the sacrum, a nerve rich area that affects the blood flow.

A helpful practitioner may let your partner learn this part of the massage

so your partner can work on you daily also.

3. Enzymes. An enzyme called serrapeptase is a powerful anti-inflammatory

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with a reputation for helping to dissolve and break down scar tissue and

adhesions and calm inflammation thought to be a factor in many tube

problems. When using enzymes for their anti-inflammatory benefits they must

be taken on an empty stomach and caution should be used if you take blood

thinning medication (enzymes are also natural blood thinners) or have

stomach ulcers.

4. Mucus-reducing diet. Some Chinese and Ayurvedic experts feel that

following a diet which eliminates dairy and other foods and beverages which

are thought to increase mucus production may be helpful for keeping the

pelvis clear of blockages. Chinese and Ayurvedic medicine are both rooted

in the belief that your diet can create a build up of 'dampness,' 'phlegm,'

or 'ama' in your body which is associated with blockages such as blocked

tubes. These traditional medicine systems believe that your diet can

promote pelvic circulation - or congestion - depending on what kinds of

food choices you make every day.

A diet based upon white flour products, sugar and dairy foods - especially

if iced - think grilled cheese sandwiches, pizza, cookies, cheesy pastadishes and ice cream is thought to be especially mucus-forming. You can

read about the healing dietary principles of Chinese Medicine in 'The

Infertility Cure,' by Randine Lewis and 'Making Babies,' by Jill Blakeway

and Dr. Sami David, M.D. Be sure to ask your physician or consult a dietitian

before making any radical diet changes, some fertility docs actually

recommend dairy free diets while others don't. If you are advised to cut

out dairy be sure to ask your physician or dietitian about calcium

replacement.

5. Chinese herbal medicine. Herbs can be used to resolve damp, phlegm, Qi,

and blood stagnation which are the principal elements thought to cause tube

blockages in Chinese medicine.

In Traditional Chinese Medicine herbal formulas are individualized to treat

more effectively, some women may need cooling herbs and others warming,

some need more focus on phlegm accumulations and others on Qi stagnation.

Consulting an herbalist who specializes in fertility will help you to get

good care, check the ABORM web site for practitioners in your area. While

such formulas need to be prescribed by a qualified herbalist, some herbs

can be used in teas on a daily basis.

6. Adjunctive therapies. Phlegm and mucus thinning products such as

Robitussin which are frequently used to thin cervical mucus and bronchial

phlegm may have a helpful effect on thinning mucus within blocked tubes.

Castor oil packs have been used by many women directly over the tubes and

although messy are worth trying alongside the other measures.

7. Electro-acupuncture. This is a powerful technique where tiny electrical

pulses are transmitted through acupuncture needles to stimulate the area

around the fallopian tubes and ovaries. An acupuncturist who specializes

in fertility (check ABORM - American Board Of Oriental Reproductive

Medicine website for listings) will be familiar with this technique. I use

this technique often and find it to be very helpful.

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This article is for purely educational and informational purposes only and

is NOT a substitute for medical diagnosis or medical or dietetic advice

for which you should consult a physician or dietitian.

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