I. Causes of Adenomyosis

The exact cause of adenomyosis is not entirely clear, but the medical community generally recognizes the following main theories and related factors:

1. Endometrial Basalis Layer Invasion into the Myometrium: This is the most mainstream theory. It is believed that due to damage to the barrier between the uterine lining (endometrium) and the uterine muscle layer (myometrium), the basal layer cells of the endometrium invade downward and grow into the myometrium. These ectopic endometrial tissues still respond to hormones, bleeding during each menstrual period, but the blood cannot be discharged, thus causing pain and uterine enlargement.

2. Association with Childbirth, Abortion, and Other Intrauterine Procedures: Surgeries such as cesarean section, induced abortion, and dilation and curettage (D&C) that may damage the endometrial basal layer can increase the risk of endometrial cell implantation into the myometrium, thereby inducing adenomyosis.

3. High Estrogen Levels: Adenomyosis is considered an estrogen-dependent disease. Excessively high or chronically sustained stimulation of estrogen levels in the body may promote the growth of lesions. This also explains why the disease is more common in reproductive-age women and why lesions tend to atrophy after menopause.

4. Genetic Factors: Studies have found that adenomyosis has a certain degree of familial aggregation. If a first-degree relative has the condition, the risk of developing it is relatively increased.

5. Lumbar Spine Disease Cause: Through nearly 11 years of clinical practice with external Chinese medicine treatment - Teng Steam Therapy, which involves high-temperature herbal steam fumigation of the whole body followed by high-temperature herbal application to the cervical and lumbar spine, Tiandao Traditional Chinese Medicine aims to resolve and expel stagnant waste and debris from within the cervical and lumbar spine. This process restores the neural pathway of the spinal nerve axis within the spine, particularly the neural pathway between the brain and the uterus. When this pathway is compressed in the lumbar spine, it cannot form normal signal transmission, leading to uterine issues that cannot be properly repaired. This results in symptoms such as irregular menstruation, cold uterus, dysmenorrhea, dyspareunia, and uterine enlargement. Some patients may experience symptoms like lower back soreness during their period.

II. Main Symptoms of Adenomyosis

The severity of symptoms varies from person to person, and about one-third of patients may not have obvious symptoms.

1. Progressive Dysmenorrhea: The most typical symptom. Pain usually occurs before and during menstruation, manifesting as cramping or dull pain in the lower abdomen, sometimes radiating to the lower back, sacrococcygeal area (near the tailbone), or thighs. The pain intensity may gradually worsen with each menstrual cycle.

2. Menorrhagia: Manifested as significantly increased menstrual flow and prolonged menstrual periods. In severe cases, it can lead to anemia, causing symptoms such as dizziness, fatigue, and pale complexion.

3. Infertility: The affected uterine environment may impact the implantation and development of a fertilized egg, leading to infertility or early miscarriage.

4. Dyspareunia: Some patients experience deep pelvic pain during sexual intercourse, especially with deep penetration.

5. Uterine Enlargement: Due to the growth of endometrial tissue within the muscle layer, stimulating the proliferation of uterine muscle fibers, the uterus becomes uniformly enlarged and firmer in texture. This can be detected by a doctor during a gynecological examination.

III. About "Teng Steam Therapy" as an External Chinese Medicine Treatment

This is a term that combines Traditional Chinese Medicine theory and external treatment methods.

1. What is "Teng Steam Therapy"? "Teng Steam" is a traditional and innovative external treatment method in TCM, which can be understood within the category of "fumigation" or "steaming therapy." It first involves high-temperature herbal steam fumigation of the whole body, followed by the application of heated herbal packs to the cervical and lumbar spine areas. For some severe cases, the lower abdomen is also included. It utilizes the dual effects of thermal force and herbal potency, penetrating through the skin and interstices to reach the affected area, aiming to warm and unblock meridians, activate blood circulation and resolve stasis, and dispel cold to relieve pain.

2. Application Principle in Adenomyosis (from a TCM Perspective): In TCM theory, adenomyosis is mostly categorized under "dysmenorrhea" and "abdominal masses" (referring to lump formations in the abdomen). Its core pathogenesis is often related to "cold coagulation and blood stasis" and "qi stagnation and blood stasis."

   • Cold Coagulation and Blood Stasis: Excessive cold in the body leads to poor blood circulation, causing stasis and obstruction in the uterus.

   • Qi Stagnation and Blood Stasis: Emotional distress leads to obstructed qi movement; when qi doesn't flow, blood doesn't circulate smoothly, forming blood stasis.

   • Effects of Teng Steam Therapy:

     • Warm and Unblock, Dispel Cold: Thermal force can驱散 cold within the body, relieve spasms of the uterine smooth muscle, thereby reducing pain.

     • Activate Blood and Resolve Stasis: Thermal force and blood-activating, stasis-resolving herbs (such as Chuanxiong, Honghua, Ai Ye, etc.) can promote pelvic blood circulation, dissipate stagnant blood, and improve the uterine environment, potentially helping to shrink lesions and control disease progression.

     • Unblock Collaterals and Relieve Pain: Dredges the meridians, alleviating the condition of "obstruction causing pain."

3. Important Notes and Suggestions:

   • As an Adjunctive Therapy: Teng Steam Therapy is an adjunctive treatment and regulatory method. It has shown good clinical效果 in relieving pain and improving symptoms (especially dysmenorrhea and cold intolerance). According to relevant laws, it cannot be promised or guaranteed as a cure for this disease.

   • Requires Professional Pattern Differentiation: It must be conducted under the guidance of a professional TCM practitioner. The practitioner will formulate targeted herbal prescriptions based on your specific constitution (whether cold, hot, deficient, or excess) and pattern type, and guide the correct application methods and locations. Self-medication may not suit the pattern and could even worsen the condition.

   • Integrate with Modern Medicine: For treating adenomyosis, a scientific approach involves integrating Chinese and Western medicine. You should first obtain a clear diagnosis from  hospital gynecology department to understand the severity of your condition (via ultrasound, MRI, etc.). Based on the doctor's advice, you can consider:

     • Medication: Such as oral contraceptives, progestins, GnRH-a, etc., to control symptoms and delay progression.

     • Surgical Treatment: For patients with severe symptoms, ineffective drug treatment, or those with fertility desires, lesion resection surgery can be considered; for those without fertility desires, hysterectomy can be considered as a last resort.

     • Teng Steam Therapy: Use Teng Steam and other TCM external treatments as supplementary means to alleviate symptoms and improve quality of life. Alternatively, choose it as a primary treatment initially, or when multiple other methods are ineffective, or when surgery is not feasible, or for those with fertility requirements.

   • Most patients see improvement or elimination of dysmenorrhea symptoms within 1-3 treatment courses, depending on disease duration, age, and number of complications.

Summary:
Adenomyosis is a chronic disease with complex causes, characterized mainly by dysmenorrhea and menorrhagia. "Teng Steam Therapy," as a TCM external treatment, has potential benefits for alleviating symptoms of the cold coagulation and blood stasis type. However, it must be used under the guidance of a professional doctor as part of a comprehensive treatment plan and should not replace necessary modern medical diagnosis and treatment.

We hope this information is helpful to you! Wishing you a speedy recovery.