Can Chinese Herbs Eliminate Endometriotic Lesions? — Evaluating the Role of Blood-Invigorating and Mass-Resolving Therapy in Endometriosis

Ladies — besides painful periods, one of the scariest things about endometriosis is that pelvic mass or “chocolate cyst” on the ultrasound report. Many people panic when they see it: Could this become cancerous? If I have surgery, will it recur? Can Chinese medicine actually eliminate endometriotic lesions?

Chinese herbs can't act like a scalpel to physically remove lesions in one go, but they can — through invigorating blood and resolving stasis, softening and dispersing masses, and regulating overall constitution — reduce lesion size, relieve symptoms, and in some early or mild cases achieve clinical disappearance.

Herbal therapy is especially valuable for women who don't want surgery, who have recurrent disease, or who want to prevent recurrence after surgery — acting like an internal “cleanup crew.”

So how exactly does this “blood-invigorating and mass-resolving” approach work? Let's break it down step by step.

I. What Exactly Are the “Lesions” in Endometriosis?

From a Western medical perspective, endometriosis occurs when endometrial tissue grows outside the uterus — such as on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or pelvic peritoneum — and bleeds with each menstrual cycle, forming chocolate cysts or adhesions.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) describes it differently, but the essence is the same — it is a condition of blood stasis and abdominal masses.

Simply put, “the blood has gone astray and stagnated in the wrong place, gradually forming lumps over time.”

The TCM approach is not to cut but to transform:

Invigorate the blood and resolve stasis, to disperse old, clotted blood;

Soften and dissipate masses, to gradually reduce the hardened nodules.

It's like murky water being clarified — herbal medicine acts as the “purifier,” helping the body restore internal balance and clarity.

II. The Three Main Functions of “Promoting Blood Circulation and Resolving Masses” in Endometriosis

1. Dispersing Blood Stasis and Relieving Pain

When blood flow is obstructed, pain follows — hence the severe menstrual cramps and rectal heaviness typical of endometriosis.

Herbal formulas often include powerful blood-activating herbs such as Persicae Semen (Tao Ren), Carthami Flos (Hong Hua), Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix (Dan Shen), Sparganii Rhizoma (San Leng), and Curcumae Zedoariae Rhizoma (E Zhu), combined with analgesic herbs like Corydalis Rhizoma (Yan Hu Suo) and Olibanum (Ru Xiang) to quickly relieve discomfort.

The key, however, is not merely to stop the pain but to reduce blood stasis at its root, addressing the fundamental cause.

2. Resolving Masses and Shrinking Lesions

“Dissolving lumps” is central to treating gynecological masses. For chocolate cysts and pelvic nodules, herbs such as San Leng, E Zhu, Carapax Trionycis (Bie Jia), Prunellae Spica (Xia Ku Cao), and Fritillaria Thunbergii Bulbus (Zhe Bei Mu) are used to soften and disperse hard masses.

Clinical observations show that after 3–6 months of continuous treatment, many patients experience a marked reduction in cyst size and symptom relief.

While complete disappearance is not universal, controlling progression and preventing enlargement are already major therapeutic successes.

During this stage, the Chinese patent medicine Fuyan Pill can serve as an adjunct. Its formulation combines the actions of invigorating blood, clearing heat and toxins, and softening masses — particularly suitable for patients with chronic pelvic inflammation, excessive discharge, or lower abdominal heaviness. It helps reduce local inflammation, promote blood flow, and enhance overall efficacy.

3. Regulating the Constitution to Prevent Recurrence

Why do some patients relapse within a year after surgery? Because the underlying constitution remains unchanged.

The strength of TCM lies in regulating the internal organs — liver, spleen, and kidneys — to address the root causes such as qi stagnation, cold coagulation, damp-heat, and kidney deficiency, making the body less “hospitable” for ectopic endometrial growth.

Qi stagnation and blood stasis type: soothe the liver and regulate qi to promote smooth blood flow.

Cold coagulation and blood stasis type: warm yang and dispel cold to prevent coagulation.

Kidney deficiency and blood stasis type: tonify the kidneys and nourish essence to enhance circulation.

When the constitution is well-balanced, even residual ectopic endometrial tissue is less likely to develop into new lesions.

III. Which Chinese Herbs Excel at “Promoting Blood Circulation and Resolving Masses”?

Sparganii Rhizoma (San Leng) and Curcumae Zedoariae Rhizoma (E Zhu):

Known as the “pioneers of breaking blood stasis” in TCM, these herbs target stubborn blood clots and masses. Modern studies also show they help inhibit abnormal cell proliferation.

Salviae Miltiorrhizae Radix (Dan Shen), Persicae Semen (Tao Ren), and Carthami Flos (Hong Hua):

The classic trio for promoting blood flow, improving microcirculation, and enhancing pelvic qi and blood movement.

Carapax Trionycis (Bie Jia) and Ostreae Concha (Mu Li):

These herbs soften and disperse firm masses, making them especially effective for harder or fibrotic lesions.

Prunellae Spica (Xia Ku Cao) and Fritillariae Thunbergii Bulbus (Zhe Bei Mu):

They clear heat, resolve phlegm, and reduce swelling — ideal for endometriotic lesions accompanied by inflammation or damp-heat.

Cinnamomi Ramulus (Gui Zhi), Artemisiae Argyi Folium (Ai Ye), and Foeniculi Fructus (Xiao Hui Xiang):

These warm the meridians and dispel cold, helping the blood flow freely and preventing coagulation.

These herbs are not simply mixed at random — they must be carefully combined according to each patient’s constitution and syndrome pattern:

Cold-stagnation type: add Gui Zhi and Ai Ye to warm and unblock.

Damp-heat type: add Patrinia (Bai Jiang Cao) and Sargentodoxa Vine (Hong Teng) to clear heat and resolve toxins.

Kidney-deficiency type: add Eucommiae Cortex (Du Zhong) and Dipsaci Radix (Xu Duan) to tonify the kidneys and strengthen the lower body.

The right combination is the key to achieving therapeutic efficacy.

IV. Real Case: Can Herbal Medicine Really “Dissolve” Endometriotic Lesions?

A 32-year-old woman was diagnosed with bilateral ovarian endometriomas, the largest measuring 4.2 cm, and suffered from severe dysmenorrhea. She refused surgery.

Her syndrome was identified as cold-induced blood stasis with kidney yang deficiency, so she was prescribed Shaofu Zhuyu Decoction combined with a formula for warming the kidneys and resolving stasis.

At the same time, moxibustion was applied to Guanyuan (CV4) and Sanyinjiao (SP6) points, and during episodes of inflammation, she took Fuyan Pill for short-term support to enhance the effects of clearing heat, resolving stasis, and dispersing nodules.

After six months of continuous treatment, follow-up ultrasound showed the endometrioma had shrunk to 2.8 cm, and her menstrual pain was significantly relieved—no longer dependent on painkillers.

After another three months of conditioning, her menstrual cycle normalized, and she successfully conceived.

This case illustrates that TCM works gradually but steadily, focusing on restoring the body’s internal balance from within.

V. Can Herbal Medicine Replace Surgery?

Not in every case — it depends on the condition.

Suitable for herbal therapy:

Lesions smaller than 4 cm;

Symptoms manageable, no acute complications;

Fertility desired, wishing to improve constitution first;

Post-surgery prevention of recurrence.

Surgery is recommended when:

Endometrioma >5 cm with risk of rupture;

Acute abdominal pain or cyst torsion;

Infertility with severe adhesions;

Suspicion of malignancy.

Best approach: an integrated treatment combining TCM and Western medicine — addressing both symptoms and root causes for lasting results.

VI. Final Reminder: Don’t Self-Medicate — Syndrome Differentiation Is Key

Many people, upon hearing about “promoting blood circulation and resolving masses,” rush to buy Guizhi Fuling Pills or Xuefu Zhuyu Capsules on their own.

But remember — if the formula doesn't match your condition, it can backfire!

For example:

If your body is cold in nature but you take heat-clearing and blood-activating herbs, you’ll feel even colder.

If you're kidney-deficient and overuse strong blood-breaking formulas, you may further weaken your vital energy and feel more depleted.

Herbal medicine cannot instantly remove endometriotic lesions, but through dissolving stasis, softening masses, and regulating the body’s constitution, it can help shrink lesions, relieve symptoms, and reduce recurrence.

It requires time and consistency, making it especially valuable for women who wish to conceive or prevent relapse after surgery.

Don't lose heart or panic — though endometriosis is stubborn, with the right approach and steady care, your body will gradually recover. Stasis can resolve, nodules can disperse, pain can fade — and when your body's balance is restored, you'll regain comfort and freedom once more.