Endometriosis is an extremely distressing yet underdiagnosed condition which can severely compromise quality of life. In this article we will be looking at natural approaches for endometriosis including homeopathy, herbs, nutrition and supplements.
Endometriosis is a chronic inflammatory condition, in which endometrial (womb) tissue implants itself and grows in other areas of the body. Often this occurs in the pelvic cavity but it can affect any part of the body including the bowel, kidneys, bladder and even the nose, resulting in nosebleeds during periods. This out of place tissue is influenced by oestrogen and progesterone, growing and bleeding in a similar way to the uterine (womb) tissue. This causes problems because, whereas the lining of the womb is shed during period, the blood from the misplaced endometrial tissue gets trapped in the body forming scar tissue, inflammation and blood filled cysts.
Endometriosis effects women of reproductive age. Symptoms vary from woman to woman and can include:
- extremely severe period pain which may be accompanied by nausea, vomiting or fainting
- pain during ovulation
- bowel or bladder symptoms which are exacerbated during periods
- chronic pelvic and lower back pain
- heavy or irregular periods
- pain during sex
- infertility
How can nutrition, homeopathy, herbs and supplements help women with endometriosis?
Women suffering from endometriosis have imbalanced oestrogen and progesterone levels with a tendency towards too much oestrogen. Endometriosis is also associated with increased inflammation and immune dysfunction as a healthy immune system would detect and destroy the out of place cells. To date, there are few effective conventional treatments for endometriosis, but fortunately, the natural approach has a lot of offer. Nutrition, homeopathy, herbs and nutritional supplements can help balance hormone levels, regulate immune function, and reduce inflammation.
To give an example, I have recently been working with a client who was experiencing unbearable period pain with nausea and vomiting. This was having an extremely disruptive effect on her work and home life as she was unable to function due to the severity of the symptoms. I prescribed homeopathic remedies including pulsatilla, magnesium phosphate and homeopathic progesterone, as well as a couple of supplements based on her individual needs. I also tweaked her diet a little and recommended some herbal teas. Since starting this healing programme, the nausea and vomiting during her period have completely disappeared and the pain has significantly decreased in intensity as well as duration. There is more work to do, however, this significant improvement was achieved in just two months.
Nutrition:
“…dietary components that decrease the estrogen levels can be used to treat endometriosis. Diet modification to deal with endometriosis is an exceptional way to resolve the symptoms.” (Ilhan M, Gürağaç Dereli FT, Akkol EK.)
Nutrition for endometriosis is focussed on reducing oestrogen levels, balancing oestrogen and progesterone, supporting the immune system and decreasing inflammation. Decreasing oestrogen levels includes supporting the liver and gut which are involved in the detoxifiation and clearanace of oestrogen from the body.
Eat organic as much as possible to minimise hormone disrupting pesticides.
Include ground flaxseeds to help increase sex binding globulin and facilitate the removal of excess oestrogen from the body.
Take advantage of broccoli, cauliflower, Brussels, kale, & cabbage to help the liver detoxify excess oestrogen.
Include anti-inflammatory omega 3 oils including wild caught sardines, mackerel, salmon, trout, walnuts and seeds (flax, hemp, pumpkin and chia), dark green leafy vegetables.
Enjoy fibre rich foods such as chickpeas, beans, lentils and a variety of colourful vegetables which help to bind excess oestrogen and excrete it from the body via the bowel. Vegetables also contain a powerful array of antioxidant phytonutrients which are anti inflammatory.
Add turmeric to meals or make delicious Golden Milk – turmeric is a fantastic anti inflammatory. When using turmeric, add a little black pepper as it facilitates the absoprtion of turmeric.
Supplements:
There are many supplements which may be helpful for women with endometriosis including magnesium, probiotics, omega 3, Vitamins A, C, D, E, the B Vitamins and curcumin. There isn’t a one size fits all approach when it comes to supplements because each woman with endometriosis will have her own unique presentation of the condition, and this needs to be taken into consideration when selecting supplements. I personalise supplement recommendations for each women depending on her symptoms, case history and diet.
Herbs:
Herbs for women with endometriosis are focussed on pain management, balancing hormones, reducing inflammation and regulating the immune system. Ideally herbs for women with endometriosis are personalised based on her symptoms and case history. However, herbal teas are a great way of incorporating herbs if you aren’t working with a natural health practitioner or herbalist*
Chamomile and ginger may help ease cramps, sharp and dull pains, and drawing pains in the lower back and thighs. They can be helpful for pain and irritability of the uterus, bowel and bladder (Ilhan M, Gürağaç Dereli FT, Akkol EK.) Chamomile is also really calming.
Ginger – peel and chop a thumb sized piece of ginger, add it to a mug of freshly boiled water and let it infuse for 10-15 minutes before drinking. Or, try this more potent ginger juice tea
Chamomile – steep a teabag in freshly boiled water and let it infuse for at least 10 minutes before drinking. Or make the tea with organic organic chamomile tea powder
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*I have recently completed the Bridging the Gap herbal medicine course for practitioners. This means that I can confidently and safely recommend herbs as well as supplements containing herbs. I am so excited about this as nutrition, herbs and homeopathy are a perfect healing trio! (note: it doesn’t make me a medical herbalist and I would always refer on to a medical herbalist when appropriate).
Homeopathy:
Homeopathy is a safe, natural and effective way of supporting women with endometriosis. Th remedies can help to alleviate symptoms, and they also have the potential to resolve the root causes of the condition, offering a more permanent solution.
There are many homeopathic remedies for women with endometriosis and it is best to consult a professional Homeopath. However, I have included a few of the remedies which I have found to be particularly helpful.
Lachesis is an excellent remedy for women who experience extremely painful periods with shooting pains upward, particularly in the region of the left ovary or the left side generally. The pain may be accompanied by gagging and retching. The symptoms are aggravated by the pressure of clothes but relieved by hard pressure. One lady who benefited enormously from this remedy told me that she used to press her left ovary into the corner of a table for relief as only really hard pressure would help. Pain may also radiate from the uterus and abdomen toward the chest. Women needing Lachesis may also experience nosebleeds during periods.
Other notable indications for Lachesis are the amelioration of pain as the blood flow gets heavier and a marked emotional release as soon as the period starts.
Pulsatilla can be helpful for women or young girls with extremely painful periods which may be accompanied by nausea and vomiting. The greater the flow of blood the more intense the pain tends to be. There can be severe cramping, cutting and bearing down pains which may be alleviated by lying down. Periods can be irregular, changeable and clotted or too late and very light.
Women needing this remedy may also experience disturbed sleep, throbbing headaches, restlessness and chilliness during periods and may look very pale. Other indications for Pulsatilla include emotional sensitivity with changeable moods with tearfulness. Emotional tension is often relived by having a good cry and a cuddle with loved ones.
Sepia is a wonderful remedy for women who experience bearing down pains during periods, as if everything would escape through the vulva. There can also be sharp clutching pains with nausea, violent stitches upwards from the uterus towards the belly button, pain and heaviness in the ovarian region which radiates to the back. Sepia may be indicated for women whose periods flow more profusely at night than during the day. Faintness, chilliness and shuddering during periods may also occur.
Sepia is also a restorative remedy for women who feel totally drained and dragged down and yet the Sepia woman’s symptoms may be eased by intense physical exercise. Emotionally women needing Sepia women can feel tearful, depressed, irritable and critical, especially before periods.
Progesterone is a remedy which I tend to prescribe daily for about a week before the period. Unlike synthetic hormones, homeopathic hormone remedies are well tolerated, gentle, safe and free from side effects. They help to restore balance without the need to take them long term.
Magnesium Phosphate (Mag Phos) is an outstanding remedy for period pain and can even replace the need for pain relief medication. The type of pain relieved by Mag Phos is cramping, cutting, drawing, shooting or darting in character and usually alleviated by heat, for example a hlot bath or a hot water bottle on the area. Mag phos can be taken as a tissue salt in the 6x potency threes time a day for a couple of months. However, during the pain, Magnesium Phosphate 10m is my potency of choice. This can be taken every thirty minutes for a few hours if needed. This remedy works particularly well if it is taken in hot water.
Other factors to consider:
Avoid or reduce non organic dairy and meat which contain residues of growth hormones and antibiotics. These can contribute to hormone imbalance and disrupt the microbiome (a healthy microbiome is required for hormone balance and for keeping inflammation in check).
Go easy on sugary foods, refined carbohydrates, caffeine and alcohol as they can deplete nutrients, interfere with the natural balance of hormones, impair detoxification and promote inflammation.
Avoid eating or drinking from plastic bottles or containers as they contain harmful, hormone disrupting chemicals including Bisphenol A (BPA) and phytalates.
Avoid toxic cosmetics and personal care products containing a cocktail of toxic, hormone disrupting chemicals such as parabens and phytalates. When I started using natural cosmetics and personal care products about 15 years ago the options were quite limited but we are now lucky to have a fantastic choice of health and earth friendly products to choose from. Some of my favourites include Green People, Neal’s Yard and Tropic.
I hope you enjoyed this article about natural approaches for endometriosis. You can find more articles about natural health here.
Image credits:
Title image by pikisuperstar on Freepik
Fruit & vegetable image by pvproductions Freepik
Ginger image by vectorpocket on Freepik
Natural skincare image by wirestock on Freepik
Pink flower (Pulsatilla) image by Beach Davies @ beach.davies@gmail.com
References:
https://www.ifm.org/news-insights/endometriosis-root-causes-lifestyle-interventions/
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6637095/
