Are you suffering from endometriosis?
Many women suffer from the pain and heavy bleeding of endometriosis. In the past, they were often told their complaints were 'just cramps' or 'all in your head'. Today, doctors take this condition more seriously, but conventional medicine offers little to ease its symptoms.
What It Is
In endometriosis, fragments of the uterine lining (the endometrium) migrate out of the uterus and embed themselves in other abdominal tissues, often the ovaries, uterine ligaments or peritoneum (the membrane that encloses the intestines). Each month, as estrogen and other hormones cause the lining of the uterus to thicken with blood, these wayward cells also expand. The uterine tissues then slough off normally. But the stray cells have nowhere to release the amassed blood, leading to cysts, scarring or adhesions (fibrous tissue that binds parts of the body that are not normally attached to each other). Although not all women with endometriosis have symptoms, the condition can cause severe pain. Endometriosis is a leading cause of female infertility.
What Causes It
No one knows why endometriosis develops, but speculation abounds. According to the 'reflux menstruation' theory, menstrual blood travels backward through the fallopian tubes, funneling endometrial cells into other abdominal areas, where they seed and grow. Wearing tampons may exacerbate this process. Another hypothesis suggests that endometriosis is congenital - meaning that some endometrial cells have been outside the uterus since before birth. Still another idea is that endometriosis is caused by a faulty immune system that neglects to destroy the out-of-place cells.
How supplements can help
All the supplements listed can be used together and with any prescribed medications. Begin by taking chaste tree (Agnus castus) together with dong quai. These herbs help to correct the hormonal imbalances that can intensify the pain of endometriosis. They also relax the uterus, as does wild yam. In addition, take a lipotropic combination, which stimulates the liver to clear excess estrogen from the body. Use these supplements throughout your menstrual cycle for best results. If cramps are painful, take the high closes of calcium and magnesium listed, but only during your period.
If taking these supplements for a few months doesn't help, try adding vitamins C and E to promote healing of tissues damaged by cysts and scamng; vitamin E also helps to balance hormone production. As well, try flaxseed oil and evening primrose oil: these help to control inflammation by regulating the production of prostaglandins, substances made by endometrial cells that cause menstrual cramps.
What else you can do
Case Study
Pain-free for good
Each month Maria P struggled with the pain of endometriosis, along with her grief that she'd never been able to conceive. For Maria, the problem with conventional hormonal treatments for endometriosis was the side effects. Though the pain improved, she wondered if the swelling, bloating, hot flushes and nausea weren't worse than the condition itself.
Then she began reading about herbal and nutritional treatments. She decided to try supplements for three or four months and then go back to her old therapy if they didn't work. Maria began to watch her diet, adding soy and removing the highly processed foods she used to snack on during the day. She also took the recommended vitamins and herbs.
The first thing she noticed was that she no longer dreaded the pain of intercourse. In fact, her libido improved. Then menstrual cramps no longer confined her to bed. Finally, she took great delight in telling her husband the best news of all: she was pregnant.
Latest Findings
Women who do not get enough omega-3 fatty acids - found in fish oils and flaxseed oil - often have increased menstrual discomfort. In a Danish study that included 181 women, those who ate a lot of fish had milder menstrual cramps than those who ate very little fish.
What It Is
In endometriosis, fragments of the uterine lining (the endometrium) migrate out of the uterus and embed themselves in other abdominal tissues, often the ovaries, uterine ligaments or peritoneum (the membrane that encloses the intestines). Each month, as estrogen and other hormones cause the lining of the uterus to thicken with blood, these wayward cells also expand. The uterine tissues then slough off normally. But the stray cells have nowhere to release the amassed blood, leading to cysts, scarring or adhesions (fibrous tissue that binds parts of the body that are not normally attached to each other). Although not all women with endometriosis have symptoms, the condition can cause severe pain. Endometriosis is a leading cause of female infertility.
What Causes It
No one knows why endometriosis develops, but speculation abounds. According to the 'reflux menstruation' theory, menstrual blood travels backward through the fallopian tubes, funneling endometrial cells into other abdominal areas, where they seed and grow. Wearing tampons may exacerbate this process. Another hypothesis suggests that endometriosis is congenital - meaning that some endometrial cells have been outside the uterus since before birth. Still another idea is that endometriosis is caused by a faulty immune system that neglects to destroy the out-of-place cells.
How supplements can help
All the supplements listed can be used together and with any prescribed medications. Begin by taking chaste tree (Agnus castus) together with dong quai. These herbs help to correct the hormonal imbalances that can intensify the pain of endometriosis. They also relax the uterus, as does wild yam. In addition, take a lipotropic combination, which stimulates the liver to clear excess estrogen from the body. Use these supplements throughout your menstrual cycle for best results. If cramps are painful, take the high closes of calcium and magnesium listed, but only during your period.
If taking these supplements for a few months doesn't help, try adding vitamins C and E to promote healing of tissues damaged by cysts and scamng; vitamin E also helps to balance hormone production. As well, try flaxseed oil and evening primrose oil: these help to control inflammation by regulating the production of prostaglandins, substances made by endometrial cells that cause menstrual cramps.
What else you can do
- Eat soy products, which contain phyto-estrogens (plant estrogens) that may offset the effect of estrogen on the symptoms of endometriosis.
- Exercise regularly. In several studies, exercise has been shown to suppress symptoms, and it may actually prevent endometriosis.
Case Study
Pain-free for good
Each month Maria P struggled with the pain of endometriosis, along with her grief that she'd never been able to conceive. For Maria, the problem with conventional hormonal treatments for endometriosis was the side effects. Though the pain improved, she wondered if the swelling, bloating, hot flushes and nausea weren't worse than the condition itself.
Then she began reading about herbal and nutritional treatments. She decided to try supplements for three or four months and then go back to her old therapy if they didn't work. Maria began to watch her diet, adding soy and removing the highly processed foods she used to snack on during the day. She also took the recommended vitamins and herbs.
The first thing she noticed was that she no longer dreaded the pain of intercourse. In fact, her libido improved. Then menstrual cramps no longer confined her to bed. Finally, she took great delight in telling her husband the best news of all: she was pregnant.
Latest Findings
Women who do not get enough omega-3 fatty acids - found in fish oils and flaxseed oil - often have increased menstrual discomfort. In a Danish study that included 181 women, those who ate a lot of fish had milder menstrual cramps than those who ate very little fish.
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