Endometriosis is a painful condition which involves small sections of uterine tissue within the endometrium to migrate into the muscular wall of the uterus, out along the fallopian tubes or sometimes implants itself onto the surface of the ovaries, the pelvis, scars, or digestive system organs. This outcast endometrial tissue responds to monthly cycles of estrogen and progesterone by swelling with blood, thickening and shedding at the time of menses. This activity can cause chronic pain, inflammation, spasms, cramps, nausea in individuals affected with this condition. These symptoms usually subside once menstruation ceases.
The endometrial tissue responds to reproductive hormones and there this tissue will bleed at the time of menses, however the cause of the problem may be associated also with inflammation, spread via lymph/ blood and trauma (surgery) to the site. This bleeding outside of the uterus and into the pelvic cavity (pelvic inflammatory disease) may result in fibrosis (hardening of the tissue) and adhesions within the area.
It is possible that women who have a shorter menstrual cycle and longer and heavier menses have a greater opportunity for endometrial contamination due to increased exposure to menses. Oestrogen is the dominant hormone for the first two weeks of the menses cycle (builds endometrial lining) with Progesterone being dominant in the second half of the cycle. Women with a shortened cycle length have increased exposure to higher circulating Oestrogen levels and less exposure to protective Progesterone. This does not mean that women with Endometriosis have higher levels of circulating Oestrogen, it means that they are more sensitive to circulating Oestrogen. Therefore primary treatment is to reduce the amount of Oestrogen in the body so that the pelvic congestion and endometrial tissue becomes less sensitive to Oestrogen.
Hormonal balancing and a reduction of cyclical dysfunction needs time to balance out, therefore a Naturopath will always suggest that you take at least 3-6 months to address the cause of the condition which is essentially an imbalance of the females hormones estrogen and progesterone via the Hypothalamus and Pituitary glands (the master hormonal regulating glands).
Naturopathy is an holistic form of medicine that takes into account many aspects of the individuals health and lifestyle in order to formulate a treatment plan that best assists each individual to attain their optimum level of health. An in depth face to face consultation is required to gather information such as physical signs and symptoms, diet and lifestyle habits, family and medical history plus emotional and spiritual issues. The information provided by Askanaturopath.com is of a general nature to help you gain greater knowledge about the body and available Natural Therapies. We recommend you see a qualified Health care practitioner in order to obtain a well informed diagnosis and treatment plan for your individual condition.
Pharmaceutical relief for this condition includes symptomatic relief using anti-inflammatory medication such as Neurofen which block nerves or numb the inflammatory effects of the inflammatory mediators to the reproductive site. Low doses of synthetic estrogens are often prescribed in the treatment of endometriosis in order to suppress the manufacture of endogenous estrogens that exacerbate the pain associated with this condition (although often unsuccessful). Better results are seen in the medical profession by using synthetic progestins to suppress menstruation and minimising pain. These three examples are often short lived and may cause other complications of liver dysfunction.
DIET TIPS FOR ENDOMETRIOSIS
- Increase magnesium foods in your diet to help the muscles to relax and reduce inflammation. Magnesium rich foods are nuts, brewers yeast, grains, figs, kelp, cauliflower and broccoli. You may consider taking a supplement to further increase this essential mineral for the muscles
- Reduce saturated fats in your diet (deep fried and fatty foods, cakes, biscuits, bakery foods), this helps to reduce the burden on the liver and reduce inflammation to the pelvis
- Increase quality oils in your diet to help reduce inflammation such as fish oil, flaxseed oil, olive oil, nuts, seeds and avocados. These beneficial oils are potent anti-inflammatorys to help reduce pain, uterus contractility and spasms
LIFESTYLE FACTORS FOR ENDOMETRIOSIS
- Take an Epsom salts bath to relax the muscles. Draw a warm bath and add ½ cup of Epsom salts to the bath and soak for at least 15 minutes. These salts are high in minerals, especially Magnesium, which is a muscle relaxant, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmodic and helps with pain relief
- Gentle exercise such as walking, swimming, yoga and stretching encourages the muscles to relax. Exercise also increases endorphins which help the brain to better tolerate pain
- In traditional Chinese Medicine the liver is the organ of dysfunction when there is pelvic congestion. It is believed that if the liver is cleansed then the reproductive organs receive nourished blood which helps to relieve stagnation to the area. The quality of blood discharged during a menses is a good indication of liver health, if the blood is congested, dark, old, clotting and heavy then the liver needs to be addressed and cleansed. The lighter and brighter in colour the menstrual blood is, the more balanced hormones, and there is usually a lessening of the symptoms associated
- Manage stress
- Address hormonal imbalances
- Address liver congestion
NATURAL REMEDIES FOR ENDOMETRIOSIS
- Herbs such as Paeonia, Rehmannia, Dong Quai, Bupleurum, Black Cohosh, Chamomile, Ginger may also help to addresses the dysfunctional uterine bleeding and work to regulate bleeding and balance hormone levels. These herbs are also anti-inflammatory, spasmolytic to reduce pain and spasms and also work on uterine toning
- Vitex is a female reproductive herb which has been used traditionally to balance the hormones of the female menstrual cycle. It may help to raise progesterone levels and balance estrogen levels. An increase in the hormone estrogen contributes to the thickening of the endometrial lining as well as other premenstrual symptoms such as tender breasts, heavy bleeding, fluid retention, headaches, cramps and period pain. Vitex may help to raise Progesterone levels to alleviate the symptoms of endometriosis and it also appears to slowly reverse the proliferation of endometrial tissue that underlies this condition
- Warming essential oils such as Marjoram and Clary Sage diluted in a base oil such as macadamia or sweet almond oil and rub in a clockwise direction around the navel area to decrease the pain associated with endometriosis
- Evening Primrose has high levels of Gamma linolenic acids may help to relieve the pain and inflammation associated with endometriosis
- Magnesium is an important mineral for the muscles to relieve pain and tension including PMS
- The herb Tienchi Ginseng may be beneficial to reduce the stagnation, inflammation and blood congestion to the pelvic area
- Liver herbs such as Dandelion, Milk Thistle, Burdock and Bupleurum may help to reduce symptoms of endometriosis, reduce inflammation and promote cleansing to the pelvic area
