Endometriosis - can diet and a "natural" approach help?
Jacqueline Steincamp 07/02/03

Jackie Steincamp Photo source Jackie Steincamp

Endometriosis sufferers need to know that dietary and lifestyle changes, plus nutritional supplements, can vastly improve their health.

Endometriosis has always been a bit of a mystery. The great Greek physicians believed that 'the wandering womb' was the cause of hysteria. Only women had wombs (hystera), hysteria was considered to be confined to women only. Those ancient physicians may not have been so silly, in that the symptoms they described of when the womb wanders, are very similar to those of endometriosis. Certainly the pain of endometriosis is enough to make any woman hysterical. What it would do to a man is beyond thinking!

An immune problem
Though present medical approaches to endometriosis focus on hormonal treatments for the over-secretion of estrogen and surgery, the illness may also be seen as a defect in immunity. This is because a vigorous immune response does not allow bits of wayward tissue to adhere to other types of tissue. It gets rid of them - expels or absorbs them.

Genetic aspect
There often appears to be a genetic aspect linked to underactive endocrine glands - particularly pituitary and hypothalamus (which affect the functioning of the ovaries and entire endocrine system - also temperature and appetite control and sleep). Defective cell development of the uterus starting before birth may be involved. Mothers who experience exceptionally painful periods are more like to have daughters who develop endometriosis.

Chinese medical views
Chinese medical concepts of blocked meridians and stagnant areas of the body have bearing on endo (as they have for many chronic illnesses). The Chinese believe that menstrual and menopausal problems of all sorts are related to a stagnant uterine area and a poorly functioning liver - so that the blood does not circulate properly, is not detoxified adequately, and that the organs do not receive sufficient nutrients and oxygen.

Naturopathic views
Naturopathic approaches address the problem of liver damage, which almost always accompanies endometriosis. The liver is less able to deal with toxins, drugs, food chemicals (esp. phenols) and similarly structured natural hormones. Thus, the body becomes congested with its own hormones and toxins. Because liver dysfunction is almost always accompanied by pancreatic abnormalities, poor food metabolism and hypoglycaemia should be suspected - and dealt with.

Low fat diets
There may be a problem with saturated fats overloading cellular membranes. This is why a diet low in animal fats is important.

Diet, vitamin and mineral supplements, and herbal remedies
These are being recommended by some advanced women doctors in the United States and Europe. These are helpful to both prevent and improve the body's immunity so that it naturally rejects the endometrial fragments. They are essential in countering the debilitating effects of hormone therapy and other medical treatments.

So - your healing approach should keep the following in mind:

• improve your immunity
  
• improve your circulation and energy flows
  
• avoid animal fats.

Choice of food is important
The hardening (and consequent adhesions) of the endometrial tissue in unnatural places, together with the mass of adhesions that usually follow surgery, is a source of pain which can be reduced with herbs with high levels of organic sulphur (as in brassicas, mustard, shellfish, eggs) and silica. e.g. oat straw tea, horsetail, and millet (grains for porridge). These increase the elasticity of the tissues.

Diet for hormonal imbalances: should be high in natural foods - vegetables, some fruit, only small amounts of fish and fresh meats (preferably from organic farms so the stock will not have been treated with antibiotics or hormones), herbal teas, at least six glasses of water a day.

To further improve hormonal balance: for the first 10 days of the menstrual cycle, a diet as above; from days 11 - 14, no protein and no grains; for days 14 - 18, as for the first 10 days; for day 19 until the menses start, fruit, vegetables and calcium-rich foods such as nuts, seeds and yoghurt.

Paying attention to the gut and liver
The role of fungal, viral and bacterial overload in the gut and the ensuing overload of the liver is nearly always neglected in endometriosis treatment. Many women with endometriosis have an overgrowth of the normally harmless yeast Candida albicans- which drags down their immune systems, infects their entire abdominal cavity and further upsets their hormonal balance because of the liver's reduced ability to detoxify. I would recommend an anti-candida diet (no sugar, no refined carbohydrates, no beer, no cheeses or fermented products). Plus an anti-candida programme with Acidophilus, Garlic capsules, plus Aloe Vera. Also extra vitamin C - preferably in the form of Powdered C (non-acidic) - take at least 1 gram a day.

Recommended supplements
Products high in Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids
These improve blood flow, reduce inflammatory processes by improving the balance of prostaglandins PG1 and PG2, thin the blood, and improve membrane quality. They reduce cramps to some extent. Such products include salmon, shark liver oil, linseed, borage, canola, and Evening Primrose Oil. It may not be necessary to take EPO daily - rather try it every third day, with a Fish Oil (DHA/EPA) supplement on the other two days.

• Fish Oil, high dose daily;
• Evening Primrose Oil, 3 - 6 grams daily;
• Consider a basic nutritional programme of a good vitamin/mineral formulation.