Endometriosis. If you’ve been suffering with it, as so many women are and all too often, silently, you know how much it can impact your life.
Endometriosis can feel like it’s taking over your life – so much that many young women have chosen to have a hysterectomy and go through surgical menopause rather than go through the pain of endometriosis for one more minute!
You also know that the only treatments doctors recommend include pain medications, hormonal therapies, and surgery. Unfortunately, a pharmaceutical and laparoscopic surgery approach to endometriosis isn’t always effective, has risks, and leads to high rates of recurrence and the need for more meds and more surgeries.
While endometriosis is a tough condition to treat and natural therapy doesn’t lead to overnight results, there are herbs and supplements that have been shown scientifically to help not only relieve the pain associated with endometriosis, but to reduce lesions and cysts. This can allow you to get off the treadmill of pain medications that you have been on.
Just try it
Endometriosis is a condition that affects up to 10 percent of the women in America and is responsible for many cases of infertility. Since women often have to take hormone-altering medication that can produce side effects, many endometriosis sufferers are eager to find treatments which are effective without producing these effects. Herbal remedies are a kinder, gentler way of treating endometriosis. Read on to find out what herbs and plants are best to ease your condition.
Including natural therapies in your endometriosis treatment plan doesn’t preclude using conventional therapies. They can be used integratively – that is, combined with standard endometriosis treatments. And you can always escalate to more aggressive therapies if needed. But we do recommend a trial of these natural remedies for 6-12 months before taking more drastic measures.
Milk thistle
This herb contains the antioxidant silymarin, repairs the cells in your liver, and protects cells from damage (thereby regenerating the strength of the liver to detox the body of excess estrogen). It is also anti-inflammatory. So, this is one powerful herb for endometriosis!
Ginger
Ginger root powder (or the equivalent in extract form) at a dose of 500 mg 2-4 times/day has been shown to reduce pain equal to the effects of ibuprofen. We highly recommend taking it daily, and in a few days prior to and during your menses, at the higher dose, for best pain relief.
For the acute stage, take gingerroot tea—it helps reduce cramping and brings blood into the pelvic area. To make, boil a few slices of fresh ginger root in 2 cups of water for about 10 minutes, then strain and drink.
Turmeric
Turmeric has strong anti-inflammatory properties, and can also be used to manage endometriosis in the long term. Researchers in 2013 showed that turmeric might inhibit estradiol, a form of estrogen. This may help to prevent endometrial growths.
You can take turmeric capsules, or make turmeric tea by boiling one cup of water and adding a teaspoon of both turmeric and ginger powder. You can also add honey and lemon. Drink this three times daily while experiencing symptoms, and at least once daily when you’re using it for maintenance. The spice may be also added to meals.
Pine Bark
In yet another study of natural substances for healing endometriosis, this time pycnogenol, an extract of pine bark (yes, as in the trees – this one being a specific species of Maritime Pine), women taking 30 mg twice daily for 48 weeks showed a 33% reduction in pain, including severe pain. While the pain reduction was not as strong as hormonal treatment, it actually persisted without relapse, unlike the medication group. Further, 5 women in the Pycnogenol group became pregnant.
How to use it: take 30 mg of Pycnogenol twice daily for 1 year. Continue as needed.
Dandelion root
A super helpful herb for SO MANY things, dandelion root is another indispensable herb for endometriosis. It helps to detoxify your liver (dandelion leaf has an affinity for your kidneys). It also provides essential nutrients for hormone balance such as vitamins A + C, iron, calcium, and potassium, plus some pretty sweet trace minerals. This herb is even better when combined with other liver-detox herbs and hormone balancers like the ones we’ve mentioned above.
Tips & Warnings
Firstly, we will always recommend seeing a qualified natural health care practitioner before starting any kind of herb or supplement regime.
Experiment by drinking the above-mentioned herbs in a tea form. Boil a teaspoon of each kind of herb for a few minutes, strain and drink as a tea with honey.
Keep in mind herbal remedies do not work immediately. You will need patience since it can take a few weeks before you will see results from herbal remedies. However, the patience pays off, since you can comfortably take herbal remedies long term.
Also, consider taking other measures to contribute to the herbs’ effect on your body. Look for healthier foods to add to your diet, and switch from tampons to menstrual and reusable pads. Women often report their cycle started to regulate almost immediately when they stopped inundating their body with toxins.
Last but not the least, don't assume that herbs have no side effects. If you do not feel well after taking a certain herb, discontinue use.
