What is Endometriosis Endometriosis is a chronic women's disease that is commonly associated in menstrual pain (more).

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Endometriosis endometriosis symptoms include pelvic and abdominal pain, bleeding and infertility. (more)

What are the Causes of Endometriosis Although some women are more likely to get endometriosis, including Asian women, real cause is still being studied. (more)

Endometriosis Complication in Pregnancy Endometriosis is a cause of infertility in women. Endometriosis does not pose life-threatening risk to women and their child.(more)

What foods are good for Endometriosis Foods that modulate and reduce estrogen level in the blood are recommendable. This include high fiber vegetables and fruits, soybeans, and others...(more)

Exercise and Endometriosis

Regular and moderate physical activity such as an exercise regimen is a good idea for everyone. Women with endometriosis has found out that a regular exercise may actually help to alleviate endometriosis symptoms.

Dr. Anne Simons, M.D. has said that physical exercise triggers the release of brain chemical called endorphins. Endorphins are feel good hormones that when elevated it masks the pain associated with endometriosis.

There is no specific or ideal exercise for endometriosis. Any physical activity or exercise that is sustained for about 10 minutes and will make one sweat is good enough. Exercise increases the heart rate and elevates the blood flow in the body. With continued exercise, studies have shown that the estrogen level in the blood decreased, thus alleviating the endometriosis symptoms.

While exercise is generally good for the body. If you have other medical complications oter than endometriosis, it is best to consult your doctor before engaging in strenous physical acitivity or exercise.

 

Social Support for endometriosis

Know that you are not alone. Endometriosis symptoms may make a woman feel isolated and alone. This feeling brings thought that no one else can understand her pain and suffering. It helps to meet other women suffering from endometriosis. The emotional support proves to be of great benefit and provides more exchange of information about endometriosis. For a detail of American Endometriosis Support group, contact the Endometriosis Association at 8585 North 76 th Place, Milwaukee, WI 53223-200.

Herbal Medicine for Endometriosis

Herbal medicine is a traditionally accepted form of treating various diseases and disorders including endometriosis. While the use of herbs has been generally accepted as a safe way to strengthen the body’s system. It is still recommended that a consultation with an authoritative health care provider be made. Herbal medicines are prepared as dried extracts (tea, powder, capsulated), glycerites and tinctures (alcohol extract).

in the book 'Blended Medicine: The Best Choices in Healing' by Michael Castleman. The following herbs are recommended to treat the symptoms of endometriosis

• Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale).
• Prickly ash (Zanthoxylum americanum).
• Motherwort (Leonurus cardiaca).
• Chaste tree or chasteberry (Vitex agnus cactus)
• Dong quai (Angelica sinensis )

Prepare herbal tea with 1 teaspoon of herb per cup of hot water. For flowers and leaves, boil and steep for 5 to 10 minutes, and for roots, 10 to 20 minutes. Herbal teas may be drunk 2 to 4 cups per day, unless specifically specified. For best results consult your nearest herbalist for further instructions.

In the book 'Herbal Remedies for Women', written by Amanda M. Crawford, Thre are two recommended formulas that may be prepared to alleviate the symptoms of endometriosis.

Endometriosis Herbal Remedy 1

Herbal extracts are to be taken during the proliferative phase until the ovulatory phase (estimated about 5 days from the start of menstruation to the 16th day based on 28 day cycle) to balance the progesteron and shrink the endometrial cells.

• Vitex agnus-castus (chasteberry seed)	2 ounces
  Caulophyllum thalictroides (blue cohosh root)	1 ounce
  Smilax ornata (sarsaparilla root)	1 ounce
  Carduus marianum (milk thistle seed)	2 ounces
  Mitchella repens (partridgeberry herb)	1 ounce
  Dioscorea villosa (wild yam root)	2 ounces

Endometriosis Herbal Remedy 2

Herbal extracts are to be taken during lutheal phase to the ovulation phase of the menstrual cycle (about day 16 to the end of the next menstrual cycle) to decrease the estrogen level in the blood.

• Vitex agnus-castus (chasteberry seed)	1 ounce
  Viburnum opulus (cramp bark)	2 ounce
  Achillea millefolium (yarrow flower)	2 ounce
  Scutellaria lateriflora (skullcap herb)	2 ounce
  Dioscorea villosa (wild yam root)	1 ounce

Herbal extracts maybe obtained from your favorite health stores. However, if you may have no access, amazon offers Vitex Capsule, 400 mg, a favorably reveiwed herbal supplement for endometriosis, receiving more than 50 testimonials for its use at an amazing price. Please read the reviews carefully since this herbal supplement is not for everyone. We strongly suggest to consult your health service provider before taking any medicines.

 

Chinese Medicine for Endometriosis

Traditional Chinese medicine is often used as an alternative treatment for endometriosis. Practitioners of Chinese medicine believes that endometriosis results from an accumulation of Blood in the uterus. This buildup is caused by the stagnation of Blood and qi. Herbs often prescribed include corydalis, cnidium, bupleurum, dong quai, and perilla. Because doses vary, you should talk to a licensed provider of traditional Chinese medicine.

 

Acupressure has been thought to help relieve the pain associated with endometriosis. You may try acupressure by stimulating the following points by a penetrating finger pressure for three minutes.

Liver 3, situated on top of your foot in the webbing between your big toe and second toe.

Conception Vessel 4, located on the midline of your abdomen, four thumb-widths below your navel.

Gallbladder 41, located on top of your foot in the hollow where the bones of your fourth and fifth toes meet.

Acupressure may be applied every hour or 2 hours until the pain subsides. If the pain persist, you may consult a professional acupuncturist to stimulate the points.

 

Homeopathy

Common homeopathic remedies for endometriosis are as follows

• Belladonna for menstruation with sensation of heaviness and heat
• Calcarea phosphoricum for excessive periods with backache
• Chamomilla for heavy menses with dark clotted blood and pains
• Cimicifuga racemosa for unbearable pain radiating from hip to hip

Consult your homeopathic doctor for the proper administration of the above medicines.

 

Thge following exercises may be done at home to improve the endometriosis symptoms

Contrast sitz baths. You will need two basins that you can comfortably sit in. Sit in hot water for three minutes, then in cold water for one minute. Repeat this three times to complete one set. Do one to two sets per day, 3 - 4 days per week.

Castor oil pack. Apply oil to a soft, clean cloth, place on abdomen, and cover with plastic wrap. Place a heat source over the pack and let sit for 30 - 60 minutes. Use for three consecutive days.

Kegel exercises (contracting and releasing the pelvic muscles)

 

MOdern Medical Treatment for endometriosis

Medical treatment for endometriosis depends on a woman's symptoms, pregnancy plans, and age, as well as the extent of endometriosis.

Pain Killers. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) may be given to relieve pain (such as ibuprofen) associated with endometriosis

Hormone-suppressing drugs. Drugs can be given to suppress the activity of the ovaries and thus slow the growth of the misplaced endometrial tissue and reduce bleeding and pain. However, these drugs do not eliminate endometriosis. They include combination of oral contraceptives (estrogen plus a progestin), progestins (such as medroxyprogesterone, PROVERA), danazol (DANOCRINE) a synthetic hormone related to testosterone, gonadotropin-releasing hormone agonists (GnRH agonists—such as buserelin, goserelin, ZOLADEX, leuprolide, LUPRON, nafarelin).

Surgery. is a rather extreme alternative for persistent endometriosis pain, options include surgery to remove the misplaced endometrial tissue. Surgery is also done to interrupt the nerve pathways that conduct pain sensation from the pelvic area to the brain.

Laparoscopy is the surgical removal for endometriosis of misplaced endometrial tissue. This however is only a temporary measure. After treatment, endometriosis recurs in most women, although the use of oral contraceptives or other drugs may slow its progression. The drugs used to suppress endometriosis may be started immediately after surgery.

Hysterectomy or the removal of both ovaries and the uterus for endometriosis patient is only done when drugs do not relieve abdominal or pelvic pain and the woman has no plan to become pregnant.

For best medical approach, consult your gynecologist.

 

1. Merck Medical Dictionary, endometriosis.
2. National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine
3. M. Castleman "Blended Medicine, The best choices in healing, endometriosis "
4. endometriosis Mayoclinic's website.
5. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/endometriosis
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7. Advances in Uterine Leiomyoma Research: The Progesterone Hypothesis
8. Celik H, Sapmaz E (2003). "Use of a single preoperative dose of misoprostol is efficacious for patients who undergo abdominal myomectomy"