Endometriosis is a common problem in the modern world, and its incidence is increasing over time. Natural dietary approaches, supplemented by herbal and homeopathic strategies, can assist in its management. This clinic provides nutritional and other natural therapies for the condition. Symptoms of painful periods, heavy bleeding and pain during sex will usually reduce through treatment, along with the swelling in the endometrial tissues.
Endometriosis is defined as the presence of tissue similar to the endometrial lining of the uterus outside of the uterine cavity. It occurs primarily in menstruating women of reproductive age. The most distressing symptoms include pelvic pain, dysmenorrhoea (period pain), metrorrhagia (heavy periods) and infertility. It is often misdiagnosed as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
It is a very stressful and debilitating condition, causing physical and emotional trauma for the woman affected. Symptoms often continue for the whole month, not just during the period. Furthermore, it often many years from the onset of symptoms before a positive diagnosis is made.
This delay in effective treatment does not occur in the naturopathic and homeopathic approach. Natural management concentrates on the pattern of symptoms on all levels: mental, emotional and physical.
Elevated oestrogen levels are suspected of playing a major role in causing endometriosis. Or there is a relatively higher activity of oestrogen in comparison to other hormones, known as “oestrogen dominance”
Obesity is associated, along with insulin resistance. This means that the body does not use carbohydrates, fats and proteins effectively and stores them as fat.
Environmental oestrogens (or xenoestrogens) may play a role. These are endocrine disruptors, and they are everywhere in the modern world. Many ingredients of skincare and personal care products and plastic compounds like BPA and phthalates are xenoestrogens. Building supplies, food additives and pesticides are a further source of these endocrine disruptors.
At this Perth clinic we focus on dietary approaches for oestrogen detoxification, such as foods containing indole-3-carbinol. Otherwise we reduce inflammatory foods such as sugars and gluten containing foods and increase foods that have an anti-inflammatory action.
It is important to reduce obesity and insulin sensitivity. It is a general suggestion to adopt a modified paleo or ketogenic diet, but nothing extreme. We need to identify and reduce or eliminate sources of environmental oestrogens.
Stress is an important factor to manage. That is where the holistic approach comes in, and where herbal and homeopathic remedies shine. Homeopathy in particular balances the person on all levels, mental, emotional and physical. It can reduce symptoms of PMS, painful periods, heavy bleeding and emotional distress while the integrated approach works deeply on the holistic level.
In this study on the use of potentised oestrogen in endometriosis, homeopathy was found significantly more effective than placebo for reducing endometriosis-associated pelvic pain. At the same time it also lessened symptoms of anxiety and depression.
At this clinic we do use potentised oestrogen (known as Folliculinum) routinely in this problem. But it is always used in conjunction with more deep acting constitutional remedies. So the results are even better than this trial suggests.
