Endometriosis

What Is Endometriosis?

Endometriosis is a disease where the cells from the lining of the uterus, which is called the endometrium, break away as in the menstrual cycle. However instead of leaving the uterus through the vagina, the cells travel up through the fallopian tubes and implant in the pelvic area and occasionally in other areas of the body. In other words when menstruation occurs, the implants in the pelvic area also bleed.

In the menstrual cycle the endometrium is shed, bleeding occurs and the blood leaves the uterus through the vagina. What happens with the implants is that blood remains trapped in the pelvic area. It is this that causes inflammation, cysts, scar tissue and sometimes structural damage to tissue or organs in the pelvic area.

Symptoms Of Endometriosis

Menstrual cramps and pelvic pain – this can be chronic resulting in women needing to stay in bed during menstruation. These symptoms can begin as much as two weeks before menstruation. This can be due not only to pelvic bleeding but also to adhesions or scarring due to inflammation in the pelvic area. Some women also have pain at ovulation as a result of the implants being stimulated by hormones at this time.

Abnormal bleeding – this may be premenstrual bleeding or a very heavy flow during menstruation. Sometimes abnormal bleeding associated with endometriosis is a result of lack of ovulation, this can be due to a lack of progesterone.

Painful lovemaking – if lovemaking is painful during deep penetration it may be caused by the implants being located in the cul-de-sac which is a pouch just behind the uterus.

Infertility - this can be due to scarring or obstruction of the fallopian tubes. Sometimes the ovaries have become scarred which prevents ovulation taking place.

Endometrial cysts – called chocolate cysts due to their brown colour. They are filled with old blood and endometrial cells and can cause a lot of pain.

Causes Of Endometriosis

Research has been unable to determine a single definite causative factor, although several contributing factors are known. It was once thought that the cause was the movement of cells through the fallopian tubes, however it has been found that many, if not most women push blood up the fallopian tubes during menstruation. Therefore it seems likely that the immune system may be at fault as these invading cells should be dealt with by a healthy immune system. As endometrial tissue has been found in the lungs and nostrils it can be seen that endometrial cells must have travelled via the blood or lymphatic circulation.

Other contributing factors include:

  • The overuse of foods that increase oestrogen in the body. Oestrogen stimulates endometriosis
  • The liver not functioning as it should – it helps to process oestrogen
  • High stress levels affect the immune system
  • A congested colon will affect pelvic organs, especially the womb
  • The use of tampons or the coil

Healing Endometriosis With Herbs And Natural Healing

. The more conventional treatment offered is the drug Danazol, which induces the effects of pregnancy by depressing the output of the hormones FSH , LH, and oestrogen. This offers symptom relief but does not cure endometriosis, and when it is stopped the symptoms return. Danazol also has unpleasant masculinising side effects including abnormal hair growth, weight gain, breast reduction and deepening of the voice.

Diet and lifestyle can bring about major changes in your symptoms and slowly you can begin to heal yourself. Some suggestions as to steps to take towards healing are :

 

  • Ensure the immune system is functioning well – maintain a healthy diet and try herbs such as echinacea and ginseng.
  • Good liver function is vital as it processes raw oestrogen from the ovaries to enable it to be eliminated from the body. Liver cleanse or liver flushes would be helpful. Avoid fatty food and cut down on coffee, tea, alcohol and sugar. Eat foods that are good for the liver – artichokes, olive oil, olives, lemons, cabbage. There are many herbs that are good for the liver – a few are dandelion, barberry, milk thistle, ginger, turmeric and cinnamon. B vitamins are essential to maintain a healthy liver – good sources are whole grains such as buckwheat, quinoa, millet, and yeast products such as engevita.
  • Increase the fibre in your diet – this absorbs oestrogen and helps to remove it through bowel elimination
  • Bioflavonoids have been shown to help thin out pelvic implants. Good sources are citrus fruit, especially in the pulp, buck wheat and soyabeans.
  • Fatty acids play an important role in easing the pain with menstrual cramps caused by endometriosis. The best sources for these fatty acids are either blackcurrant seed oil or evening primrose oil. Other important factors in easing cramping are avoidance of dairy products which are the main dietary source of arachidonic acid which helps to produce muscle contracting prostaglandins and thus cramping pains. Calcium is very important as a protector against cramping – sources include seaweeds, almonds, dark green leafy vegetables and other nuts.
  • Any area of the body where there is disease the energy and blood circulation needs to be increased. This can be done with hot and cold sitz baths or hot and cold showers directing the water at the pelvic region. Pelvic floor exercises also increase the circulation to the area.

Castor oil packs over the abdominal region will help to draw out impurities and help healing

Hormonal balancing herbs will also help to retrain and rebalance the endocrine system. These herbs include vitex agnus castus, yarrow, wild yam and ladies mantle. If you are taking the birth control pill it would be worth while considering an alternative as this prevents proper hormone balancing.