Endometriosis is a very common gynecological health problem, which is believed to affect around one in ten women. The condition can cause considerable pain, although not everyone who suffers from endometriosis will be symptomatic.
Self-Help for Endometriosis – Nutrition
Thankfully, there are several ways to help relieve the following typical endometriosis symptoms, which include painful menstrual periods, deep pain during intercourse and severe pelvic pain. One of the ways in which this gynecological condition may be helped involves making changes to nutrition through adapting daily intake. In The Essential Guide to Vitamins, Mineral and Herbal Remedies, Brewer (2010) highlights key nutritional approaches to endometriosis treatment, to include the following:
- eating a healthy, wholefood diet
- avoiding salt
- limiting caffeine intake
- avoiding sugar
- reducing intake of fried/processed foods
- increasing essential fatty acid intake
- eating plenty of oily fish
- eating five servings of fruit/vegetables daily
Research studies have also identified that there is a link between women who have less severe painful menstrual periods and those consuming high quantities of fish oils in their daily intake. For those who dislike fish, it is possible to obtain omega-3 fish oils in the form of a daily food supplement, usually available from high street pharmacies and health food shops.
Endometriosis Treatment – Health Supplements
In addition to making the above changes to one's daily nutritional intake, there are also a range of nutritional, herbal and health supplements, which may help ease endometriosis-related symptoms. In Healing Supplements, Lakin et al. (2006) recommend key self-help remedies for those affected by endometriosis, as follows:
- choline – improves liver function benefiting sufferers
- dandelion – relieves excess oestrogen symptoms
- evening primrose oil – blocks inflammatory prostaglandins
- grapeseed extract – eases pain and inflammation
- milk thistle – helps liver process oestrogen
- wild yam – muscle relaxant, anti-inflammatory
Further self-help approaches to the treatment of endometriosis, as identified by Brewer (2010), may include the following:
- calcium/magnesium supplements – reduce muscle spasms, eases pain
- agnus castus – progesterone-like action
- iodine supplements (in multivitamins) – helps hormonal imbalances
- black cohosh – relaxes menstrual cramps, treats hormonal imbalances
- liquorice – helps treat hormonal problems
- raspberry leaf – reduces emdometriosis pain
As highlighted above, endometriosis symptoms include painful menstrual periods, pain during intercourse and pelvic pain, which may be relieved through dietary changes such as eating wholefoods, plenty of fruit, vegetables and fish, but avoiding salt, caffeine, sugar, fried and processed foods, as much as possible. Health supplements used in the treatment and prevention of emdometriosis symptoms, may include; choline, dandelion, evening primrose oil, calcium supplements, black cohosh and raspberry leaf.
Sources:
Brewer, S. (2010) The Essential Guide to Vitamins, Minerals and Herbal Supplements London: Constable Robinson
Lakin et al. (2006) Healing Supplements London: Reader's Digest
Kate Le Page - Kate Henning-Le Page writes about eating disorders, body image and recovery issues. She specializes in anorexia recovery.
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