Endometriosis can be a painful and debilitating disease. The causes and real solutions are complex not very well understood in the conventional medical community. Natural medicine has much to offer those who suffer from endometriosis. The root causes of endometriosis are a combination of genetics, hormone balance, environmental exposures, liver health, intestinal health, immune health, and anatomy.
Genetics: Research has found that when a family member suffers from endometriosis her female relatives are more likely to have symptoms. Further analysis shows that the genes responsible for regulating detoxification enzymes and tissue growth play a role in the severity and progression of endometriosis.
At The Center for Advanced Medicine we run specific genetic tests so we can create a treatment plan that takes your individual genetics into account. Depending on the genetic variability or mutations we find we will tailor nutrient supplementation to support detoxification and regulate tissue growth.
Hormone Balance: Endometriosis is associated with relatively high levels of estrogen. Estrogen levels rise when the body makes too much estrogen, the body eliminates too little estrogen or we are exposed to estrogens and estrogen-like chemicals from the environment. Endometrial tissues in the uterus and outside of the uterus respond and grow causing pain when estrogen is present.
Natural remedies for endometriosis focus on enhancing the body’s estrogen reduction systems and reducing exposures. This includes identifying and eliminating sources of environmental estrogen exposure, reducing excess weight, and supporting the liver and bowels. Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus) is an excellent herb for balancing communication and stimulation from the brain to the ovaries.
Environmental Exposures: In this day and age it is impossible to avoid ALL of the toxins in our environment. There are measurable amounts of synthetic hormones from discarded birth control and hormone replacement flowing in our tap water. Plastics, household cleaners, detergents, food can liners, conventional meats, pesticides and insecticides mimic estrogen in our bodies. These chemicals bind to estrogen receptors all over the body and act in a way that is even stronger than the estrogen our bodies make.
We work with you to help you identify and avoid as many exposures as possible and support the body’s natural detoxification systems.
Liver Health: The liver is responsible for metabolizing the vast majority of hormones in our body including estrogen. Once processed by the liver, toxins and hormones are sent into the colon in bile to be eliminated with a bowel movement. When the liver isn’t working optimally or is overwhelmed by other toxins estrogen will stick around and can re-enter the blood, increasing the symptoms of endometriosis. There are two phases of liver detoxification that require specific nutrients to process hormones. Herbs including Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) and Milk Thistle (Silybum marianum) help the liver to detoxify estrogens and reduce tissue growth.
When treating endometriosis we always support both phases of detoxification systems in the liver with nutrients including SAMe, methylated B vitamins, acetyl-CoA, taurine, glycine, choline, methionine, cysteine, and essential fatty acids.
Intestinal Health: The gut is important in treating endometriosis because the bowels eliminate estrogen. There are two reasons why this doesn’t always happen effectively: constipation and dysbiosis. When constipated waste products stored as feces sit in our bowels where toxins and hormones including estrogen are reabsorbed back into our blood. These toxins and hormones then circulate and wreak havoc at estrogen sensitive tissues, particularly the tissues in the pelvis associated with endometriosis. Research has identified several “bad bugs” or gut bacteria that, when out of balance, break the bond the liver worked hard to create between estrogen and glucuronic acid. When bound, estrogen and glucuronic acid are easily eliminated with a bowel movement. When that bond is broken, estrogen moves back into the blood stream and stimulates estrogen sensitive tissues responsible for endometriosis.
Fiber, probiotics, medically supervised cleansing, colonics and great food are natural ways to heal the intestines and get them effectively eliminating estrogen and reducing symptoms of endometriosis.
Immune Health: Women who suffer from endometriosis have increased levels of inflammatory cytokines in their pelvic tissues compared to women who do not have endometriosis. The worse a woman’s symptoms are the higher the level of inflammatory markers made by the immune system.
Our goal is to block the action of pro-inflammatory cytokines by increasing antioxidant intake including essential fatty acids, Vitamin A, Vitamin C, and Vitamin E. We also help patients create an individualized, anti-inflammatory diet. Stress management and regular vigorous exercise also help to reduce general inflammation and balance the immune system.
Anatomy: The severity of symptoms in endometriosis is correlated with the position of the uterus, depth of extra-uterine endometrial tissue, pelvic scarring, and pelvic adhesions.
Manual therapies like craniosacral therapy and visceral manipulation are gentle ways to bring circulation, increase healing, reduce tension, scarring and adhesions. Patients are further encouraged and coached to do Sitz baths at home to increase circulation to the pelvis and stimulate the body’s innate healing wisdom.
If you or a woman you know suffers from endometriosis call the Center for Advanced Medicine at (760) 632-9042 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Heather Sandison, ND.
