Endovan was recently mentioned by someone on the forum. I had never heard of it.
The jury seems to be out on this one just like everything I seem to find. After trudging around the internet it seems to me that the company that makes it is being a bit too slick with the marketing for my liking. It's also $50 for 30 day supply plus p&p to UK. My brand of cynicism often stops at the point where I might cut off my nose to spite my face so I did a bit more research on it but I do confess to a certain amount of suspicion regarding the product Endovan. The same company also make Fibrovan which they claim reduces fibroids. However, I think the main ingredient is worth a closer look.
The main active ingredient appears to be Nattokinase. I have encountered this before as natto which is a fermented soy product. There have been no clinical trials for Endovan. There have been studies into nattokinase that mostly focus on the prevention of thrombosis by thinning the blood. This does not necessarily bother me because something like Zoladex is legally prescribed and I think it's a crazy drug! Each to their own.
Natto itself is not as bad for endo as non-fermented soya products but it probably should only be consumed in small quantities due to the possibility of raising oestrogen. It sounds as though it is quite stinky and unpleasant so I'd say it's difficult to consume large amounts.
Putting this oestrogen concern to one side, I don't feel that Endovan is anything more than Nattokinase dressed up as a 'cure' with other things thrown in to make it patentable/marketable and therefore a more expensive product. Nattokinase, surprisingly, is easily available. The other ingredients are often recommended for endo by herbalists et al.
It's action seems to thin the blood so I would be wary of taking this without medical supervision. Here's a good overview altmedicine.about.com/od/na...
The claim is that it breaks down the endo. I can't find any research on nattokinase in respect of endo, fibroids etc. but there is plenty on other conditions.
Side effects appear to be:
- Blood unable to clot (if used with prescription medication)
- Bruising and bleeding
- Severely reduce blood pressure
- Nausea and dizziness
It should not be taken with aspirin or ibuprofen for instance. It is also not wise to take if anaemic or if you have low blood pressure.
Personally I would be very wary of it and would only try nattokinase with the help of my doctor.
Has anybody here had experience of Endovan, Fibrovan or Nattokinase?
Have you consulted your doctor?
I haven't. I am very skeptical on this one Brownlow, and I agree that it should be taken only after discussion with a Doctor. Would be interested to know if it works. But I think surgeons for any type of surgery find adhesions the most difficult thing to overcome post operatively - I'm not sure a pill does it. But hey, would be lovely if it did work!
It doesn't seem right to me to market a product without any proof that it works apart from testimonials that can easily be fabricated. The nattokinase does appear to be of value preventing thrombosis which is a rather different problem.
Apparently the website used to have words to the effect that the ingredients were FDA approved but I can't find mention of this (might have missed it). This is a rather sneaky way of making it appear as though the FDA approved the actual product when this is not the case.
I’ve been on Endovan for 6 years and it does everything it says. Without it I had lots of pain and with it I have none. I have stage 4 endometriosis and my uterus is infused to my intestines.