Anyone used alternative medicines or supplements?

[Sarahmae]

Hi all, I'm recently diagnosed and have just had my first lap . I am about to go on the hormone injection but I am also researching alternative things I can do to try and slow the growth of the endo . I have read that camomile tea can help as well as tumeric tablets- has anyone tried these and have they made any difference? Thanks

[happyseal]

Hi,

So I’ve tried different supplements, etc. I’m not sure how much they slows down the growth but they help with the pain and symptoms.

If starting from the idea that oestrogen feeds endometriosis. Basically, we want to decrease our oestrogen levels and balance it out with progesterone.

Overall, our oestrogen is influenced by chemicals and plastics (so called xenoestrogen), our fat cells also produce oestrogen, plant oestrogen, and our ability to detox and cleanse the excess hormones in our body (this can decrease due to stress, unhealthy diet, alcohol and anything that stresses the liver, as well as not having bowel movements to expel these hormones, or not having the nutrients to help our body to cleanse).

So most anti-inflammatory foods and supplements will greatly help. That includes turmeric, omega 3, whole food, as well as avoiding foods that cause inflammation. So a healthy anti-inflammatory diet helps. For example, evening primrose oil also helps.

Change in lifestyle, by avoiding parabens, chemicals in our toiletries, cosmetics, and cleaning products. And also avoiding plastics, pollution and chemical in the water we drink, cigarettes, etc.

In terms of supplements and teas:

The camomile tea, I usually take it to help me sleep and with pain. But most things that relax you will help as well. Some self-love too.

For specific things:

I usually use vitex for tender painful breast.

Ginger for pain and digestion. Bay leaves tea helps too and is very relaxing.

Peppermint tea when I’m bloated.

Parsley tea for bladder or kidney issues. It helps detox.

Magnesium is good as well, to relax, pain, constipation, etc.

Iron when I have too much bleeding.

Serrapeptase is good for adhesions and growths as well. Or you can try systemic enzymes that help with fibrin. So they’re meant to help the body eat up any growth, dead cells.

Milk thistle for the liver. It support the liver, and detox.

Calcium D-glucarate helps the body flush out excess estrogen. And fibers to help bowel movements, as well as drinking enough water and avoid stress.

It’s a lot...but you’ll have to see what you need and what works for you. And some of these I just use during PMS, others during period. Some I do for three months then have a break and do it again when needed. Otherwise, the body adapts and they stop working or you can become intolerant. In my case some things don’t do much anymore.

But overall a good diet full of nutrients that the body needs to detox excess oestrogen is good. Systemic enzymes to keep at bay may help.

I use the above to minimise symptoms so I can’t actually tell if clinically it is slowing the endo. But if we don’t have pain and life is good we’re less likely to have surgery, so that works for me.

[Sarahmae in reply to happyseal]

Thank you so much, this is extremely helpful x

[happyseal in reply to Sarahmae]

Just had a scan and the gynae didn’t even mention fibroids anymore and she said the cysts and polyp are small. So I think the systemic enzymes helped with that. You can also take them as maintenance to keep adhesions etc from growing. I’ll be requesting my tests from the hospital and then I can share what are the differences from last year and 2018.

[Sarahmae in reply to happyseal]

Thank you, thats great to hear, and looking forward to you sharing the comparison if your comfortable to do so. What sort of dosage do you take? Is it in tablet form?

[hilkora in reply to happyseal]

for me all that and no dairy, caffeine or alcohol + gym really helps x I've been following this for just over 2 years and having ultrasound next week to see if it slowed the growth

[Sarahmae in reply to hilkora]

Thanks! I've heard no dairy helps and no gluten. I've literally just come off the phone to the consultant who has scared the living daylights out of me- explaining that I have stage 4 endo(my symptoms weren't that bad so this was a shock) my pelvic area is a mess, they cant do any surgery on it and if the coil and injections dont work I would be looking at open surgery to have a hysterectomy!) I am going to try and avoid this at all costs if I can. I'm 46 and the consultant said he is hoping I can get to menopause to try and avoid surgery again- I'm in a complete panic!

[hilkora in reply to Sarahmae]

I would wait until you hit menopause to be fair and try mirena / pill first to help with symptoms. Surgeries are a big risk in itself plus they might have their own complications which can make things even worse. X

[plotments]

Have a look at Agnus Castus tabs I took these for a few years and found they helped with some of my symptoms

[Sarahmae in reply to plotments]

Thank you

[thara9643]

I’ve tried massage therapy in the past. I also try to do yoga and meditation whenever possible too. Art is a good source of distraction as well.

[annieorrell]

I swear by Agnus castus- it’s made a huge difference for my pain and mood though my bleeding is definitely heavier and more unpredictable! For me it’s a trade worth making .