ALTERNATIVE THERAPY FOR ENDOMETRIOSIS TREATMENT: VITAMINS AND MINERALS
Many women with endometriosis have heard of the benefits of treating the disease with vitamins and minerals and certainly members of the Endometriosis Association (Victoria) have talked about success with vitamin B6 and evening primrose oil in eliminating pain and treating lethargy and depression.
Most vitamins and minerals discussed in this section below can be bought off the shelf at your local health food shop.
Vitamin Â
Vitamins can help in alleviating pain; in particular, vitamin B6 has been reported as being beneficial in the treatment of premenstrual syndrome and associated problems.
Although it is not certain why vitamin B6 helps, many PMS sufferers vow it has been instrumental in alleviating their symptoms of depression, lethargy, mood swings, irritability and pain.
Vitamin Ñ
The merits of vitamin Ñ have long been acknowledged. Alternative therapists say it helps not only with heavy bleeding (because it strengthens the blood vessel walls and helps the body to absorb iron) but also helps promote healing.
Vitamin E
Another healing vitamin, it is often recommended for the prevention of thick scar tissue and to promote healthy skin; this would explain why it helps alleviate pain as it acts on adhesions and scar tissue left by endometriosis implants.
Zinc
Many practitioners believe zinc helps with PMS symptoms and also improves fertility.
Evening primrose oil
Many PMS sufferers cannot do without their evening primrose oil (EPO) as they say it helps alleviate symptoms and keeps the condition under control.
Endometriosis sufferers on hormonal drug therapy also report that it has helped them cope with the side effects often associated with these drug treatments.
Evening primrose oil is expensive (currently about $20 for a month’s supply) so you have to weigh up the benefits with the cost. EPO is a good source of gammalinolenic acid (GLA) – one of the essential fatty acids which produce prostaglandin.
Barbara’s story
At the age of 27, I was eventually diagnosed as having mild endometriosis after many months of pain, discomfort and one miscarriage. I then tried a variety of treatments – Duphaston, Danazol and laparoscopic surgery – and had some positive short-term results but no full-term pregnancies.
I very much wanted children so I decided to try alternative therapies. After consulting a naturopath I tackled my food allergies and eliminated wheat, rye, barley and milk products from my diet. This was a major undertaking as I was very restricted in the foods that I could eat. While I was on this diet I lost weight and my headaches and stomach bloating disappeared.
Shortly afterwards, I saw another naturopath who gave me a series of acupuncture treatments for the pain and to improve uterine health. I found that these treatments left me feeling quite euphoric and the pain lessened, but only for a short time. I also had massages which left me feeling physically and mentally relaxed.
During these treatments I was also taking a herbal preparation made up especially for me by the naturopath. Much to my delight I eventually became pregnant during this time and this pregnancy resulted in the birth of my first child.
I now have four children under five years (one set of twins) and while I have some endometriosis pain, it has not affected my fertility.
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