Alternative Therapies for Endometriosis and Uterine Fibroids

Alternative medicine offers women a variety of therapeutic approaches to health care such as diet, nutritional supplementation, herbal medicine, homeopathy, Traditional Chinese Medicine, Ayurvedic medicine and naturopathic medicine. 

All of these therapies are far less invasive than conventional approaches, and can be safely used to address the diverse symptoms of premenstrual syndrome and menopause, as well as diseases of the uterus, vagina, bladder, and breasts.

Throughout a woman's life, the reproductive system follows rhythmic patterns of change, with the completion of this natural process being menopause. By becoming acquainted with various alternative therapies, and with the needs and problems of each phase, a woman can make informed choices about her lifestyle and health care.

A fibroid is a noncancerous tumor that arises from uterine muscle and connective tissue, almost all cases of which are benign. It is believed that one in five women in the United States has at least some evidence of fibroids, with most occurring in women in their thirties and forties. (National Institutes of Health, National Cancer Institute, "What You need to Know About Cancer of the Uterus." Pub. no. 93-152, Aug, 1991.)

Endometriosis is stimulated by excess estrogen production, but the exact cause is unknown. It is estimated that 10 to 20 percent of all women in the United States have endometriosis. The probability of contracting the condition increases until age forty-four and then declines.

Diet - Whole foods diet with fresh vegetables and fruits, nuts, seeds, and whole grains. Foods to avoid include dairy products, red meat, fried fat, sugar, salt, caffeine, and alcohol.

Supplements - Vitamin C, betacarotene, selenium, and zinc.

The Chinese Way to Women's Health
Dong quai, cinnamon, white peony and bupleurum are four Chinese herbs that help women maintain balanced health.

Women's health care amounts to two-thirds of the United States' annual medical bill; however, the bulk of medical research has been done on male subjects. Many studies on the benefits of aspirin in preventing heart attacks, for example, have involved thousands of men and not one woman.Braus, P. "Facing Menopause." American Demographics 15 no. 3 (Mar., 1993): 44-49.

 

A UCLA study in the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Radiology (1997; Jul-Aug; 8(4):517-26) cites a new technique for removal of uterine fibroids without surgery. The procedure is done under local anethesia, takes about an hour, and can eliminate the tumor or reduce it by an average of 65 percent.