ENDOMETRIOSIS
BENEFICIAL HERBS
- The leaves of alfalfa are rich in minerals and nutrients and a good source of vitamin K (necessary for blood clotting and healing).
- Nettle and fresh chives are rich in iron and vitamin C. Many women with endometriosis are iron-deficient. Caution: Do not eat fresh nettle-uncooked plants can cause kidney damage and symptoms of poisoning.
- Dong quai (angelica) is used as an overall female tonic and is rich in iron and may help to prevent iron deficiency anemia.
- The following herbs have anticancer and antibiotic properties: bromelain, garlic, and goldenseal. Caution: Do not take goldenseal on a daily basis for more than a week at a time, and do not use during pregnancy. Do not give goldenseal to children under two. Do not use goldenseal without consulting a physician if you have had heart disease, diabetes, glaucoma, a stroke, or high blood pressure. Take bromelain on an empty stomach or between meals.
- Red clover improves overall health and exerts antitumor properties.
- Astragalus, seaweed, and pau d’arco are great immune system enhancers.
DIETARY RECOMMENDATIONS
- Increase intake of “green drinks” made from dark green leafy vegetables
- Use kelp to add iron to the diet. The heavy monthly bleeding that is common in women with endometriosis often leads to iron deficiency.
NUTRIENT SUPPLEMENTATION
A well balanced diet is a more natural source of nutrients and it is best to get as much as possible from food. If you are not eating a varied mixture of the main food groups or foods high in a certain nutrient needed for your health situation then make up the remaining through vitamin and mineral supplementation.
- Vitamin E: 400 IU. Caution: If you are taking anticoagulants, you should not take vitamin E supplements
- Beta-carotene: 25,000-50,000 IU. Caution: Do not take if you are pregnant. Note: Recent studies have cast doubt on the benefits of getting beta-carotene through supplementation. The best way to take beta-carotene into your body is through foods high in beta-carotene, such as carrots, apricots, cantaloupe, papaya, mangoes, and sweet potatoes.
- Biotin: 200 micrograms
- Folic acid: 400 micrograms
- Niacin: 50 milligrams
- Pantothenic acid: 50 milligrams
- Riboflavin: 50 milligrams
- Selenium: 25 micrograms
- Thiamin: 50 milligrams
- Vitamin B6: 30 milligrams
- Vitamin B12: 50 micrograms
- Vitamin C: 1,000-4,000 milligrams. Caution: Doses of vitamin C larger than 1,200 milligrams a day can produce diarrhea in some people.
In some cases, herbal products can interact negatively with other medications. Such interactions can be dangerous. Herbal remedies are not regulated and their quality is not controlled. Moreover, while there is an abundant supply of information circulating about herbs, not much of it has been scientifically proven. Consult your physician. Informing your doctor and pharmacist of what herbal products you are using is just as important as letting them know what drugs you are taking. Your physician and the pharmacist on duty at your pharmacy can assist you in deciding which herbs
are safe.