Female Health-Problems with the Uterus

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Female Health-Problems with the Uterus

JoAnn Guest

Dec 10, 2004 11:51 PST

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Female Health-Problems with the Uterus

 

In this condition, endometrial cells from the lining of the uterus

migrate to locations where they are not normally found-in the

uterine myometrium and outside the uterus on the ovaries, bladder,

and gastrointestinal tract.

 

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.

 

The condition is stimulated by excess estrogen production, but the exact

cause is unknown.

One theory is that the endometrial cells are carried upward through the

fallopian tubes

(called retrograde menstruation), enabling them to implant in the

abdomen, where they grow to form endometriosis patches.

 

Delayed first pregnancy and menstruation at an earlier age, both more

common

today than two or three generations ago, have also been linked to

endometriosis in that the disease has become more common in the last

few decades.

 

In the past a woman might have had fewer than forty

menstrual cycles before pregnancy, while now there might be twelve

years of monthly periods before a woman decides to have a child.

 

The primary symptom of endometriosis is dysmenorrhea with dull,

aching pain in the pelvis, lower abdomen, and back.

Dr. Lee

explains, " Once the endometrial cells are transplanted, they still

respond to the monthly hormonal (estrogen) messages just as they

would if remaining within the uterus; by filling with blood which is

then released at the time of menses.

 

The drops of blood, however,

have nowhere to go and can become a focus of excruciating pain and

inflammation.

 

Despite their small size (some no larger than a

pinhead), pelvic pain that results can be disabling. Symptoms tend

to increase gradually over the years as the endometriosis areas

slowly increase in size. "

 

There are no specific laboratory tests that will detect

endometriosis, but a biopsy can be performed in the office by a

doctor.

 

For endometriosis, Dr. Lark follows the same protocol she does for

fibroids-using weak estrogenic flavonoids to block the body's own

production of estrogen-but she adds anti-inflammatory agents, since

scarring and infection often accompany endometriosis.

 

She advises, " The patient needs to include good sources of essential

fatty acids because the body manufactures prostaglandins from these,

which are anti-inflammatory agents.

 

These EFA's are plentiful in fish such as salmon and in seeds and nuts.

It is also equally

important to reduce or eliminate meat and dairy foods,

because these foods are sources of arachidonic acid,

which promotes inflammation. "

 

Herbal Medicine:

Many alternative therapies are also used to prevent

and treat endometriosis, and herbs are a good example.

 

Dr. Heron

treats endometriosis with a range of herbs meant to, as she

explains, " increase circulation in the pelvis, thereby promoting

drainage, discouraging adhesions, and facilitating removal of

inflammatory substances.

 

In addition, hormonal balance is

reestablished, decreasing premenstrual syndrome. " The herbs she

chooses for treatment are intended to act as hormonal precursors and

balancers, and also to improve liver function and digestion, all

components of the disease.

 

Dr. Heron states, " The result is usually

symptom relief as a result of treating the underlying cause.

Patients consistently report a marked decrease in dysmenorrhea,

dyspareunia (pain with intercourse), digestive symptoms,

menorrhagia, and ovulation pain, along with an improvement in mental

outlook and decrease of lassitude. "

 

Dr. Heron develops formulas of herbs fine-tuned for the individual.

As she explains, " It's important not to use the catalogue of herbs

like a cookbook, always prescribing the same herb for a given

disease. "

 

She uses a polypharmacy approach, combining various herbs,

because, as she says, " Most traditional systems combine herbs as the

combination has an enhanced effect. "

 

She uses three of her own formulas, one for each phase of the cycle:

during menses itself, between menses and ovulation (approximately

day fourteen or later), and from ovulation to the beginning of

menses.

 

 

Herbs that are included are: dandelion, Oregon grape root,

pasque flower, chasteberry, false unicorn, cramp bark or black- haw

bark, black cohosh, motherwort, vervain, yarrow, hops, valerian, and

borage.46

 

Nutritional Supplements: Dr. Hufnagel suggests supplementing the

diet with vitamin C, vitamin B6, folic acid, calcium, magnesium,

essential fatty acids such linoleic acid, and evening primrose oil.

 

Traditional :

 

According to Honora Lee Wolfe, " This

condition may be due to blood stasis, qi stagnation, phlegm and

dampness, damp heat, or some combination of these, but in turn this

can be based on some organs being empty or not strong enough. It's

almost always a combination of patterns, a concurrent insufficiency,

or vacuity. "

 

Ayurvedic Medicine:

 

" This condition is a vata imbalance, " explains

Dr. Lonsdorf. " We treat this as we would any vata imbalance (see

section on Premenstrual Syndrome).

 

For prevention we advise that a

woman reduce her activities as much as possible for the first three

days of her period each month, though this might be an unpopular

suggestion to most busy women today. For exercise, we recommend a

gentle walk rather than jarring aerobics classes at this time. "

 

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JoAnn Guest

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DietaryTi-

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AIM Barleygreen

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