Endometriosis

Endometriosis

In women who have endometriosis, tissue closely resembling the uterine lining (the endometrium) grows outside the uterus in various locations in the pelvic cavity. This tissue swells and bleeds in conjunction with a woman's monthly menstrual cycle. Endometriosis may cause pain, nausea, heavy menstrual bleeding, pain during intercourse and in some cases, infertility.

Estimates vary about the prevalence of endometriosis, but most authorities suggest that 2 to 5 percent of women may have this condition. It's most likely to show up between the ages of 25 and 40.

As far as I can tell, neither mainstream nor naturopathic doctors can claim much success in treating endometriosis. Mainstream doctors often prescribe synthetic estrogen, usually in the form of birth control pills. And naturopaths have favored herbs and foods with natural plant hormones (phytoestrogens) that are related to the estrogens. Phytoestrogens are much less potent than the body's own estrogens. They actually block the body's estrogen receptor sites, thereby reducing the effect of a woman's own hormones.

There are many theories about the possible causes of endometriosis. According to some sources, evidence links it with immune system damage caused by estrogen-like environmental pollutants, such as certain pesticides. Other immune-suppressing drugs and toxins may be equally suspect. Some experts also speculate that using tampons, IUDs or the contraceptive cap might contribute to the risk of developing endometriosis. Apparently no one knows for sure.

Green Pharmacy for Endometriosis

If you're battling endometriosis, various authorities suggest avoiding alcohol, caffeine, whole-milk dairy products, eggs, fried foods, red meat, salt and sugar. I can't swear that any of these dietary changes will help, but they make good sense even if you don't have endometriosis.

And although I don't promise that any natural herbal alternatives will cure endometriosis, I believe that the ones described below may help. They are safe, and I believe they are worth a try.

Soybean (Glycine max) and other beans. Many in the natural medicine camp have embraced soy products for treating endometriosis and other ailments, notably breast cancer, that are related to estrogen.

The soy supporters tout soybeans because they are high in two estrogen-like plant compounds, genistein and daidzein. Both of these phytoestrogens prevent your body from taking up the more harmful forms of estrogen circulating in your blood. They take the place of that estrogen, binding to your cells' estrogen receptor sites and preventing more harmful estrogens from binding to the same receptors. Significantly, they also protect the body from pollutants that chemically mimic estrogen.

The soy supporters are right. Soy is high in genistein and daidzein, but lots of other beans are also quite high in genistein, which appears to be the more active of the two phytoestrogens.

I predict that in the near future, the scientists who have been claiming that soy is a unique source of genistein will stop doing so. I also predict that there will be more emphasis on bean sprouts. As beans germinate, their genistein content (and the total phytoestrogen content) increases. And if the sprouts have fungi (as many homegrown sprouts do), the genistein content may increase as much as a hundredfold.

Pinto beans have almost as much genistein and daidzein as soybeans. Also, consider that some beans that don't have as much daidzein as soybeans have quite a bit more genistein. These include yellow split peas, black turtle beans, lima beans, anasazi beans, red kidney beans and red lentils. Also quite high in genistein are black-eyed peas, mung beans, adzuki beans and fava beans. Our analysis of scurfy peas showed that they have 50 times more gen-
istein than soybeans.

If you have endometriosis, I'd suggest eating as many edible beans as possible as often as possible. Also use generous amounts of bean sprouts in your salads and be sure to eat lots of bean soups, baked beans and Mexican bean foods like burritos. I enjoy all of these more than tofu.

Soybeans Soybeans share great medicinal potential with other edible legumes.

Flax (Linum usitatissimum). Flaxseed contains generous amounts of compounds called lignans, which help control endometrial (and maybe breast) cancer. Endometriosis is not the same as endometrial cancer, but because both involve uncontrolled growth of endometrial tissue, I'd suggest that you try flaxseed for preventing or treating endometriosis.

Flaxseed might be particularly helpful for anyone who is not a vegetarian. Vegetarians have high blood and urine levels of lignans, while eating meat
suppresses lignans substantially. So if you're accustomed to meat in your diet, you may need an extra supply of lignan to compensate for this suppressant effect.

Some breads contain ground flaxseed; check labels. I've also ground the seed myself and added it to cornbread batter. I suggest you experiment with finding ways to get flaxseed into your diet on a regular basis.

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea). I love peanuts. I munch some just about every day, and I'm always looking for studies that show they confer health advantages. When peanuts are analyzed, it turns out that they contain many of the same healthful substances as soybeans and other beans.

Given two foods with equal potential for health benefits, the one you enjoy should be better for you. That's assuming, as immunologists claim, that pleasure is good for the immune system. And let's face it, who doesn't prefer peanuts to soybeans?

There's an extra bonus to be had if you select Spanish peanuts. The papery red membrane around Spanish peanuts is the original source of oligomeric procyanidins (OPCs), substances that also may help control hormone-dependent cancers and possibly endometriosis.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Alfalfa sprouts contain phytoestrogens, so use them liberally on salads. Even if they don't relieve endometriosis symptoms, they are green vegetables, and eating more vegetables lowers cancer risk. If you have lupus or a family history of lupus, however, steer clear of alfalfa sprouts. There's some evidence that they may trigger lupus in sensitive individuals.

Evening primrose (Oenothera biennis). I think of evening primrose oil (EPO) more as a treatment for the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS) than for endometriosis. (For more information on EPO and PMS, see page 364.) But the natural medicine guides I trust mention it almost as often as flaxseed and soy for treating this condition. EPO contains gamma-linolenic acid and tryptophan, both substances that seem to promote general good health in women.