Endometriosis Treatment.

Endometriosis is a ruinous disease in which cells of the uterine lining, or endometrium, grow in some other part of the pelvic area, such as the ovaries, the cervix, the bowel, or the bladder.
These runaway cells group themselves in tiny dots, layers, or cysts, and they continue to respond to hormones. They bleed during every period, inflaming, scarring, and even destroying nearby tissue. They can form a kind of glue, or adhesion that binds organs together, creating chronic pelvic pain and severe menstrual cramps.

They can also result in infertility. Conventional doctors often dismiss the severe menstrual cramps as "normal" or prescribe powerful menstruation-stopping drugs that also shrink your breasts, lower your voice, dry your vagina, and turn your emotions into a yo-yo. Some women endure several surgeries, only to find that the pain is still there.

But Deborah Metzger, M.D., Ph.D., medical director of Helena Women's Health in San Francisco and Palo Alto, California, says that she successfully treats women with "untreatable" endometriosis by using an alternative approach. Endometriosis, she believes, is caused by an allergy to your own hormones. Moreover, the allergy-stressed immune system often permits an internal overgrowth of the common fungus Candida albicans.

"With treatment for the allergy and the fungus, my patients with endometriosis become like new people," she says.
"They get relief from many of their chronic symptoms, like fatigue and depression, and they have new energy and new zest for life."
Dr. Metzger says that there are many things that a woman can do on her own to strengthen her immune system, thereby reducing symptoms and speeding the healing of endometriosis.

FOOD: Take Out the Garbage
Dr. Metzger tells her patients that diets full of processed foods are loaded with unnatural additives and preservatives that "poison" the body and worsen the symptoms of endometriosis. "Getting away from the garbage can make a very big difference in reducing the severity of the disease," she says. That garbage also includes "high-stress" foods, says Susan Lark, M.D., a physician in Los Altos, California. She asks her patients to minimize their intake of commercial salad dressings, ketchup, soft drinks, coffee, and alcohol, as well as red meat and dairy products.

REFINED CARBOHYDRATES: Save Your Energy
Both Dr. Lark and Dr. Metzger put particular emphasis on eliminating refined carbohydrates such as sugar and white flour. "Sugar and white flour weaken the immune system and rob the body of energy," says Dr. Metzger. She believes that by cutting those foods out of her diet, a woman with endometriosis will function much better.

VITAMINS AND MINERALS: To Strengthen Immunity
"A woman with endometriosis has higher requirements for certain vitamins because she needs to repair and strengthen her immune system to help fight the disease," Dr. Metzger says. When you take the right nutrients at the right doses, the white blood cells and other components of the immune system are revved up. She recommends taking a daily multivitamin/mineral supplement along with the following additional nutrients every day.


•    Vitamin C: 1,000 to 2,000 milligrams daily in three doses
•    Vitamin E: 400 to 800 international units daily
•    B-complex vitamins: A supplement that supplies at least 50 milligrams
     a day of the major B vitamins, such as thiamin and niacin

FATTY ACIDS: For Pain Relief
The omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids, found primarily in raw nuts, seeds, oils, and fatty fish, help create hormone like chemicals in the body called series-l prostaglandins, which relax muscles and blood vessels, thus reducing menstrual cramps, says Dr. Metzger. They may also reduce the inflammation of endometriosis, helping to reduce pelvic pain. Dr. Lark recommends fresh flaxseed oil as the best source of omega-3' s and omega-6's; she suggests taking 3 to 4 tablespoons a day. You can add it to foods as a butter substitute, but heating it destroys the fatty acids. Another good source of both omega-3's and omega-6's is pumpkin seed oil. It's best to use fresh oils, since the omegas have a tendency to break down after a period of time. Also, since they can be difficult to find, you may need to request a special order from your health food store. Dr. Lark says that they're also effective in capsule form, which may be more readily available.

Defeating Candida
"The vast majority of conventional doctors do not believe in the possibility of a systemic overgrowth of the common fungus C. albicans, let alone know about self-care treatments for the problem," says Dr. Metzger.
She has found that half the women with endometriosis in her practice have this fungal overgrowth and that treating the fungus often helps relieve the intense fatigue that strikes most women with the disease.
Thus, in addition to avoiding refined carbohydrates and sugars, which feed the fungus, here are some home remedies that can help clear up the infection.

GRAPE SEED EXTRACT: Fight the Fungus
This is a very potent antifungal that can help kill candida, says Dr. Metzger. Because it's so potent, she cautions women not to use more than is recommended on the label. Continue treatment with capsules for 3 to 6 months, she advises.

GARLIC: A Candida Killer
Taking capsules of garlic, which is also antifungal, is very effective at killing candida, Dr. Metzger says. Take 500 milligrams three or four times a day for 4 to 6 weeks.

PROBIOTICS: Normalize Your Intestinal Flora
A probiotic supplement containing the "friendly" intestinal bacteria Lactobacillus acidophilus and Bifidobacterium bifidum can help limit the growth of candida, says Dr. Metzger. The supplement that you'll probably find in the store is called L. acidophil us, with B. bifidum also listed on the label.
Look for a refrigerated supplement containing both bacteria and follow the dosage recommendations on the label.