Endometriosis is a gynecological disorder where the endometrial lining is present outside the uterine cavity.
If you have not heard of it and feel it is rare, you are wrong.
This disorder which is common with women of childbearing age affects estimated 2-10 percent of women in America. The disease affects millions worldwide.
Endometrium is the inner lining of the uterus whose function is to maintain the shape of the uterus and supply oxygen and nutrition to the foetus during pregnancy.
In endometriosis, this tissue grows outside the uterus, impacting ovaries, fallopian tubes and bowels. Prior to a menstrual cycle, the endometrium thickens and then this tissue is shed with every cycle.
Similarly, the tissue which grows outside the uterus thickens but it has no way to leave the body. It gets trapped, thus forming cysts, scars and leading to inflammation and adhesion of organs.
The main symptoms presented by this disorder are pelvic pain and infertility.
Other symptoms include painful periods, pain during intercourse, heavy bleeding during cycles, pain while passing stools or urinating and irritable bowel syndrome.
However, some women do not suffer from any of these symptoms thus leading to delayed diagnosis. Women suffering from endometriosis are susceptible to developing infertility and ovarian cancer.
The exact cause for this disorder is not known; few factors which are held responsible for this condition are:
- Retrograde menstruation, wherein menstrual blood containing endometrial cells flows back to the fallopian tubes and out in the pelvic cavity. Here it attaches to pelvic walls and nearby organs and begins to grow.
- Surgical scar implantation where in case of surgeries involving the uterus, endometrial cells might attach to surgical scar incision.
- Endometrial cells are inappropriately transported by blood vessels or lymphatic vessels to other parts of the body.
- Autoimmune diseases
- History of pelvic infection or uterine abnormalities
- Family history of endometriosis
Symptoms of endometriosis halt temporarily with pregnancy and end permanently with menopause.
Line of treatment involves symptomatic treatment of pain, hormone therapy, laparoscopic surgery or hysterectomy (removal of uterus). Although these techniques are thought of as treatment, they may tend to complicate the situation in cases by posing side effects.
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Therapeutic role of turmeric in endometriosis
Turmeric is an essential ingredient that adds rich flavour to Asian curries. It is a herbaceous perennial plant belonging to the ginger family.
Turmeric has been used traditionally in India to cure skin ailments, stomach disorders, burns, and wounds.
Studies prove that turmeric has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant, anti-tumor, antimicrobial and immunomodulatory properties.
Curcuminoids are a group of compounds present in turmeric that confer pharmacological properties to it. They are strong antioxidants and contribute to radiant yellow-orange color of the spice. Curcumin is the principal curcuminoid that exhibits a wide range of biological effects.
I did research on what scientists are saying about the use of turmeric for endometriosis. The results were encouraging indeed.
Following research studies suggest that turmeric can serve to be a potential therapeutic agent for endometriosis.
Study 1
A study conducted in China claims that curcumin prevents the growth of endometriosis endometrial cells by reducing the production of hormone estradiol.
Endometriosis is an estrogen dependant disease.
In this experiment endometriotic cells and normal endometrial cells were cultured and it was observed that expression of estradiol, as well as growth rate, was higher in endometriotic cells in comparison to normal cells.
When treated with curcumin at different concentrations, the number of endometriotic cells reduced, the growth rate and estradiol production reduced.
Curcumin is a weak phytoestrogen (Phytoestrogens are plant-derived xenoestrogens ) and is able to counteract the proliferative effect of estradiol, thus causing cell death and preventing proliferation.
What it means: Turmeric helps in curbing the growth of endometriosis by reducing the production of hormone estradiol.
Study 2
Research conducted in Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, Kolkatta, India suggests a new mechanism behind the anti-endometriotic activity of curcumin.
In this study, endometriosis was surgically developed in mice and the effect of curcumin on matrix metalloproteinases (MMP), an enzyme, was observed.
Endometriosis is characterized by abnormal tissue growth and MMP are enzymes that play an important role in tissue remodeling and cell proliferation. The activity of MMP was high in endometriotic tissues.
Curcumin administered before and after the development of endometriosis, dose-dependently inhibited endometriosis. It reduced the secretion of MMP, thereby leading to decreased expression of tumor necrosis factor-alpha: a key player in inflammation.
It also controlled and prevented oxidative stress (imbalance between pro-oxidants and antioxidants in the body) in endometriotic tissue.
All parameters recorded in this study demonstrated that curcumin does not present anti-endometriotic effect alone, but also utilizes its anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties to combat endometriosis.
What it means: The anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties of turmeric can help in inhibition and also expression of the disorder (if already present)
Study 3
Curcumin is found to inhibit angiogenesis in an experimental model of endometriosis.
Angiogenesis is the development of blood vessels from pre-existing blood vessels. Endometriosis is dependent on multiple factors, one of them being blood supply.
Adequate blood supply is necessary for the survival of endometriotic lesions, which is why angiogenesis is important for the spread of the disease.
Experimental endometriosis was induced in rats and they were split into experimental groups. Doses of 50,100 and 150mg/kg of curcumin were administered to respective groups for 4 weeks.
After monitoring the rats for 4 weeks, conclusions were made that vascular endothelial growth factor and microvessel density (parameters used to assess angiogenesis) were high in endometriotic tissue and they decreased when treated with curcumin.
Results of this study demonstrate a new mechanism by which curcumin can treat endometriosis.
What it means: Turmeric inhibits the process called angiogenesis, which is known to be important for the spread of endometriosis.
Study 4
Endometriosis rarely leads to endometrial cancer, however, it is proven that curcumin can curb endometrial cancer.
Experiment conducted in Nanjing University School of Medicine evaluated the effect of curcumin along with letrozole (a drug used to treat estrogen-sensitive tumors) on endometrial tumors induced in mice.
Different doses of letrozole and curcumin were administered individually and in combination and tumor growth was monitored. Letrozole and curcumin individually inhibited tumor growth however their combination was more potent.
Curcumin at a dose of 300mg/kg produced effects similar to those brought about by letrozole at 10microgram/d. It was concluded that curcumin can enhance the effect of letrozole against endometrial tumors.
What it means: Turmeric in help in rare complication where Endometriosis leads to endometrial cancer.
Study 5
Endometriosis causes severe pelvic pain, backache and pain during bowel movement or urination. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs are generally prescribed to treat pain.
These drugs control inflammation but increase an individual’s susceptibility to gastrointestinal disorders, cardiovascular and cerebrovascular events.
Curcumin acts in the same manner as NSAIDS but does not cause these side effects. Meriva (2g), a formulation of curcumin, shows analgesic activity comparable to the standard dose of acetaminophen.
Studies have shown that curcumin can be taken in combination with low doses of nonsteroidal medications.
What it means: Turmeric is a great painkiller and without side effects. Thus, it can be of great help for pain associated with endometriosis.
Read detail article on turmeric benefits to pain here.
Dosage
Turmeric has not been formulated yet as a drug targeting endometriosis specifically.
However, one can consult a health practitioner and consume turmeric in diet or supplements so as to reap the variety of health benefits provided by it.
Turmeric can be safely consumed as a part of regular diet however its absorption and efficacy can be improved by taking it along with black pepper.
Turmeric supplements are available in the form of capsules containing powder, tincture or fluid extracts.
The recommended dosage is as follows:
- Cut root: 1.5 – 3 g per day
- Dried, powdered root: 1 – 3 g per day
- Standardized powder of curcumin: 400-600mg 3 times a day.
- Fluid extract with 1:1 concentration: 30-90 drops per day
- Tincture of 1:2 ratio : 15-30 drops 4 times a day
If you want to read a more detailed article on dosage, please check here.
You can find some great ways to include turmeric in the diet in our recipe section
Precautions
No adverse effects have been reported on the consumption of turmeric in a regular diet. That is the way I recommend anyone to take turmeric (more details in this article)
However, turmeric supplements should be consumed with caution to avoid allergic reactions and risks posed by inappropriate dosage. Turmeric supplements should be avoided in case of pregnancy and lactation.
If consuming blood thinning medications for diabetes then turmeric supplements should be avoided. Due to its blood thinning property, turmeric supplements should be discontinued 15 days prior to the treatment.
Turmeric supplements should be taken with caution in case of gall bladder disorders, bile passage obstructions, and gastrointestinal disorders.
In the end..
While most of the studies conducted were on animal subjects but turmeric does present itself as a promising natural way to look for in endometriosis for various benefits. It can intervene in various ways and may help in prevention, stopping its spread, avoid complications (cancer) and provide relief in pain.
Stay Healthy!
i used leetu fertility tea to conceive
Hi.I was diagnosed for having a myoma and endometrioses wayback 2011.I was suffering so much that i tried a lot of supplements and alternative medicines as well as over the counter medicines and pills.The pain is still there.
Only this year,July 2017 i am about to attend the detox/cleansing program because i heard it an help me to clenase first my system in order to easily treat my pain.Unfortunately,the program was cancelled.But a good thing that one of the supposedly instructor’s assistant help me by writing down the pre-cleansing program which stated to drink fresh kalamansi (lemon) juice and turmeric.I extract a piece of turmeric and mixed it with a kalamansi or lemin juice and drink it every morning in an emptt stomache.
That waa a week before my period arrive.To my surprise,that 2 days of my period though there was still a little discomfort but it was really tolerable.For the first time after few years of suffering i jad my peruod and i don’t need to take pain reliever to help me manage the pain.For me it is a miracle.
Hooe it can help others too.I share this for i know how much pain endo gives to all wgo are suffering it.May Gos bless us all to a total healing and freedom from this disease.
Hi Maiah. Thank you for sharing your experience. We wish you great health!
Hi, Just wondering where you saw these studies published. I would like to see each study.
Hi. The words that are highlighted in orange would lead you back to the studies.
can u please tell that which haldi it is? is it a normal turmeric which we use in kitchen or is it a ambehaldi?
In the article above, we are talking about regular turmeric or Curcuma longa..the one which we use in cooking everyday.
Thank you for sharing. Ive been suffering of endo for 5yrs now I hope this will work for me.
Listen, this use of Turmeric for this purpose is an outstanding idea. I would like to enrich this conversation to include using Turmeric as a Douche. I am in Year Two Alternative Cancer Self-Treatment for multiple complex cancers — still working on this — current is ocular cancer. I have designed many different Treatment Protocols but the stage I am at now is this: I have begun to invent new (additional) ways of using a particular herb/berry/root/bark/mushroom/flower/essential oil that I am using for a specific targeted purpose. So far, my results are clear: by adding additional input channels, it multiplies the speed of the medicinal effect many-fold. As a caveat to this technique, I must press everyone to seriously consider pairing whatever treatment you do use, with “high-dose Vitamin C.” Something almost magical happens when you consume high levels of Ascorbate (Vitamin C). Investigate Liposomal C which is the new form that allows this to become an affordable alternative to “IV Vitamin C Therapy” which costs $300/day. Although IV Vitamin C Therapy is the best method, Liposomal C is a close 2nd best, just a little slower + infinitely less expensive. The exact science is not in yet as to how high-dose Vitamin C seems to function as some kind of an “adjuvant” (like mercury is when added to a vaccine) when added to the herb/berry/root/bark/mushroom/flower/essential oil you are using. When your medicine is paired with as much Vitamin C you can consume per day (typical OTC Vitamin C at the doses needed causes GI issues — try Liposomal), you potentiate everything to the max. Do your own research on High Dose Vitamin C! This is truly going to make ALL your medicine food choices, your alternative “herbal” medicines, even your conventional treatment work far better. What worked for me in reversing my Stage 4 Cervical Dysplasia (last stage pre-cancerous) was huge amounts of GREENS, high-dose Vitamin C, probiotics, and douches and enemas made from very clean Turmeric Tea (purified water, boiled, strained, fresh, with probiotics inside the lukewarm tea). Good Luck to all you Self-Healers!