A. Dong Quai
I. Definition
Dong quai is a tall plant with white green flowers. It has been used in Chinese medicine for over 4000 years in treating diseases caused by female reproductive system for women with or without endometriosis. It is considered the "female ginseng" because of its balancing effect on the female hormonal system, including pre-menstrual syndrome and menstrual cramps.
II. How Dong Quai effects women with endometriosis
1. Estrogen inhibitor
Dong quai contains phytoestrogens which help to maintain strong liver in protein and fat metabolism. By increasing the function of liver it helps to inhibit the bad estrogen that causes menstrual cramps and symptoms of endometriosis.
2. Regulating carbohydrate metabolism
Dong quai also helps in carbohydrate metabolism by stimulating the right levels of insulin produced by the pancreas which is necessary in providing energy for our body. Without strong liver function, too much insulin during the menstrual cycle will cause food and sugar craving.
3. Reduce menstrual cramps
Dong Quai is also a muscle tonic, it helps to calm the uterine muscle during menstrual cycle by balancing the levels of prostaglandins hormones resulting in calming over-active uterine muscles.
4. Increase production of red blood cells and replace blood loss
Dong Quai has been used for women with heavy menstrual flow. By increasing the production of red blood cells, it helps to maintain the strong circulation of blood that carries oxygen and nutrients to our body's cells and decreases the risk of anemia.
5. Increase blood flow
The root is said to be very effective in eliminating blood stagnation. By increasing the blood flow to the abdominal regions, it helps to relax the uterine muscles and reduce the period pain caused by blood stagnation in the abdomen.
B. Raspberry Leaf
I. Definition
Red raspberry leaf (rubus idaeus) is a pale-green leaf of a raspberry plant with an upright shrub with perennial roots and prickly canes. It contains high amounts of vitamins and minerals that can help in treating women with endometriosis. Traditionally, it has been used as tea to give immediate relief to mouth and stomach problems.
II. How red raspberry leaves effect endometriosis
1. Beta carotene and vitamin A
Beta carotene is water-soluble and it can be converted to vitamin A. It is a powerful antioxidant that helps our immune system in fighting against the forming of free radicals, and endometrial implants and adhesion caused by inflammation of endometrial cells growing in some other parts of the body.
2. Vitamin C
Red raspberry leaf has an abundant amount of vitamin C. Besides helping to protect our body from bacteria, virus and abnormal cells development, it also helps to improve the digestive absorption of other essential vitamins and minerals such as vitamin B complex, zinc, iron, and magnesium.
3. Vitamin E
Besides helping to protect the fatty acid against degradation in the human body and to prevent the cell membranes' oxidation, it also helps to nourish the brain cells which reduces symptoms of endometriosis such as mood swings, anxiety, and depression.
4. Vitamin B complex
Vitamin B complex in the plant is vital for women with endometriosis. It not only reduces tension of the nervous system resulting in converting carbohydrates to energy which is necessary for the proper functions of the nervous system, but it also helps the liver in fat and protein metabolism in which it inhibits the bad estrogen produced by our body that causes menstrual camps and abnormal cell growth.
5. Potassium
Deficiency of potassium reduces the liver fat and protein metabolism causing the imbalance of fatty acids in the body leading to overactive uterine muscles as a result of over-production of certain hormones in the protagslandins family.
6. Calcium
Calcium is needed to relax our body's muscles. Deficiency of calcium causes hyperactive muscles including the uterine muscles that control the abdominal cramps during menstrual cycle.
C. Blue Cohosh
I. Definition
Blue cohosh (Caulophyllum thalictroides) is a species of Caulophyllum and family of Berberidaceae. It is a medium-tall perennial with blue berry-like fruits and bluish-green foliage. It has been used by herbalists in relieving menstrual cramps in traditional medicine.
II. How blue cohosh effects women with endometriosis
1. Reduce menstrual cramps
Blue cohosh is said to contain elements that help in protein and fat metabolism which helps to regulate the production of prostaglandins hormone during the menstrual cycle. Over-production of certain hormones of the prostaglandins family causes over-reaction of uterine muscles resulting in abdominal pains.
2. Hormone balancing
It is said that blue cohosh has a property in balancing the estrogen levels by occupying the estrogen receptor sites, thereby it helps to lower levels of estrogen and reduces effects of estrogen dominance that increases the risks of cancer and abnormal cell growth.
3. Increase blood flow
Blue cohosh is said to help bring blood to the abdomen and increases the circulation of blood resulting in easing pain caused by blood stagnation during menstrual period.
4. Nervous system
Blue cohosh is an antispamsmodic that helps to ease tension of nervous system resulting in reducing symptoms of endometriosis during menstrual cycle.
5. Phytoestrogen
Blue cohosh contains phytoestrogen which helps to reduce the levels of bad estrogen that causes menstrual cramps.
D. Helonias
I. Definition
Helonias is also known as helonias dioica. It has been used in traditional medicine for women's reproductive system and it also contains elements that constitute to poisons and gastro-intestinal irritation.
II. How helonias effects women with endometriosis
1. Blood stagnation
Helonias is a blood tonic herb, it helps to increase the blood flow in the abdominal region resulting in reducing the abdominal pain during menstrual cycles as resulting of blood stagnation.
2. Increase production of blood
Beside increasing the production of blood that is necessary for women with heavy flow during menstruation, it also aids in reproduction of red blood cells which is essential for carrying oxygen and nutrients to our body cells thereby increasing the immune system's ability in fighting against bacteria, virus, and inflammation.
3. Sexual desire
Helonias is also a testosterone boosting medicine, it increases the level of testosterone in the women's body during the menstrual cycle resulting in improving the sexual desire.
4. Energy booster
Henonias is said to help liver in carbohydrate metabolism that helps to increase energy for our body, thereby reducing symptoms of endometriosis such as weakness during and after menstruation, tiredness, and exhaustion.
5. Kidney tonic
Helonias is a kidney tonic medicine that helps to increase the kidney function against symptoms of endometriosis such as burning sensation and involuntary discharge of urine.
6. Nervous system
By increasing the blood flow to nervous system, helonias helps to reduce symptom of endometriosis such as mood swings, anxiety, and depression.
E. Cramp Bark
I. Definition
Cramp bark is also known as water elder or European cranberry bush, it grows to 4-5 m tall. The fruit is edible in small quantities, with a very acidic taste. It is said to have the best female medicine compared to other herbs.
II. How cramp bark effects women with endometriosis
1. Uterine relaxation
Cramp bark is said to help increase the blood flow to the abdominal region, thereby it helps to relax the uterus resulting in lessening menstrual pain.
2. Menstrual cramps
It is said that cramp bark is a reproductive muscle tonic medicine that helps to reduce overactive uterine muscles caused by over-production of certain hormones in the prostaglandins family.
3. Nervous tension emmenagogus
Since it is an emmenagogus, it helps to reduce tension of the nervous system that causes symptoms of endometriosis such as mood swing, irritation, anxiety, and depression.
4. Bring on period
Cramp bark has been used to bring on period either caused by hormone imbalance or blood stagnation in the reproductive system by increasing the blood flow to the abdominal region.
F. Black Haw
I. Definition
Black haw is also known as black haw viburnum, or stag bush. It is a native to southeastern North America. The herb has been used in treating menstrual cramp and morning sickness for women with or without endometriosis.
II. How black haw effects women with endometriosis
1. Nervous system
It is said that scopoletin in the black haw helps in strengthening the nervous system by regulating the sorotonin hormone, thereby it reduces the tension of nervous system and symptoms of endometriosis such as mood swing, depression, and anxiety.
2. Immune system
Black haw contains scopoletin, The substance is said to help immune system in fighting against bacteria, virus invasion, and forming of free redials including endometrial implants and adhesion.
3. Calming uterus contraction
Black is said to have uterine sedative tonic containing salicin, the aspirin-like substance. It helps to relax the contraction of uterus during and after menstruation leading to reduce tension in the uterus and abdominal pain.
4. Uterus muscles
Deficiency of bile caused by bile duct blockage increases the risk of imbalance of prostaglandins hormones during menstrual cycle that leads to overactive uterine muscles resulting in menstrual pain in the abdominal region. Black haw is said to help remove the blockage, thereby increasing the liver in protein and fat synthesis which helps to balance the prostaglandin hormones.
G. Wild Yam
I. Definition
Wild yam is a species of a twining tuberous vine that is found growing wild in North America.
It has been used in herbal medicine in treating menstrual cramps and to increase liver function.
II. How wild yam effects women with endometriosis.
1. Hormone balancing
Wild yam helps to increase liver function in protein and fat metabolism, which helps to stimulate the production of good estrogen through bile secretion, leading to lower levels of bad estrogen resulting in lowering the risk of cell abnormality such as endometrial implants and adhesion, and cancer.
2. Nervous system
By increasing the levels of good cholesterol in the blood stream, wild yam helps to inhibit the bad cholesterol, thereby increasing the transportation of oxygen and nutrients to the cell in the nervous system which decreases the symptoms of endometriosis, such as fatigue, tiredness, and mood swings.
3. Immune system
Since wild yam is a detoxifying herb, it helps to strength the immune system by getting rid of all harmful substances that are accumulated in our body including environmental toxins, one of the cause of endometrial formation.
4. Menstrual cramps
Since it helps to balance the levels of estrogen and progesterone, it reduces the risk of menstrual cramps caused by hormonal imbalance of above hormones.
5. Increase sexual desire
Wild yam contains saponins which is a steroid-like substance that can be converted to testosterone chemically that helps to build muscles and increases sexual desire which is necessary for some women with endometriosis with low sex drive during menstrual cycle.
Since endometriosis is treatable and manageable by natural remedies and a self help course, if you have endometroisis, please look on the bright side.
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