Herbal Medicine for Endometriosis

Herbs seem to promote tissue healing through a blend of effects. In addition to using phytoestrogens and other hormone-balancing plants, therapy aims to augment circulation to and from the areas of damage. Nutritive herbs provide building materials for the cells. Particular hepatic herbs may be chosen if a woman needs to eliminate toxins. Finally, it is important to improve immune-system function so that white blood cells will cluster around and eat up debris or imperfect cells.
Herbs that are useful for the treatment of endometriosis are: dandelion, Oregon grape root, pasque flower, chasteberry, false unicorn, cramp bark or blackhaw bark, black cohosh, motherwort, vervain, yarrow, hops, valerian, and borage.
Here is a summary of the beneficial effect sought from a herbal treatment and the herbs that are involved:

Amanda M. Crawford, author of 'Herbal Remedies for Women' recommends two herbal formulae that are useful for endometriosis. According to her, Herbal Formula 1 decreases excess estrogen during the luteal phase of the cycle. Herbal Formula 2 balances progesterone and shrinks and heals endometrial lesions. Herbs in both formulae share complementary effects throughout the month; these relax painful spasms, stimulate liver function, build healthy immune-system response to cellular debris, or nourish a woman undergoing the physiological demands of self-healing.

Herbal formula 1 (Take from ovulation through the end of menses)
Vitex agnus-castus (chasteberry seed)	1 ounce
Viburnum opulus (cramp bark)	2 ounce
Achillea millefolium (yarrow flower)	2 ounce
Scutellaria lateriflora (skullcap herb)	2 ounce
Dioscorea villosa (wild yam root)	1 ounce

Herbal formula 2 (Take from the end of menses to ovulation)
Vitex agnus-castus (chasteberry seed)	2 ounces
Caulophyllum thalictroides (blue cohosh root)	1 ounce
Smilax ornata (sarsaparilla root)	1 ounce
Carduus marianum (milk thistle seed)	2 ounces
Mitchella repens (partridgeberry herb)	1 ounce
Dioscorea villosa (wild yam root)	2 ounces
Optional: Valeriana officinalis (valerian root)	1 ounce or more

If the pain is severe but you are sensitive to Valeriana, you may replace it with double the amount or more of Passiflora (passionflower herb). These must be continued for a minimum of three months before effects may have a lasting benefit, but the therapy should improve symptoms of pain within the first few days. The complete treatment would take into account the length of the disease and its progression. Consult a qualified doctor or practitioner before starting any treatment. Next Topic: Food and Nutrition Related Topic: Herbal Medicine on Holisticonline.com