Conventional therapies quickly reach their limits for endometriosis pain. But there are 6 natural therapy methods that can relieve your pain from endometriosis.

Relieve endometriosis pain with these natural alternatives

In endometriosis, the lining of the uterus also forms outside the uterus. The main symptoms of endometriosis include severe, cramp-like pain – especially during menstruation. A distinction is made between menstrual pain, lower abdominal pain and pain during sexual intercourse, bowel movements and/or urination.

Since conventional medical therapies with regard to endometriosis far too often fail or have severe side effects (2), even research is now increasingly focusing its attention on the effectiveness of traditional applications, as are private health portals ( 1).

We present natural alternatives that can help with endometriosis pain below:

• Cannabis and CBD oil
• Gluten-free diet
• Acupuncture
• Electroacupuncture
• Reflexology
• Sport

1. Relieve endometriosis pain with cannabis and CBD oil

A study ( 4 ) at Western Sydney University in 2019, based on data from 400 women, showed that one of the best pain-relieving options is the use of cannabis or CBD oil. 65 percent of cannabis users were able to reduce their endometriosis medication by more than 50 percent, and another 27 percent were able to reduce their medication by 25 to 50 percent.

When it comes to CBD oil, a third of users reported that they were able to limit their endometriosis medication by more than 50 percent. There are now also CBD suppositories that can be inserted vaginally (or rectally) and thus potentially achieve a faster and better effect. You can read information about CBD oil and its effects here: CBD oil for pain

2. Eat gluten-free for endometriosis pain

According to testimonials from many women, omitting gluten in endometriosis leads to an improvement in pain symptoms. Italian researchers from Tor Vergata University have got to the bottom of this.

The study (6) involved more than 200 women who suffered from severe endometriosis pain. They all ate gluten-free for a year. It was then found that the pain in 75 percent of the test subjects had been significantly reduced by the change in diet. Changing to a Gluten-free diet is easy with our food guide or for individual recipies go to our recipe library.

3. Acupuncture for endometriosis pain

Acupuncture has been used for pain treatment for thousands of years. According to a 2017 review ( 5 ) by Chinese researchers, more and more studies suggest that acupuncture can also relieve endometriosis pain.

In 2018, more than 100 patients who suffered from endometriosis-related pelvic pain participated in a placebo-controlled trial (7) at Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine. While the study group underwent professional acupuncture for 3 menstrual cycles, the needles were placed away from the acupuncture points in the subjects of the control group.

The researchers found that pain in the study group was significantly reduced – also compared to placebo treatment. It is important that acupuncture is carried out 3 times a week before the start of menstruation and daily during menstruation.

4. Electroacupuncture works better against endometriosis pain than hormone therapy

A special and completely painless form of acupuncture is electroacupuncture (EA). Here, the acupuncture points are gently stimulated with electrical impulses. Although this procedure has not yet been recognized by conventional medicine, according to a Chinese study ( 10 ) it can be quite helpful for endometriosis pain.

72 subjects were divided into two groups and treated for 6 months either every two days with EA or daily with 12.5 milligrams of mifepristone (hormone preparation). Subsequently, the researchers found that both therapies were effective, but electroacupuncture worked slightly better.

It should also be emphasized that the pain in the electroacupuncture group returned after one year in only 17.6 percent of the women, but in the hormone group in 33.3 percent of the women.

5. Reflexology works better than a painkiller for menstrual pain

Reflexology massage is one of the oldest and still recognized healing methods of mankind. As early as 2010, a study ( 8 ) with 23 subjects at the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences in Iran showed that massage can be helpful for endometriosis pain (menstrual pain).

As a result, the same research team ( 9 ) investigated whether a (foot) reflexology massage can keep up with a painkiller for menstrual pain. 68 female students were divided into two groups and received either 10 reflexology sessions of 40 minutes each during 2 menstrual cycles or 400 milligrams of ibuprofen every 11 hours during 3 menstrual cycles for 3 days each.

As a result, it was found that the intensity and duration of the pain were significantly reduced in the women in the reflexology group compared to the painkiller. The effect of the reflexology massage lasted even after the end of the therapy.

6. Why you should definitely exercise if you have endometriosis pain

Chronic pain often leads to those affected moving less and less. But according to researchers from Beni-Suef University, this has an extremely negative effect on endometriosis pain. The study ( 11 ) involved 20 patients between the ages of 26 and 32 who suffered from mild or moderate endometriosis.

They performed a wide variety of sports exercises for 8 weeks under the guidance of a physiotherapist at least 3 times a week for 30 to 60 minutes each. After 4 and 8 weeks, the test subjects were examined and asked about their pain. The study found that regular exercise can significantly reduce endometriosis pain.

The scientists explained this, among other things, by the fact that training contributes to muscle relaxation, which can break the pain cycle. In addition, serotonin levels are increased, which improves mood and reduces pain.

Incidentally, a Hungarian study with around 80 test subjects showed as early as 2010 that exercise is more effective than painkillers against pelvic pain associated with endometriosis.

Do the natural therapy methods for endometriosis pain work for every woman?

A therapy concept for endometriosis pain must always be created according to the personal needs and individual situation of the respective woman. After all, what proves to be effective for one patient does not necessarily help another patient just as well.

Therefore, do not give up if the first therapy method that comes along does not seem to work for your endometriosis pain. You may want to seek advice from an experienced naturopath or holistic doctor. Also test combinations of conventional and alternative medicine – and don’t forget the basic measures of a healthy lifestyle.