Medical Condition Library

Information Centers

Wellness Centers

Helpful Resources

Endometriosis

Home | Health Information Center | Natural & Alternative Treatments | Conditions | Article

Natural Therapies

Herbs and Supplements to Be Used With Caution

En Español

Endometrial tissue is found in the uterus. It is the tissue that breaks down with the menstrua cycle. Endometriosis is when this tissue is found outside of the uterus. It may be on organs in the belly or pelvis. The tissue swells, breaks down, and bleeds in response to hormone changes. This can lead to scarring of other organs.

Treatment can help to limit symptoms but it may still interfere with day to day life. For this reason, some women look to natural treatments. There is little evidence to back their use.

Natural Therapies

May Be Effective

Chinese Herbal Medicine uses herbs to bring balance and harmony to the body. It may be as effective as standard medicine to relieve pain.1, 2

Editorial process and description of evidence categories can be found at EBSCO NAT Editorial Process.

Herbs and Supplements to Be Used With Caution

Talk to your doctor about any supplements or therapy you would like to use. Some may get in the way of treatment. They can also make illness worse or cause new problems.

References►

1. Flower A, Liu JP, et al. Chinese herbal medicine for endometriosis. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2012 May 16;(5):CD006568.

2. Zhao RH, Liu Y, et al. Chinese medicine improves postoperative quality of life in endometriosis patients: a randomized controlled trial. Chin J Integr Med. 2013 Jan;19(1):15-21.

Last reviewed May 2019 by EBSCO NAT Review Board
Last Updated: 6/14/2019

EBSCO Information Services is fully accredited by URAC. URAC is an independent, nonprofit health care accrediting organization dedicated to promoting health care quality through accreditation, certification and commendation.

This content is reviewed regularly and is updated when new and relevant evidence is made available. This information is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with questions regarding a medical condition.

To send comments or feedback to our Editorial Team regarding the content please email us at healthlibrarysupport@ebsco.com. Our Health Library Support team will respond to your email request within 2 business days.