Adapting dietary changes or supplementation into your diet can provide you with relief from endometriosis-related pain. Some clinical trials with small numbers of participants have investigated this area and found positive results, but more research with larger test groups are needed to confirm the benefits.
- Melatonin: Research has shown that taking 10 mg of melatonin reduced chronic pelvic pain and pain associated with sex, and also reduced dysmenorrhoea. Doctors who do advocate for melatonin as a treatment, typically recommend starting at a lower dose (1-3mg/day) and taking it at night, as it may cause drowsiness [1].
- Green tea: The active ingredient in green tea, ECGC, is a natural antioxidant that can neutralise free radicals and can help with detoxification. One study showed that after four months of using 800 mg green tea extract, fibroids shrunk, and the symptom severity was also reduced [2]. Although ECGC has not yet been studied in patient samples with endometriosis, animal studies reveal that ECGC can cause reduction in lesion size, when taken daily over two weeks [3]. The recommended safe dose of ECGC is 704 mg per day, which is equivalent to approximately 880 mL of green tea in liquid form [4].
- Omega-3: Women who took supplements of Omega-3 (2000 IU) reported noticeable reduction in pain and improved psychological well-being, although these changes were insignificant compared to the placebo [5]. Animal studies revealed treatment with Omega-3 reduced inflammation and the size of endometriotic lesions [6]. Therefore, more scientific studies are required to confirm this remedy.
- Curcumin: Curcumin is a phytochemical extracted from turmeric, with natural anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. Although no studies have tested the impact curcumin has on patients with endometriosis, animals that were given curcumin had reduction in lesion size and growth rate [7].
- Quercetin: This compound is a pigment naturally found in many fruits and vegetables, particularly in onions, green tea, asparagus, green pepper, tomatoes, and red leaf lettuce [8]. Patients treated with 200 mg of quercetin reported reduction in pain symptoms, including dysmenorrhoea, pelvic pain, and dyspareunia [9].
- NAC: N-acetyl cysteine comes from the natural amino acid, cysteine. It retains anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties. It has been shown to reduce endometriotic lesion size and growth when taken at 600 mg, three times a day, for three consecutive days a week [10].
- Resveratrol: This is a naturally occurring antioxidant found in grapes, blueberries, peanuts, and raspberries. One study tested a group of patients who did not get pain relief when taking oral contraceptives as a treatment for endometriosis; these patients were given an additional 30 mg of resveratrol, and 82 % reported reduced dysmenorrhoea and pelvic pain after two months of use [11].
- Alpha Lipoic Acid: A cocktail of antioxidants including alpha lipoic acid (200 mg), bromelain (25 mg), zinc (10 mg), and N-acetyl cysteine (600 mg), taken twice daily, was shown to reduce pain associated with endometriosis symptoms after 3 months of use.
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