Phytotherapy in endometriosis: an up-to-date review
23 Sep 2020-Journal of Complementary and Integrative Medicine (J Complement Integr Med)-Vol. 17, Iss: 3, pp 1-12
TL;DR: Clinical trials are mandatory to achieve more conclusive results about the promising role of phytotherapy in the management of endometriosis, as there are almost none randomized control trials in this area.
Abstract: Endometriosis is a benign gynecological disease which symptoms can provide a severe impact on patient's quality of life with subsequent impact on psychological well-being. Different therapeutic strategies are available to treat this disease, such as surgery, hormonal therapies, and nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Nevertheless, the efficacy of conventional medical treatments is limited or intermittent in most of the patients due to the associated side effects. Therefore, a woman with endometriosis often search for additional and alternative options, and phytotherapy might be a promising alternative and complementary strategy. Different medicinal plants, multicomponent herbal preparations, and phytochemicals were investigated for pharmacological proprieties in endometriosis therapy. In most of the cases, the effect on endometriosis was related to phenolic compounds, such as flavonoids and phenolic acids reporting anti-inflammatory, proapoptotic, antioxidant, and immunomodulatory functions. Moreover, some phytochemicals have been related to a strong phytoestrogenic effect modulating the estrogen activity. Although promising, available evidence is based on in vitro and animal models of endometriosis with a limited number of well-performed clinical studies. There are almost none randomized control trials in this area. Therefore, properly constructed clinical trials are mandatory to achieve more conclusive results about the promising role of phytotherapy in the management of endometriosis.
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TL;DR: In this paper, the authors proposed a genetic-epigenetic theory to diagnose endometriosis, which is based on cellular incidents and the subsequent growth in the specific environment of the peritoneal cavity.
Abstract: Understanding the pathophysiology of endometriosis is changing our diagnosis and treatment. Each endometriosis lesion originates from a different clone and cells have specific characteristics as aromatase activity and progesterone resistance. Since being different from the endometrium, the implantation theory has to be replaced. The genetic-epigenetic theory postulates that endometriosis starts with cellular incidents. The subsequent growth in the specific environment of the peritoneal cavity is associated with angiogenesis and an inflammatory immunologic reaction. This and bleeding in the lesions causes fibrosis, which will ultimately stop the growth and result in burnt out lesions. The pain associated with endometriosis lesions is variable, some lesions not being painful, others causing neuroinflammation up to 28 mm distance. Diagnosis of endometriosis is made by laparoscopy, performed after an experience guided clinical decision, based on history, symptoms, clinical exam and imaging. Biochemical markers are not useful. For deep endometriosis, imaging is considered important before surgery, although the available predictive value is rather poor, considering confidence limits, the prevalence of the disease and the absence of stratification of lesions by size, localization and depth of infiltration. Surgery of endometriosis is based on recognition and excision. The surrounding fibrosis belongs to the body with limited infiltration by endometriosis and a rim of fibrosis can be left without safety margins. For deep endometriosis, this results in a conservative excision eventually with discoid excision or short bowel resections. For cystic ovarian endometriosis superficial destruction, if complete, should be sufficient. Understanding pathophysiology changes the discussion of earlier intervention during adolescence. Considering neuroinflammation at distance, the exploration of large somatic nerves should be reconsidered. Medical therapy of endometriosis has to be reconsidered since the variability of lesions results in a variable response, some lesions not requiring estrogens for growth and some being progesterone resistant. If the onset of endometriosis is driven by oxidative stress from retrograde menstruation and the peritoneal microbiome, medical therapy should prevent new lesions and becomes indicated after surgery.
34 citations
TL;DR: The most common forms used were heat (70%), rest (68%), meditation or breathing exercises (47%), and dietary changes were the most highly rated in terms of self-reported effectiveness in pain reduction.
Abstract: Endometriosis has a significant negative impact on the lives of women, and current medical treatments often do not give sufficient pain relief or have intolerable side effects for many women. The majority of women with primary dysmenorrhea use self-management strategies (including self-care techniques or lifestyle choices) to help manage period related symptoms, but little is known about self-management in women with endometriosis. The aim of this survey was to determine the prevalence of use, safety, and self-rated effectiveness of common forms of self-management. A cross-sectional online survey was distributed via social media using endometriosis support and advocacy groups in Australia between October and December 2017. Women were eligible to answer the survey if they were 18–45, lived in Australia, and had a confirmed diagnosis of endometriosis. Survey questions covered the types of self-management used, improvements in symptoms or reduction in medication, and safety. Four hundred and eighty-four valid responses were received. Self-management strategies, consisting of self-care or lifestyle choices, were very common (76%) amongst women with endometriosis. The most common forms used were heat (70%), rest (68%), and meditation or breathing exercises (47%). Cannabis, heat, hemp/CBD oil, and dietary changes were the most highly rated in terms of self-reported effectiveness in pain reduction (with mean effectiveness of 7.6, 6.52, 6.33, and 6.39, respectively, on a 10-point scale). Physical interventions such as yoga/Pilates, stretching, and exercise were rated as being less effective. Adverse events were common, especially with using alcohol (53.8%) and exercise (34.2%). Self-management was very commonly used by women with endometriosis and form an important part of self-management. Women using cannabis reported the highest self-rated effectiveness. Women with endometriosis have unique needs compared to women with primary dysmenorrhea, and therefore any self-management strategies, especially those that are physical in nature, need to be considered in light of the potential for ‘flare ups’.
32 citations
TL;DR: A multidisciplinary approach is a key factor to achieve the best outcome with appropriate patient counselling as discussed by the authors. But, the management of endometriosis still remains controversial, and a multiidisciplinary team is the key factor in achieving the successful outcome.
Abstract: Endometriosis is a chronic benign gynecological disease with symptoms that can severely impact quality of life and well-being. Women affected by endometriotic ovarian cyst could have associated infertility problems. Infertility affects 30% to 50% of women with endometriosis. Women with endometriosis are at risk of decreased ovarian reserve, due to the disease pathophysiologic mechanisms. Generally, infertility management include surgical procedure (usually with minimally invasive approach) and ovulation induction with intrauterine insemination or in vitro fertilization. Fertility preservation technologies also include oocyte or embryo freezing and ovarian tissue cryopreservation. Approach to patients with endometriotic cysts still remains controversial, and a multidisciplinary approach is a key factor to achieve the best outcome with appropriate patient counselling. Such management by a multidisciplinary team is a key factor in achieving the successful outcome.
28 citations
TL;DR: The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of polyphenols and their properties valuable for natural treatment strategy by interacting with different cellular and molecular targets involved in endometriosis progression.
Abstract: Endometriosis represents an often painful, estrogen-dependent gynecological disorder, defined by the existence of endometrial glands and stroma exterior to the uterine cavity. The disease provides a wide range of symptoms and affects women’s quality of life and reproductive functions. Despite research efforts and extensive investigations, this disease’s pathogenesis and molecular basis remain unclear. Conventional endometriosis treatment implies surgical resection, hormonal therapies, and treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, but their efficacy is currently limited due to many side effects. Therefore, exploring complementary and alternative therapy strategies, minimizing the current treatments’ adverse effects, is needed. Plants are sources of bioactive compounds that demonstrate broad-spectrum health-promoting effects and interact with molecular targets associated with endometriosis, such as cell proliferation, apoptosis, invasiveness, inflammation, oxidative stress, and angiogenesis. Anti-endometriotic properties are exhibited mainly by polyphenols, which can exert a potent phytoestrogen effect, modulating estrogen activity. The available evidence derived from preclinical research and several clinical studies indicates that natural biologically active compounds represent promising candidates for developing novel strategies in endometriosis management. The purpose of this review is to provide a comprehensive overview of polyphenols and their properties valuable for natural treatment strategy by interacting with different cellular and molecular targets involved in endometriosis progression.
23 citations
References
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TL;DR: This guideline was produced by a group of experts in the field using the structured methodology of the Manual for ESHRE Guideline Development, including a thorough systematic search of the literature, quality assessment of the included papers up to January 2012 and consensus within the guideline group on all recommendations.
Abstract: studydesign,size,duration: This guideline was produced by a group of experts in the field using the methodology of the Manual for ESHRE Guideline Development, including a thorough systematic search of the literature, quality assessment of the included papers up to January 2012 and consensus within the guideline group on all recommendations. To ensure input from women with endometriosis, a patient representative was part of the guideline development group. In addition, patient and additional clinical input was collected during the scoping and review phase of the guideline.
1,641 citations
"Phytotherapy in endometriosis: an u..." refers background in this paper
...Usually, the medical therapy consists in different hormonal drugs, including combined hormonal contraceptives, progestogens, anti-progestogens, levonorgestrel-releasing intrauterine system, gonadotropin releasing hormone analogs with or without add-back therapies; and to date, there is no robust evidence to support a specific hormonal therapy over the others [3, 18]....
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...Indeed, surgery is generally effective in pain relief, but its benefit is often temporary for the risk of relapsing disease, and due to this risk, medical therapies have a further key role in the management of patients in the postoperative period [11, 18, 37]....
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TL;DR: A healthy 25-year-old woman presents with worsening dysmenorrhea, pain of recent onset in the left lower quadrant, and dyspareunia.
Abstract: A healthy 25-year-old woman presents with worsening dysmenorrhea, pain of recent onset in the left lower quadrant, and dyspareunia She has regular menstrual cycles, and her last menstrual period was 3 weeks before presentation How should this patient be evaluated and treated?
1,493 citations
TL;DR: A working group was convened comprised of practising gynaecologists and experts in evidence-based medicine from Europe, as well as an endometriosis self-help group representative, and the guideline was developed and refined.
Abstract: The objective was to develop recommendations for the diagnosis and treatment of endometriosis and its associated symptoms. A working group was convened comprised of practising gynaecologists and experts in evidence-based medicine from Europe, as well as an endometriosis self-help group representative. After reviewing existing evidence-based guidelines and systematic reviews, the expert panel met on three occasions for a day during which the guideline was developed and refined. Recommendations based solely on the clinical experience of the panel were avoided as much as possible. The entire ESHRE Special Interest Group for Endometriosis and Endometrium was given the opportunity to comment on the draft guideline, after which it was available for comment on the ESHRE website for 3 months. The working group then ratified the guideline by unanimous or near-unanimous voting; finally, it was approved by the ESHRE Executive Committee. The guideline will be updated regularly, and will be made available at http://www.endometriosis.org/guidelines.html with hyperlinks to the supporting evidence, and the relevant references and abstracts. For women presenting with symptoms suggestive of endometriosis, a definitive diagnosis of most forms of endometriosis requires visual inspection of the pelvis at laparoscopy as the 'gold standard' investigation. However, pain symptoms suggestive of the disease can be treated without a definitive diagnosis using a therapeutic trial of a hormonal drug to reduce menstrual flow. In women with laparoscopically confirmed disease, suppression of ovarian function for 6 months reduces endometriosis-associated pain; all hormonal drugs studied are equally effective although their side-effects and cost profiles differ. Ablation of endometriotic lesions reduces endometriosis-associated pain and the smallest effect is seen in patients with minimal disease; there is no evidence that also performing laparoscopic uterine nerve ablation (LUNA) is necessary. In minimal-mild endometriosis, suppression of ovarian function to improve fertility is not effective, but ablation of endometriotic lesions plus adhesiolysis is effective compared to diagnostic laparoscopy alone. There is insufficient evidence available to determine whether surgical excision of moderate-severe endometriosis enhances pregnancy rates. IVF is appropriate treatment especially if there are coexisting causes of infertility and/or other treatments have failed, but IVF pregnancy rates are lower in women with endometriosis than in those with tubal infertility. The management of severe/deeply infiltrating endometriosis is complex and referral to a centre with the necessary expertise is strongly recommended. Patient self-help groups can provide invaluable counselling, support and advice.
1,412 citations
"Phytotherapy in endometriosis: an u..." refers background in this paper
...Indeed, surgery is generally effective in pain relief, but its benefit is often temporary for the risk of relapsing disease, and due to this risk, medical therapies have a further key role in the management of patients in the postoperative period [11, 18, 37]....
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TL;DR: The purpose of this review is to provide a brief overview of the plethora of research regarding the health benefits ofCurcumin combined with enhancing agents provides multiple health benefits.
Abstract: Turmeric, a spice that has long been recognized for its medicinal properties, has received interest from both the medical/scientific world and from culinary enthusiasts, as it is the major source of the polyphenol curcumin. It aids in the management of oxidative and inflammatory conditions, metabolic syndrome, arthritis, anxiety, and hyperlipidemia. It may also help in the management of exercise-induced inflammation and muscle soreness, thus enhancing recovery and performance in active people. In addition, a relatively low dose of the complex can provide health benefits for people that do not have diagnosed health conditions. Most of these benefits can be attributed to its antioxidant and anti-inflammatory effects. Ingesting curcumin by itself does not lead to the associated health benefits due to its poor bioavailability, which appears to be primarily due to poor absorption, rapid metabolism, and rapid elimination. There are several components that can increase bioavailability. For example, piperine is the major active component of black pepper and, when combined in a complex with curcumin, has been shown to increase bioavailability by 2000%. Curcumin combined with enhancing agents provides multiple health benefits. The purpose of this review is to provide a brief overview of the plethora of research regarding the health benefits of curcumin.
1,314 citations
"Phytotherapy in endometriosis: an u..." refers background in this paper
...Curcumin is the major chemical compound of Curcuma longa (Zingiberaceae) [114]....
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