Plants for Endometriosis
It's National Endometriosis Awareness Month!
Hello Higher-Minded Humans!
Saying I can’t believe it’s March already seems strange when I can’t believe anything that is going on right now. But anyway, it’s National Endometriosis Month!
I was officially diagnosed with Endometriosis when I was 25, after years of back and forth between multiple specialists. My experience is not unique; the average time it takes for a diagnosis is 7 years and seven or more different doctors. For a long time, I used hormonal birth control and pharmaceutical pain medicine to manage my symptoms, but they only made it worse.
It wasn’t until I found kratom and reconnected with cannabis that I began a path with plants that would drastically improve my quality of life. I’m always updating my toolbox, but the following are some plants that help a lot.
Kratom
I have been using kratom in lieu of pharmaceutical (and OTC) pain medications for almost a decade. As we talked about in the most recent episode of Getting Personal with Plant Medicine, finding a reliably safe vendor can be a challenge. Fortunately, individuals like Christopher Deaney exist, ensuring that accessing quality kratom is more straightforward.
Cannabis
Cannabis is a huge help, for a variety of reasons. I use certain cannabinoids like THCV for energy, CBN for sleep, and CBG for digestive issues. I also use a variety of topicals that help with everything from pain to pleasure (lubricants).
Turkey Tail
Some evidence exists to support the possibility of Turkey Tail reducing inflammation in the pelvis. Since I’ve been using it regularly, I notice less bloating and pain. It also clears up brain fog and gives a subtle energy boost without jitters.
Wild Yam
I can’t be the only one who has dozens of wild yam cream videos popping up every time I open TikTok. Each video is a testament of how the tiniest bit of cream applied on your arm or neck every day could transform your life. Needless to say, I was skeptical. But then Moonmaid Botanicals offered to send me some to try, and I saw an immediate difference.
Red Raspberry Leaf
If you have endo, you probably deal with a hellacious menstruation. When I make it a routine to drink at least two cups of red raspberry leaf tea a day, the cramping and bleeding are a lot more manageable.
Chamomile
A 2018 study found that chrysin, a compound found in chamomile, can suppress the growth of endometrial cells. Additionally, the plant can reduce inflammation and help ease anxiety, so it’s always in my tea collection.
This isn’t an exhaustive list, by any means, but it’s a good selection of what I use frequently. Do you use any plants for endometriosis symptoms?