Chinese herbs for endometriosis

Chinese herbal medicine could offer an alternative to standard hormonal treatments for the painful pelvic disorder endometriosis, preliminary research suggests.

Endometriosis is a common gynaecological condition characterized by the presence of tissue that is similar to normal endometrium (lining of the uterus) in locations outside the uterus. It causes menstrual and pelvic pain. The treatment involves surgery and hormonal drugs, with potentially unpleasant side effects and high rates of recurrence.

In a review of two small clinical trials, researchers found that a particular mix of traditional Chinese herbs worked as well or even better than two conventional hormonal therapies for endometriosis. And it came with fewer side effects.

In one of the trials, Chinese researchers randomly assigned women to take either an herbal mixture known as Nei Yi Wan or a hormonal therapy called gestrinone after undergoing surgery to remove abnormal tissue growths. The herbal therapy was given both orally and by enema. After three months of treatment, women in the herb and gestrinone groups showed similar improvements in their symptoms and their chances of becoming pregnant over the next two years. But while the herbal remedy showed no significant side effects, gestrinone caused acne in 13 of the 49 women treated, and infrequent menstrual periods in 31 women.

The second trial compared the same herbal mix with danazol, a drug that blocks oestrogen secretion. After three months, women in both groups reported symptom improvements, but those who took the herb orally and by enema showed greater improvements in painful periods, and a greater reduction in abnormal tissue growths.

The herbs used in both trials are considered in Chinese medicine to be 'blood moving'. The researchers suggested that the herbs may help regulate pelvic blood flow, as well as modulate immune system activity and inflammation.

As both trials, which included a total of 158 women, had shortcomings, it is too early to draw conclusions about the effectiveness of the herbal therapies. The positive message is that Chinese herbal medicine may offer equivalent benefits to conventional medicine but with fewer side effects. This may mean that Chinese herbal medicine is more suitable for long-term use but more studies with a larger number of participants are needed to confirm this.