Cheryl & ethnovet: The use of home remedies and complementary health approaches in endometriosis

Tuesday 1 January 2019

The use of home remedies and complementary health approaches in endometriosis

Article in Press

Alexandra Sabrina Kohl Schwartz

Correspondence information about the author Brigitte Leeners

Declaration: The authors report no financial or commercial conflicts of interest.

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rbmo.2018.10.009

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Article Info

Abstract

Research question

Conventional treatments are often associated with adverse effects and endometriosis pain symptoms may reoccur despite treatment. Consequently, many women use complementary health approaches (CHA) and home remedies (HR) to relieve their pain. The aim of this study was to examine the frequency and the subjectively perceived efficacy of CHA/HR use by women affected by endometriosis.

Design

Retrospective evaluation using medical charts and a questionnaire. Women recruited in hospitals and in self-help groups were asked about the use of ‘topical heat’, ‘repose/relaxation’, ‘movement/massages’, ‘homeopathy/phytotherapy’, ‘acupuncture/traditional Chinese medicine (TCM)’ and ‘kinesiology/physiotherapy’.

Results

From a total of 574 women with a confirmed diagnosis of endometriosis, 359 (62.5%) applied some form of CHA/HR. Women suffering from fatiguing disease symptoms more often selected alternative therapies (odds ratio [OR] 3.14, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.39–7.11, P = 0.006) compared with women without these characteristics. Furthermore, women dissatisfied with healthcare provided by their treating physician, more frequently (OR 2.30, 95% CI 1.19–4.45, P = 0.013) chose the aforementioned alternative strategies.

Conclusion

As conventional therapies may not be sufficiently effective, women's needs should be closely examined, and individual treatment options should be discussed and initiated by clinicians to provide the best comprehensive treatment possible for endometriosis.

Keywords:

Acupuncture/TCM, Complementary health approaches, Endometriosis, Home remedies, Topical heat

Cheryl & ethnovet

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