How I Naturally Manage My Endo Symtoms

There's many fun symptoms that go along with endometriosis. You've got pain, irritability, moodiness, anxiety and the wonderful endo belly. Now you're probably wondering what endo belly is. For whatever reason our belly randomly decides to swell. Inflammation from the endo sends a message to surrounding structures to swell. Yes, this was the same day. No, I'm not exaggerating.

Okay, on to how I deal with these fun symptoms. I use a LOT of essential oils and natural medicine in general. I'll include links to purchase everything also :) I personally use DoTerra oils. I do NOT get paid to sponsor them, that's just the company I use. Here's where I get them.

PAIN 

 Cramp Potion

1oz steel tin- $15 shipping included for US outside of US will be extra.

An herbal balm I make and sell using essential oils, whole herbs, coconut or olive oil and beeswax. 100% natural and effective. Each herb and oil has a very specific purpose and function. Some are for pain relief, some to stop cramps, some have awesome healing properties and together they're a godsend for my pain caused by endometriosis. I'd rather have this balm than ALL my prescription meds(if I had to pick one or the other). I've been perfecting this recipe over a few years now. I use ONLY the highest quality ingredients I can find. It works faster and better than any of my oral narcotics, usually within 15 minutes if not sooner. I use it every day, usually several times a day. An ounce lasts me 4-8wks. A smooth creamy balm that doesn't leave a greasy residue. I make it with and without comfrey. Just leave a comment if you'd like some:) 

 Everyone that has tried it has loved it. My dog hurt himself and I decided to try it on him to see if it'd help and it did. He came in my room later that day, sniffed out the cramp potion and kept going back and forth between me and the cramp potion until I put more on him. The humans that have tried it have said it's a miracle worker.

Cramp potion with comfrey ingredients: all natural beeswax, extra virgin olive oil OR coconut oil(please specify which or I will pick), comfrey leaf, geranium*, lemongrass*, basil*, clarey sage*, frankincense*, peppermint*, ylang ylang*

* essential oils

MORPHINE BOMB:

 6d marjoram 

6d frankincense 

for extra strength add 6drops lemongrass 

To be taken in a veggie capsule. I also take that mixture in a rollerball, filling remaining space with FCO and apply to ouchy area and drive in with moist heat. Can also be applied to bottoms of feet. Can also be diffused. Or add a few drops to a bath.
Be sure to wear socks if you put oils on the bottoms of your feet. 
Here's the link for the rollerball bottles and veggie capsules.

YOU CAN ONLY TAKE A MAXIMUM OF 25 DROPS OF OILS ORALLY A DAY

Comfrey compress

(Discovered November 2015)

1 cup boiling water
1 tablespoon dried comfrey

Bring water to boil then shut  off heat. Add the dried comfrey to the boiling water and let cool and steep for 20 min. Strain mixture through a cloth(discard the strained out bits). Take resulting tea and wet a washcloth. Take the damp washcloth and place on belly and add heating pad over the top. I like to to sandwich a piece of saran wrap between the wet washcloth and my heating pad just to keep everything clean.

Also I've found that comfrey has been a huge pain reliever(kept me out of the ER a few times). It has worked faster and better for me then most of my oral pain meds. I happen to have a very local source(Sam's family grows it and they're so generous to give me some that I then dry). But here's a link to buy dried comfrey. 

CASTOR OIL PACKS 

Castor oil(make sure it says it can be taken orally 

but NEVER take it unless you have a death wish) 

Scrap fabric

Simply saturate the cloth in castor oil and drive in with moist heat for 45min. Don't use if you're actively bleeding(meaning vaginally).

I also use castor oil packs. They help with the pain and make the swelling go down! :) They have also been proven to dissolve adhesions. 

Basil

(Discovered summer 2015)
Depending on how your pain feels basil may also be a big lifesaver for you. Basil is a very strong antispasmodic which helps the cramps. As does rosemary and thyme(so they can be added as well). Most of my pain seems to be my muscles freaking out. Just a few drops of the essential oil on the ouchy area and drive in with moist heat. You can also add a few drops to a morphine bomb or a bath. If you don't have the essential oil you can make a basil infused coconut oil or basil infused olive oil as a substitute. It won't be a potent as an essential oil just because it isn't as concentrated. Here's a YouTube tutorial on infusing herbs into olive oil. 

Supplements

As far as supplements I've taken quite a few since my pain has started, here some of my favorites. For several months now I've been taking omega 3's  which seem to really reduce my pain and inflammation when taken daily. When I've missed days for various reasons especially several days in a row I notice a  big difference in my pain levels. I also take turmeric daily( I take 500mg but my dad takes 1000mg, you just kind of have to play with the dosing until you have it right for your body.  Make sure its a good qaulity one with at least 90% curcuminoids (that's what helps the pain). Within the last month(October 2015) or so I've started taking ashwaganda 1000mg daily. Again I notice a big difference in my pain if I miss doses. All of these I just take at night with my other meds, they can be taken any time that's just when I was already taking something so I just added these then to. Occasionally I also take a magnesium drink to help with muscle spasms, relaxation and constipation from those wonderful pain meds.

Oh! I also only drink lemon water. I just add a drop of Lemon essential oil to my water, sliced lemon will do to. Lemon reduces inflammation and is a great detox-er.

MOODS 

KILL THE WITCH

18 drops of Serenity
18 drops of Lavender
18 drops of Balance
18 drops of Citrus Bliss
4 drops of Wild Orange

Combine in rollerball bottle, fill remaining space with FCO(fractionated coconut oil) apply to back of neck and bones behind ears. Can also be diffused. Or add a few drops to a bath :)

 

This is just an all around great one for moods. Whether you're anxious, irritable, weepy or just blah this has always seemed to help me.

Calms forte also helps with moods, it also shuts my brain off so I can sleep. You can get it here.

 

Hope this was helpful :)

 

UPDATE 8/31/15: I have now found that using basil on my belly helps a TON. Basil is a very strong antispasmodic which helps the cramps. Most of my pain seems to be my muscles freaking out. Just a few drops on the ouchy area and drive in with moist heat. You can also add a few drops to a morphine bomb. Also Epsom salt in a bath helps the spasms and just generally helps you relax. I also like to add oils into my bath, my body absorbs it faster. Depending on what's going on determines whats oils I use. I also take turmeric daily. I take 500mg. Make sure its a good qaulity one with at least 90% curcuminoids (that's what helps the pain). My Dr. has also asked me to do an elimination diet. Meaning no corn, soy, diary, eggs, shellfish, white sugar(meaning only natural sugars like molasses, agave and honey. The natural sugar in fruit is okay), beef, pork, gluten, processed meats and peanut butter. You follow this diet strictly for 3wks then you get to add foods back in, one at a time at least 3 days between challenges(I like to do a week between). If any symptoms occur then take that food back out of your diet and wait till all symptoms are gone to challenge the next food. So far I've found out that corn makes my pain just awful. Milk made my skin dry but nothing I can't manage. Eggs and gluten seems to be fine. The same Dr. also took me of the synthetic progesterone and put me on compounded progesterone 25mg, 2wks on then 2wks off to hopefully help regulate my cycle. I have noticed a big difference since starting the progesterone. I think that's all the changes for now. The situation with my pain has changed a bit though. Here's the news.