by Anonymous
(Canada)
QUESTION:
Does lemon juice in water help with getting rid of endometriosis? My daughter has had surgery, has tried acupuncture, and is now seeing a naturopath. Nothing seems to be getting rid of it.
ANSWER:
Drinking lemon water will help with many of the side effect of endometriosis, such as nausea, indigestion, irritable bowel, constipation, diarrhea, allergy symptoms, and so forth.
Lemon water can also help to combat infections (such as urinary tract infections) and will help to reduce inflammation, the source of most pain in the body.
Lemon water is also highly effective at cleansing and supporting the liver. Since the liver regulates and helps remove estrogen from the body, if liver function is compromised, this can certainly contribute to and/or exacerbate endometriosis.
Many women with endometriosis also suffer with allergies and hay fever symptoms. Drinking warm lemon water can help to remove the excess mucus and reduce these symptoms as well.
The bottom line is that all of the benefits of drinking lemon water will help with endometriosis. However, it is not likely that drinking lemon water alone is going to get rid of endometriosis. It is a complex issue and warrants a little more explanation.
What Is Endometriosis?
According to Prescription for Nutritional Healing, “Endometriosis is the abnormal growth of cells that form in the lining of the uterus. Some of these cells may, instead of being expelled from the body during the menstrual process, actually end up continuing their cycle elsewhere in the body. They then have no way of leaving the body, so the material builds up and may attach itself to other organs in the lower abdomen, such as the ovaries or bowel.”
What Causes Endometriosis?
No one knows for sure what causes endometriosis, but several theories have been proposed. I won’t go into all the theories here (you can do a simple Google search to find them), but two of the theories make the most sense to me and are controllable factors.
The two most probable causes of endometriosis in my mind are: (1) an autoimmune disorder related to diet and other lifestyle factors and (2) environmental toxins.
Cause 1: Autoimmune Disorder
Many health professionals believe that autoimmune diseases are caused by a genetic disposition that is triggered by diet (such as possible food allergies), lifestyle, and other environmental factors. The human immune system is highly complex and interactive with every other system in the body, but most especially the digestive system and the nervous system.
For this reason, I recommend seeking a wholistic approach that incorporates all aspects of wellness, including diet and exercise, body cleansing, stress management, sleep management, positive attitude, as well as spiritual/personal wellness.
Thus, I encourage your daughter to find a Certified Nutrition Consultant or Holistic Health Practitioner who can help create an individualized program for her, preferably sooner than later.
Cause 2: Environmental Toxins
Considerable research has shown that women’s exposure to certain environmental toxins, especially PCBs, DDT, and Dioxin, can cause spontaneous endometriosis.
Dioxins are chlorinated hydrocarbons and can be found in feminine hygiene products as a by-product of the bleaching process. Pesticides and other hazardous waste materials are another source of dioxins.
People with endometriosis (and everyone else for that matter) need to be keenly aware of another group of environmental toxins known as Xenoestrogens as well as Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals, which wreak havoc on the immune system. These are chemicals and compounds found in our food, water, and personal care products that cause numerous imbalances in the body.
Summary
Drinking lemon water will help to minimize symptoms of endometriosis, but a comprehensive healing program will most likely be needed to effectively manage and even potentially reverse the condition.
The physical healing process comes down to two essential factors: (1) getting high-quality nutrients into the body and (2) getting the toxins out. And I highly recommend filtered drinking water rather than bottled or tap, both of which contain numerous contaminants.
Further Reading . . .
5 Ways to Improve Digestion - Immunity Begins in Your G.I. Tract
Five Ways to Reduce Your Exposure to Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals
Reference
Prescription for Nutritional Healing; Phyllis A. Balch, CNC; 2006.
Return from Lemon Water Helps Endometriosis to Benefits of Drinking Lemon Water
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