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Endometriosis Research Fall Newsletter Home

Yoga

For now get started with this:  DAHN HAK YOGA
it will change your life for the better.


  1. Most yoga focuses on the physical and is more complicated. Dahn Yoga® is a unique type of yoga that features simple exercises for the conditioning of the body and mind, starting with the core, that is suitable for people of all body types and ages.
  2. With over 30 years in the yoga business, Dahn Yoga® has nearly 1,000 centers worldwide with over 2,000 employees. Besides the U.S., Dahn Yoga® is located in South Korea, Japan, Canada, U.K., Germany, Russia, Sweden, Brazil, and South Africa.
  3. Over the past 30 years, Dahn Yoga® has positively impacted the lives of millions of people in schools, community centers, camps, parks, businesses and governments worldwide. 
Dahn Hak Yoga















Treatment

Treatment:

Treatment depends on the following factors:
  • Age
  • Severity of symptoms
  • Severity of disease
  • Whether you want children in the future
Painkillers may be prescribed to relieve cramping and pain.

Treatment 1: Hormone treatment may involve stopping the menstrual cycle and creating a state resembling pregnancy. This is called pseudopregnancy. It can help prevent the disease from getting worse. It's done using birth control pills containing estrogen and progesterone.
  1. Take the medicine continuously for 6 to 9 months before stopping the medicine for a week to have a period. 
  2. This does not prevent scarring from the disease. 
  3. It also does not reverse any physical changes that have already occurred. 
  4. Side effects include spotting of blood, breast tenderness, nausea, and other hormonal side effects.
  5. Side effects may be bothersome and include depression, weight gain, and spotting of blood.
  6. Some women may be prescribed medicines that stop the ovaries from producing estrogen. These medicines are called gonadotropin agonist drugs and include nafarelin acetate (Synarel) and Depo Lupron. 
  7. Potential side effects include menopausal symptoms such as hot flashes, vaginal dryness, mood changes, and early loss of calcium from the bones. 
  8. Because of the bone density loss, this type of treatment is usually limited to 6 months. In some cases, it may be extended up to 1 year if small doses of estrogen and progesterone are slowly given to reduce the bone weakening side effects.
Treatment 2:  Surgery (either laparoscopy or laparotomy) is done to diagnose endometriosis. At the same time, a surgeon can do conservative surgery to treat areas of endometriosis. The goal of surgery is to remove or destroy all of endometriosis-related tissue and adhesions, and restore the pelvic area to as close to normal as possible. Rarely, nerve removal (neurectomy) may be done to relieve the pain.
Women with severe symptoms or disease who do not want children in the future may surgery to remove the uterus ( hysterectomy), both ovaries, both fallopian tubes, and any remaining scar tissue or implants. Hormonal replacement therapy may be needed after removal of the ovaries.

Treatment 3:  "Act Naturally" and reverse the process.  This solution has been tested by a few known sufferers and has provided some really great results successfully eliminating their endometriosis after 4 years of living a consistent natual life.   The idea is to get your mind, body and spirit back to healthy by getting rid of all of the things that may have contributed to your pain.

"Act Naturally" by selecting naturally grown foods, understanding what supplements you need, products with all natural items, finding the balance in your routine, regular fitness training, massage, accupuncture, chiropractic, water, colon cleanse, enemas, detox programs, clean out your life to simplify stressors, meditation, reading, working at a job that gives back to you, and identifying what relationships are helping you and hurting you.  With this treatment it will vary with each person, and is generally formulated by your own intuitions.  You want to dig deep and discover YOU.  What you truly want from life.  Your mind, body and spirit always knows what will be good for you, trust your instincts.  More information on how to explore this can be found under "Act Naturally".

Prevention:
It is unknown what the exact cause is and therefore hard to say what will help, here are some options:
  1. Hormone treatments may help to prevent or slow down the development of the disease.  
  2. Removing the endometriosis may offer temporary relief, however, the cells can still develop if you decide to keep your ovaries or ovary.
  3. Act Naturally...change the environment your body is currently living in, from the inside out.  
  • Identify what calms you... (meditation, yoga, journaling, running, swimming, working out, hobbies, etc)
  • How much of your day do you give back to yourself?
  • How much of your day goes to the service of others?
  • Simplify
  • Clean out your closet
  • Put your files in order
  • Take inventory of the foods you eat, supplements and other products that you use as a topical on your skin.  
  • Play with children and animals, remember what it was like to be a child
  • Laugh, laugh, laugh
  • Recycle your energy -  how does what we consume effect everyone in the process of it's creation, what does it take from the Earth? 
  • What can we do to give back to it?  How can we learn to become self sufficient?
  • Journal your thoughts, your conversations can be the most fulfilling


Endometriosis Causes

Exploring Causes of Endometriosis:

Each month a woman's ovaries produce hormones that stimulate the cells of the uterine lining (endometrium) to multiply and prepare for a fertilized egg. The lining swells and gets thicker.
If these cells, called endometrial cells, implant and grow outside the uterus, endometriosis results. Unlike cells normally found in the uterus that fall off during menstruation, the ones outside the uterus stay in place. They sometimes bleed a little bit, but they heal and are stimulated again during the next cycle.

This ongoing process leads to symptoms of endometriosis (pain) and can cause scarring and adhesions of the tubes, ovaries, and surrounding structures in the pelvis.

The cause of endometriosis is unknown, but there are a number of theories. One suggests that the endometrial cells (loosened during menstruation) may "back up" through the fallopian tubes into the pelvis, where they implant and grow in the pelvic or abdominal cavities. This is called retrograde-menstruation.

Other theories include:
  • A faulty immune system causes menstrual tissue to implant and grow in areas other than the uterine lining
  • Cells lining the abdominal cavity may develop endometriosis
  • Genetic influence
  • Environmental
Endometriosis is a common problem. Although endometriosis is typically diagnosed between the ages of 25 and 35, the condition probably begins about the time that regular menstruation begins.

A woman who has a mother or sister with endometriosis is six times more likely to develop endometriosis than the general population. Other possible risk factors include:
  • Starting menstruation at an early age
  • Frequent menstrual cycles
  • Periods that last 7 or more days
Sufferers may also suffer from the following:

Hypoglycemic
Migraines
Allergies to foods (dairy/gluten)
Allergies to pollen, dust, and perfume
Knee issue
Back/Neck issues

TOOTHPASTE GOOD & BAD

GOOD CHOICE: 5Star Rating

 

 

 

 

 

  

What Is Toothpaste?


Nearly all toothpaste contains chemicals which are toxic when swallowed, and most must be spat out after use. It can be a paste or gel which is normally applied with a toothbrush to clean and preserve the health of teeth and gums.

Used to promote oral hygiene, toothpaste can help remove dental plaque and food from the teeth, aid in the elimination and/or covering of halitosis and deliver active ingredients such as fluoride or xylitol assist in the prevention of tooth and gum disease (gingivitis).

The use of Toothpaste is encouraged after each meal, but how much do you really know about what potentially dangerous chemicals are in it? Did you know that there are brands that are made from all natural ingredients?

A Quick History Of Toothpaste 

Thousands of years ago toothpaste recipes included such things as crushed bones, oyster shells and even human urine. Some tooth powders, popular in the 19th century, were made with chalk, pulverized brick, or salt.

Today Fluoride, in various forms, is the most popular active ingredient in toothpaste to prevent cavities. Despite being approved as an ingredient of toothpastes in the 1950's by the American Dental Association (ADA), it's use remains controversial.

Other possibly controversial ingredients include powered white mica, sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS), and triclosan.

-- Toothpaste on Wikipedia

TODAY....

It amazes me what we are expected to use on a daily basis. From food and personal hygiene to household cleaners and lawn care, there are toxins surrounding us. Once you know what they are, and what they can do to you, you may find yourself looking for more natural products, too.


Some research found on today's regular toothpaste:
Sodium Lauryl Sulphate is commonly found in toothpastes, bubble bath, shampoos and soaps. Its used as a thickener and foaming agent, but has also been found to be a skin irritant.

Shampooing your hair with a shampoo containg SLS can put as many nitrates into your body as if you ate a pound of bacon! Sodium Lauryl Sulphate is also used as a wetting agent in garage floor cleaners and engine degreasers.

Sodium Laureth Sulphate is a higher foaming version of SLS and may be less irritating, however it may cause drying. Like Sodium Lauryl Sulphate it may cause the potentially carcinogenic formation of nitrates on reacting with other product ingredients.


- This Article Will Shock You If You Use Toothpaste

But it is not just in bubble bath that one finds chemicals harmful to the skin. They are also in toothpaste, shampoo, shaving creme and cleansers. In trying to find products that do not contain these harmful chemicals I visited supermarkets, chemists and health food shops. Surprisingly almost all cleansers include either sodium laureth sulphate or sodium lauryl sulphate, including the own brands of a well known health food shop and a certain wannabe ecologically friendly high street store. However, it is possible to find alternatives, you just need to check the ingredients label carefully. It is worth trying an alternative if you suffer from eczema, as I do, rather than simply washing in something which strips the skin and then using vegetable oil in the form of glycerine to moisturize it, or thinking that it is caused by some other pathological disorder. 
- Hidden Dangers in Cosmetics

A chemical called triclosan poses a health risk, as it is a toxic compound which can promote cancer. The most shocking thing is that triclosan is commonly found in everyday consumer goods such as antibacterial soaps, deodorants, body washes, creams, lotions, cosmetics, cleaning supplies, detergents, dishwashing liquids, and yes, mouthwash and toothpaste.

- Toxic chemical triclosan commonly found in anti-bacterial soaps, toothpaste products

Regardless of derivation, these man-made detergents pass through the skin and mucous membranes and bio-accumulate in fatty tissue to levels that can cause cellular malfunction and disease. And toothpaste is especially important because the mucous membranes in your mouth are very permeable. So, if you expose yourself to toxic toothpaste several times a day, you subject yourself to a lot of toxins.
- The Dirty Facts about Cleaning your Pearly Whites

What the commercials don't say is that fluoride was known in the early 1900s as an excellent rat poison. According to Robert Carleton, former scientist with the EPA, fluoride is more toxic than lead, and not quite as toxic as arsenic. It's a waste product of many heavy industries-derived from the production of pesticides, fertilizers, aluminum, iron, steel, copper, lead, uranium, brick, cement and glass, among others....

....As it turns out, too much toothpaste may not be good for your health. Concerned that too many young children were swallowing toothpaste, the Food and Drug Administration, beginning in April 1997, required the following warning to appear on tubes of fluoridated toothpaste: "Use only a pea sized amount and supervise child's brushing and rinsing (to minimize swallowing)." Parents also are warned to keep the toothpaste "out of the reach of children under 6," and to "seek professional help or contact a poison center immediately" if more than is used for brushing is accidentally swallowed.

The FDA's decision also was spurred by the growing number of cases of dental fluorosis-an unsightly and permanent discoloration of the teeth. The Wall Street Journal reports that 22 percent of American children now have the condition, which occurs in young children under six who have consumed too much fluoride.

- Fluoride: Wonder drug or super poison?

Fluoride
May contain lead, mercury, cadmium and arsenic. Accumulates in body and contributes to bone disease. Carcinogenic. Found in toothpastes.

Formaldehyde
Suspected carcinogen and neurotoxin, it may be fatal if swallowed, absorbed through skin, inhaled or swallowed. Can cause spasms, edema, chemical pneumonitis and is extremely destructive to tissue of the mucous membrane, this chemical is found in many nail care products. Known to cause cancers in humans and experimental animals. Found in baby shampoo, bubble bath, deodorants, perfume, cologne, hair dye, mouthwash, toothpaste, hair spray, nail polish.


- List of the More Widely Known Dangerous Ingredients in Body & Food Products















 

 

 



 

 

 

After reading these articles and doing some more research, I cannot buy regular toothpaste ever again, just imagine putting those ingredients into your body everyday for the duration of your life, it's no wonder more of us are reporting disease.   I've switched our family to Jason's. Jason's toothpaste is awesome.  We use the spearmint.  This toothpaste is better than the mass market brand hands down.   Organic ingredients, Minty, fresh, clean, long lasting, not too mention the tube doesn't run out quickly.  Try it! 


More about Jason's toothpaste:

Description
Exclusive Natural Whiteners!
Bacteria-Blaster Promotes Healthy Gums!
Long Lasting Breath Freshener Power up your smile with PowerSmile™ all-natural whitening toothpaste. Get whiter, brighter teeth without chemicals or harsh abrasives. Three natural whitening polishers; Bamboo powder, Calcium Carbonate and Silica help prevent plaque build-up and are more gentle on your teeth than other whitening ingredients.

Anti-bacterial Grapefruit Seed Extract and Perilla Seed Extract help block sugar acids and bacteria forming in your mouth. Certified Organic Aloe Vera Gel helps soothe and relieve gums from irritation. Essential oils of mint bring peppermint to the max!

JASON provides choices for the natural shopper, fluoride and non-fluoride, great-tasting, preventative oral care for a bright smile, healthy mouth and fresh breath that lasts and lasts.

Dear Friends of Nature,
Did you know that there is a strong link between oral health and general health? Bacteria in the mouth can create infections in the body.

"Saving Smiles" is the JASON goal. To do this, the JASON R&D Lab investigated and incorporated the most effective and powerful pharmacological-grade botanical ingredients proven to help blast bacteria with an exclusive ingredient, Perilla Seed, known for its power to help block sugar acids, glucose, sucrose, S. mutans, from bonding with minerals in your saliva that form tartar on your teeth.

JASON continuously looks for new ways to serve your modern needs. Oral Hygiene is one such area. They fear the dangers of overly-aggressive cosmetic whitening. They see too many natural toothpaste customers turned off by 20 years of unlikeable taste. JASON toothpastes live up to their credo of Pure, Natural & Organic and must pass the same stringent quality testing as all of our products.

JASON continues to be committed to products without additives, preservatives or synthetic sweeteners. And they deliver award-winning great taste! Experience the JASON difference.


Ingredients:Calcium Carbonate - Purified Mineral - Natural Whitening Polisher
Glycerin (vege) - Vegetable - Humectant
Aqua (Purified Spring Water) - Natural Spring - Base
Sodium Cocoyl Glutamate - Mineral - Acid Neutralizer
Carrageenan - Seaweed - Thickener
Aloe Barbadensis (Aloe Vera) Leaf Gel¹ - Tropical Healing Plant - Gum Soothing
Sodium Bicarbonate - Mineral - Acid Neutralizer
Bambusa Arundinacea (Bamboo) Powder - Bamboo - Natural Whitening Polisher
Stevioside² - Plant - Flavor
Perilla Frutescens Japanica (Perilla) Seed Extract - Mt. Fuji (Japan) Tree - Sugar-Acid Blocker
Carum Petroselinum (Parsley) Extract - Plant - Breath Freshener
Silica - Mineral - Natural Whitening Polisher
Citrus Grandis (Grapefruit) Seed Extract - California Fruit - Gum Health
Mentha Piperita (Peppermint)² - Natural Leaf - Breath Freshening

¹ Certified Organic
² Natural Flavor

Free Of
Fluoride, Saccharin, Preservatives, Artificial Colors or Flavors, Animal By-Products, Lauryl Sulfates, Propylene Glycol

Directions
Adults and children 2 years of age and older: brush teeth thoroughly, preferably after each meal or at least twice a day, or as directed by a dentist or physician. Instruct children under 6 years of age in good brushing and rinsing habits (to minimize swallowing). Supervise children as necessary until capable of using without supervision. Children under 2 years of age: consult a dentist or physician.

Warnings
Keep out of the reach of children under 6 years of age. If you accidentally swallow more than used for brushing, get medical help or contact a Poison Control Center right away.

Disclaimer
Statements contained herein have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat and cure or prevent disease. Always consult with your professional health care provider before changing any medication.


Toxic Causes

E N D O M E T R I O S I S  and  D I O X I N S

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) stated in its Draft Dioxin Reassessment (1994) that the “general population’s current body burdens and exposures of dioxin are already at levels which affect our health.” One of the health effects EPA specifically identified was “a higher probability of experiencing endometriosis and the reduced ability to withstand an immunological challenge.” Incidence Is Rising Dramatically. Doctors have puzzled over why incidence of endometriosis, which was considered relatively rare even in the early 1980s, has been skyrocketing. Affecting at least 7.5 million women and girls in the United States and Canada, it afflicts millions more worldwide. Endometriosis is a disease of the endocrine and immune systems in which tissue similar to the endometrial tissue of the uterus occurs abnormally in other areas of the abdomen.2 Infertility afflicts 30% to 40% of women with endometriosis and is very common with progression of the disease.3 Advances in diagnosis and reporting do not explain the current epidemic rates of endometriosis. Greater awareness fails to explain documented increased rates of hysterectomies due to endometriosis, most notably in teenage girls.  According to data from the U.S. National Center for Health Statistics, and analysis by Dr. Gary Berger (Medical Director, Chapel Hill Fertility Center), hysterectomies for endometriosis increased 250% for young women between the ages of 15-24 and 186% between the ages of 25-34 during 1965 to 1984.4 Earlier age of onset, increasing severity  Results of a 1998 study by the Endometriosis Association, presented at the VI World Congress on Endometriosis, provided startling data about the disease.5 Mary Lou Ballweg, Association President, and Bob Fichtner, statistician, analyzed data on 4000 North American women with diagnosed endometriosis. On average it took 9.28 years for women to receive a correct diagnosis of endometriosis. The study also revealed that the earlier the onset of symptoms, the greater the length of time before diagnosis, and the wider the variety of symptoms young women experienced. Those with symptoms as teenagers were more likely to suffer disability from the disease—a significant fact, considering that 66% reported havinginitial symptoms before age twenty.  The data suggest that more girls may be experiencing more severesymptoms at younger ages. There is growing concern that hormonally active chemicals, such as dioxins and other chemicals that mimic hormones or cause other dysfunctions in the endocrine and immune systems, are accelerating the onset of puberty.  According to a recent study in the Journal of Pediatrics, girls in the United States are reaching puberty earlier than ever. Nearly half of African American girls and 15% of Caucasian girls are beginning to develop sexually at the age of eight. Development of breasts and pubic hair were two of the characteristics occurring at significantly younger ages than previously.6  The authors of the study called for more investigation into whether hormonally active chemicals (which are more prevalent in communities of color7) are responsible for these findings. 

Greater range of symptoms
A far more complex and sophisticated understanding of the disease has developed in recent years, including the recognition of a range of symptoms associated with endometriosis (see chart).

Symptomatology of Endometriosis
% of total
Dysmenorrhea and/or pain throughout cycle ____95
Fatigue, exhaustion, low energy ______________87
Diarrhea, painful bowel movements,
or other intestinal upsets w/menses  __________83
Abdominal bloating _______________________84
Heavy or irregular periods _________________65
Dyspareunia (painful sexual intercourse) _______64
Nausea, stomach upset at time of menses ______64
Dizziness, headaches w/menses or pain  ________63
Low resistance to infections ________________43
Infertility ______________________________41
Low-grade fever _________________________32
No symptoms __________________________ 1
(Based on 4000 case histories in the Research
Registry of the Endometriosis Association)

What Are Dioxins?
According to the EPA, dioxins are the most potent synthetic carcinogens yet tested.8 Dioxins are a class of chemicals with similar properties; these include the parent compound—2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD)—and certain types of chlorinated dibenzodioxins, dibenzofurans, andpolychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). Whereas PCBs are man-made (and act like dioxin in the body andbioaccumulate), dioxins are an accidental byproduct of a multitude of industrial processes in which chlorine is present, such as municipal and medical waste incineration, chemical and  plastics manufacturing, pesticide and herbicide production, and pulp/paper bleaching.9 Major sources of exposure Once created, dioxins concentrate dramatically in the food chain. Dioxins contaminate beef, fish, poultry, and dairy products.  Animals consume pesticide- and herbicide-laden food, and humansconsume animals and fish, our primary exposure to dioxin.1 Dioxins are measured in fish at levels up to a million times greater than those found in the surrounding water. The remainder of human exposure occurs from contaminated air, water, and bleached paper products. 

Menstrual hygiene products and exposure?
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (USFDA), tampons and sanitary pads made of rayon or bleached cotton contain low levels of dioxins.10 The USFDA allays concern about chemicals in these products by asserting that levels at parts per trillion are so low that risk is minimal.10 EPA tests, however, assert that dioxin levels once thought acceptably low, adversely affect the reproductive and immune systems.8,11   Tampon safety legislation, introduced in Congress in January 2003 (H.R. 373, Carolyn B. Maloney, 14th District, New York) would direct the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to research health risks to women—including endometriosis and cancers of the breast, ovaries, and cervix—from the presence of dioxin, synthetic fibers, and other additives in feminine products.12,13 Until research addresses the risks, health experts recommend unbleached, organic cotton sanitary pads and tampons (without plastic applicators).14  Bioaccumulation in the body In the process of bioaccumulation, dioxin, even in very low doses, builds up in the body over time, as it concentrates in fatty tissues.  Dioxin also biomagnifies through the food chain as higher organisms consume plants and small animals.2  According to the EPA, the half-life of TCDD in the body (the time to rid the body of half of the amount of bioaccumulated dioxin) is about seven years, while the half-life of PCBs is variable.2 ,15,16   In general, our body burden of dioxins increases as we get older. The time of exposure to TCDD during our lives may also affect our body burden of dioxin as adults.  A recent study (Seveso, Italy) showed that girls younger than age 10, who were exposed to dioxin, retained higher levels of dioxin later as adults, as compared to women not exposed until teen or adult years.17  Studies have shown that humans and wildlife are exposed to a myriad of dioxin chemicals. How do we determine our total exposure to dioxins? The toxicity of individual dioxin-like chemicals is assessed using a toxic equivalency “19It is possible for a woman to “excrete half of her accumulated amount of dioxin during
lactation.” approach. Based on all available studies, chemicals that are dioxin-like are assigned a relative potency factor that expresses their toxicity in relation to that of TCDD.  The total toxic TCDD equivalency quotient (TEQ) is the sum of the amount of each chemical present in a biological sample, times its individual TEF.  Thus, the total body burden of dioxins present in our blood is measured as total serum TEQ. It is important to consider the total TEQ of dioxins in assessing the health risk of exposure, rather than TCDD alone. In the general population, TCDD contributes approximately 15% of the body burden of dioxins, while dibenzodioxins, dibenzofurans, and PCBs constitute about 85% of the dioxin body burden.18 Gynecologists and other physicians are already aware of the effects of prenatal exposure to hormones, such as the synthetic estrogen, diethylstilbestrol (DES), and that the prenatal and neonatal stages are critical times of development and sensitivity to toxic chemicals. A multi-generational effect of embryonic exposure to dioxin has now been shown in an animal model of endometriosis.59 It is possible for a woman to “excrete half of her accumulated amount of dioxin during lactation.”19  Dioxins have been found in breast milk worldwide—the highest concentrations in industrialized countries.20  Behavior of dioxins in the body Dioxins interfere with the cell’s gene processes.  Entering a cell, dioxins bind to the aryl hydrocarbon receptor protein, or AhR, which is present in many parts of the body including liver, lungs, lymphocytes, and placenta.21 Once bound to the AhR, dioxins can move freely inside the cell, and when binding to DNA inside the nucleus, they are able to switch genes on and off.21,22  The genes targeted by dioxins influence hormone metabolism and growth factors, and thus affect reproduction, endocrine, and immune functions.9,22

Dioxin Exposure and Endometriosis
A 1992 study analyzed rhesus monkeys exposed for four years to 5 ppt and 25 ppt of TCDD, the most toxic form of dioxin. 23  Association researchers concluded that “the incidence of endometriosiswas directly correlated with dioxin exposure and the severity of disease was dependent upon the dose administered.”23  This study demonstrated that “chronic exposure to the chemical toxin dioxin is directly correlated with an increased incidence in the development of endometriosis in rhesus monkeys.”23  

In addition to these findings, the dioxin-exposed monkeys showed immune abnormalities and altered GI microflora similar to those observed in women with endometriosis. 61

Dioxins adversely affect production of cytokines known to participate in the regulation of uterine physiology.22,24,25,26,27,28,63 Dioxins “turn on” genes that promote inflammation and disrupt normal growth processes that may lead to the development and progression of endometriosis.51,64  Uterine endometrium and endometriotic lesions express the genes for the AhR, and studies suggest that these tissues are targets for dioxin action.  A recent report demonstrates that exposure of endometrium and endometriosis tissues to a combination of 17ß-E 2 and TCDD increases the expression of growth factors and receptors involved in allergic inflammation (I-309-CCR8). 62 An excellent review of dioxin’s inflammatory properties ties together many of the steps from exposure (which may be embryonic) to full-blown endometriosis. 65 Dioxins also modulate various hormone receptor systems that play a role in uterine function. 23,29,30  Research utilizing a rodent model further supports the 1992 findings, by demonstrating that “administration of TCDD to rats and mice also resulted in the promotion of the growth of endometriotic sites.”31 The rats demonstrated endocrine dysfunction and subtle tissue changes, while the mice responded with growth of endometriotic tissue.31,33   Studies using mice also found that dioxins act as a disruptor of progesterone action, by blocking the ability of progesterone to prevent ectopic human tissue lesions in mice and by altering the expression of progesterone receptors during gestational development.33,59 Further, dioxin can disrupt ovarian synthesis of progesterone and inhibit the steroid regulation of endometrial matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) expression, specifically TGF-B2.33, 34 Progesterone-induced expression of TGF-B2 is also critical to maintain an appropriate endometrial environment for pregnancy.33 Primate studies indicate that TCDD exposure increases spontaneous abortion,36 a uterine event that may be linked to endometriosis.35 Recent work demonstrates that dioxin exposure of human endometrial cells results in reduced expression of progesterone receptor-B and increased MMP expression similiar to endometrial tissues from women with endometriosis.37 Progesterone can prevent or minimize endometriosis whereas MMP expression is critical to the establishment of endometrial lesions. 33 Thus, alterations in the ability of endometrium to respond to progesterone and the aberrent expression of MMPs induced by dioxins could mediate the establishment of endometrial lesions. In addition, a 2001 study of the monkey colony demonstrated both elevated-serum TCDD andelevated serum triglycerides in the monkeys exposed to dioxin.38  

What Are PCBs?
Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) are mixtures of up to 209 individual chlorinated compounds. 39 Because they do not burn easily and are good insulators, PCBs appeared in 1929 as coolants and lubricants in transformers, capacitors, and other electrical equipment, rather than occurring in nature (or being produced accidentally, as in the case of dioxins).39  The United States banned the manufacture of PCBs in 1977, but they are still found in the environment, and we need to identify an appropriate means of disposing of or destroying them.

As in the case of dioxins, PCBs do not break down easily in the environment; they are complex chlorinated chemicals, and they bioaccumulate and biomagnify in the food chain. Rachel Carson helped expose the health effects of PCBs in her published observations of birds that revealed thinning eggshells and other reproductive problems.40  The list of health problems linked to PCBs mirrors that of dioxins. PCBs are known to modulate or disrupt the activity of certain steroid and sex hormones, including estradiol, vitamin A (retinoic acid), and thyroid hormones.41,42 The estrogenic activity of certain PCBs has also been observed in animal studies.43 PCBs and endometriosis Similar to the general human population and wildlife, TCDD-treated and control animals were exposed to a mixture of PCBs via their diet or other environmental sources.38 Studies have shown that PCBs are known to modulate or disrupt the activity of certain steroid and sex hormones, including estradiol, vitamin A (retinoic acid), and thyroid hormones.41, 42 the same toxic, dioxin-like PCBs found in TCDD-exposed animals with endometriosis are present in wildlife and humans worldwide.44 Studies have also documented development of endometriosis and increased severity in rhesusmonkeys following exposure to PCBs45,46 and certain types of radiation.46,47,48 A recent analysis of the original monkey colony exposed to dioxins revealed a surprising finding.  The monkey chow that the group of exposed animals consumed was contaminated with TCDD, as part of the experiment; however, the monkey chow itself was contaminated, inadvertently, with PCBs, likely as a component of the fish meal in the chow. 38 This is similar to fish that humans consume, which often contain PCBs.  Thus, the animals in both the control group and the study group were exposed to PCBs unintentionally (PCB levels were 1,961 PPQ—parts per quadrillion—exposed group; 147 PPQ unexposed group), and this is similar to human populations.38,49,50 Changes in immune status of dioxin-treated animals correlated with elevated serum concentrations of dioxin (TCDD) and certain PCBs.38  The animals with high serum levels of certain PCBs also had more endometriosis and the severity of the disease correlated with the serum level of certain PCBs.38 These findings suggest that PCB exposure may be involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis in the rhesus monkeys, and increased serum TEQ may play a role in the pathogenesis of endometriosis.38    These findings suggest a relationship between exposure to dioxins and PCBs, severe endometriosis, and altered immune responses.51, 60 Early small hospital-based studies on exposure to dioxins and endometriosis in human populations were inconclusive. However, recent work has shown that serum levels of dioxins are increased in women with peritoneal endometriosis and deep endometriotic lesions compared to fertile women without disease. 52 Moreover, increased serum levels of dioxin-like PCB congeners, combined with elevated levels of non-dioxin-like PCBs, were detected in Italian women with endometriosis. 53 Thus, recenthuman studies indicate that environmental dioxins, including PCBs, play arole in the pathophysiology of endometriosis. The accumulated evidence discussed here supports the hypothesis that “exposure to dioxins (particularly TCDD) and certain PCBs promotes endometriosis via stimulation of chronic inflammation potentially leading to enhanced estrogen synthesis and disruption of progesterone-dependent remodeling responses that normally limit the development of endometriosis.”51,65 

Endometriosis and Cancer
In 1996, a major study revealed that women with endometriosis have a greater risk of developing breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and non- Hodgkin’s lymphoma. The study also showed that endometriosis elevated the overall cancer risk by 20%.54 Studies at Harvard raised the specter of increased melanoma as well.55 An excellent review of the studies on endometriosis and cancer finds compelling evidence for increased malignant potential in endometriosis, including deadly ovarian cancer arising from endometriomas. Other cancers found to be risks for women with endo are endocrine, kidney, thyroid, brain, breast and colon cancers, and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and melanoma. 66
 
A study utilizing the Endometriosis Association research registry also confirmed the risk of cancer for women with endometriosis. In addition, increased risk of cancer in the families of women with endometriosis was discovered. 5,57 The new data show that women with endometriosis and their families have a heightened risk of numerous cancers. 54-57 Moreover, the mean age of some of the cancers was The new data show that women with endometriosis (and their families) have a heightened risk of numerous  cancers.  much younger in this population. Mean age of ovarian cancer diagnosis was 34 in women with endometriosis compared to the general population age of 52.  Breast cancer in the general population is most often diagnosed in middle-aged and older women. In women with endometriosis, the average age of diagnosis was 39 years.57  

Endometriosis and autoimmune disorders
 Results of a major study by the National Institutes of Health and the Endometriosis Association found that women with endometriosis have significantly higher rates of hypothroidism, fibromyalgia, chronic fatigue syndrome, autoimmune diseases including multiple sclerosis, systemic lupus erythematosus,  rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren’s syndrome, and allergies, asthma, and eczema.58  The study also found that 40% of women with endometriosis had at least one family member with at least one autoimmune inflammatory disease, 34% had at least one endocrine disease, and 48% had fibromyalgia or chronic fatigue syndrome.58 Lupus, MS, hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism, diabetes, fibromyalgia, and chronic fatigue syndrome were more common among family members if the women with endometriosis also had these additional disorders as compared to those who only had endometriosis.58

References
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3. Koninckx PR, Ide P,  Vandenbrouck W, Brosens IA.  (1980) New aspects of the pathophysiology of endometriosis and associated infertility. Journal of Reproductive Medicine, 24:257-260.
4. Vital and Health Statistics, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control. (1987) Hysterectomies in the United States, 1965-1984.  National Center for Health Statistics, Series 13(92).
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12. Congresswoman Carolyn Maloney, 14th District, NY.  (1/27/2003) Protect women from dioxin and toxic shock syndrome: Representative Maloney introduces Robin Danielson Act, Press Release. 
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17. Eskanazi B, Mocarelli P,  Warner M, Needham L, Patterson DG Jr., Samuels S, Turner W, Gerthoux PM, Brambilla P. (2004) Relationship of serum TCDD concentrations and age at exposure of female residents of Seveso, Italy. Environmental Health Perspectives, 112(1):22-7.
18. DeVito MJ, Birnbaum LS, Farland WH, Gasiewica TA. (1995) Comparisons of estimated human body burdens of dioxinlike chemicals and TCDD body burdens in experimentally exposed animals. Environmental Health Perspectives, 103:820- 831.
19. Pulim HJ, Koppe JG, Olie K,  Van De Slikke JW, Kok JW, Uulsma T,  Van Tijn D, and De Vijlder JJM. (1993) Effects of dioxins on thyroid function in newborn babies. Lancet, 339:1303.
20. Schechter A. (1991) Dioxin in humans and the environment. Biological basis for risk assessment of dioxins and related compounds. Banbury Report, 35:169-214.
21. Whitlock JP. (1990) Genetic and molecular aspects of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin action. Annual Review of Pharmacology, 30:251-277.
22. Rier SE, Martin DC, Bowman RE, and Becker JL. (1995) Immunoresponsiveness in endometriosis: implications of estrogenic toxicants. Environmental Health Perspectives, 103(Suppl 7):151-156.
23. Rier SE, et al. (1993) Endometriosis in rhesus monkeys (macaca mulatta) following chronic exposure to 2,3,7,8- tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. Fundamental and Applied Toxicology, 21:433-441.
24. Tabibzadeh S. (1994) Cytokines and the hypothalamic-pituitary-ovarian-endometrial axis. Human Reproduction, 9:947- 967.
25. Rier S and Yeaman G. (1997) Immune Aspects of Endometriosis: Relevance of Uterine Mucosal Immune System.  Department of Microbiology, Dartmouth Medical School, Lebanon, New Hampshire.  Thieme Medical Publishers, Inc., New York, New York.  
26. Taylor MJ, et al. (1990) 2,3,7,8-tetrachloro-dibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) increases the release of tumor necrosis factor- alpha (TNF) & induces ethoxyresurofin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity in rat Kupffer’s cells (KCs). Toxicologist, 10:276-282.
27. Clark GC, et al.  (1991) Tumor necrosis factor involvement in 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin-mediated endotoxin hypersensitivity in C57BL/6j  mice congenic at the Ah locus. Toxicology & Applied Pharmacology,  111:422-431.
28. Hoglen N, et al. (1992) Effects of xenobiotics on serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and interleukin-6 (IL-6) release after LPS in rats. Toxicologist, 12:290-297.
29. Jones MK, et al. (1987) Circadian alterations in prolactin, corticosterone, and thyroid hormone levels and down- regulation of prolactin receptor activity by 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. Toxicology & Applied Pharmacology, 87:337-352.
30. Safe S. (1991) 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) and related compounds as antiestrogens: characterization and mechanism of action. Pharmacology Toxicology, 69:400-409.
31. Cummings AM and Metcalf JL. (1995) Effects of estrogen, progesterone, and methoxychlor on surgically induced endometriosis in rats. Fundamental and Applied Toxicology, 27:287-290.
32. Osteen KG, et al. (1996) Dioxin (TCDD) can block the protective effect of progesterone in nude mouse model of experimental endometriosis. 52nd Annual Meeting of the American Society for Reproductive Medicine, November 1996,
Boston, MA.
33. Bruner-Tran K, Rier S, Eisenberg E, and Osteen K.  (1999) The potential role of environmental toxins in the pathophysiology of endometriosis. Gynecologic & Obstetric Investigation, Supplement:45-56.
34. Enan E, et al. (1996)  2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) modulates function of human luteinizing granulosa cells via cAMP signaling and early reduction of glucose transporting activity.  Reproductive Toxicology, 10(3):191-198.   
35. Damewood M. (1989) The association of endometriosis and repetitive (early) spontaneous abortions. Seminars in Reproductive Endocrinology, 7:155-160.
36. Bowman RE, et al. (1989) Chronic dietary intake of 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (TCDD) at 5 or 25 ppt in the monkey: TCDD kinetics and dose-effect estimates of reproductive toxicity. Chemosphere 18:243-252.
37. Igarashi TM, et al. (2005) Reduced expression of progesterone receptor-B in the endometrium of women with endometriosis and in cocultures of endometrial cells exposed to 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin. Fertility Sterility 84(1): 67- 74.
38. Rier S, et al. (2001) Serum levels of TCDD and dioxin-like chemicals in rhesus monkeys chronically exposed to dioxin: correlation of increased serum PCB levels with endometriosis. Toxicological Sciences, 59(1):147-159.
39. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry.  (2001)  ToxFaqs for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs).  Web site factsheet http://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/tfacts17.html.
40. Carson R. (1962) Silent Spring. Houghton Mifflin, Cambridge, Massachusetts. 
41. Safe SH. (1994) Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs): environmental impact, biochemical and toxic responses, and implications for risk assessment. Critical Review of Toxicology, 24: 87-149.
42.  Whitlock JP. (1994) The aromatic hydrocarbon receptor, dioxin action, and endocrine homeostatis. Trends in Endocrinological Metabolism, 5:183-188.
43.  Nesaretnam K, et al. (1996) 3,4,3’,4’-Tetrachlorobiphenyl acts as an estrogen in vitro and in vivo.  Journal of Molecular Endocrinology, 10: 923-936.
44. Tanabe S, Kannan N, Subramanian A, Watanabe S, Tatsukawa R. (1987) Highly toxic coplanar PCBs: occurrence, source, persistency and toxic implications to wildlife and humans. Environmental Pollution, 47(2):147-163.
45. Campbell JS, et al. (1985) Is simian endometriosis an effect of immunotoxicity? Presented at the Ontario Association of Pathologists 48th Annual Meeting, London, Ontario, Canada.
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47. Wood DH, Yochmowitz MG, Salmon YL, Eason RI, Boster RA. (1983) Proton irradiation & endometriosis. Aviation in Space Environmental Medicine, 54:718-724.
48.  Wood DH. (1991) Long-term mortality and cancer risk in irradiated rhesus monkeys. Radiation Research, 126:132-36.
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50. Crook D, et al. (1997) Elevated serum lipoprotein (a) levels in young women with endometriosis. Metabolic Clinical Experience, 46:735-739.
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52. Heilier JF, Nackers F, Verougstraete V, Tonglet R, Lison D, Donnez J. (2005) Increased dioxin-like compounds in the serum of women with peritoneal endometriosis and deep endometriotic (adenomyotic) nodules. Fertility Sterility 84:305-12.
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55. Hornstein MD, et al. (1997) Association between endometriosis, dysplastic nevi and history of melanoma in women of reproductive age. Human Reproduction, 12:143-145.
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Deodorant




While there is no concrete proof yet that the chemicals used in deodorant and anti-perspirant sprays cause breast cancer, it may be wise NOT TO apply a mixture of chemicals under the arms and around the breast area for extended periods of time, as this could cause a build-up of toxic overload in the long term.

Deodorant sprays work by trying to destroy and reduce the bacteria on the skin and uses strong artificial fragrances to mask the bad bacteria smells. Common chemicals used include propylene glycol, parabens and triclosan.

- Propylene glycol is a chemical solvent and humectant, it has been related to a variety of disorders from liver abnormalities, kidney damage and depression to allergic dermatitis and eczema.
 
- Parabens are a particular concern to women as increased exposure to exogenous sources of oestrogen has been linked to increased risk of breast and uterine cancer. People exposed to these chemicals accumulate it in their bodies.
 
- Triclosan, a broad-spectrum anti bacterial agent used in some deodorants, has been found in some instances to cause allergic contact dermatitis and , over the long term, to cause liver damage in animals and encourage “anti-bacterial resistant bugs”.


What about Antiperspirant sprays?
Antiperspirants works by stopping the sweat from leaving the skin by blocking the pores. They work by forming tiny plugs where the sweat gland ducts open onto the skin surface. This stops the sweat emerging, keeping things dry. 

Almost all chemical deodorants include aluminum chloride, aluminum chlorohydrate, and aluminum-zirconium compounds because it forms a bond that clogs up the sweat glands.These need to remain in the pores for a long time to work effectively, so they are easily absorbed into the bloodstream. As stated by various naturalpaths, heavy anti-perspirant use over long periods of time could be contributing to the rising rate of breast cancer.

Our bodies were not meant to keep ingesting these poisons and now there are alternatives.  I still shop at our regular grocery store, but I spend most of my time in the organic fruits and vegetables, and in the health section.  While there I found Crystal Body Deodorant a deodorant that is a miracle, no aluminum is needed or used.  This is a rock that you run under the water right before applying.  I am truly amazed at how well it works, and that it is better for my body.  

Each product we change are small changes to make in the delicate balance of getting back to what our body needs and does not need in order to maintain optimum health.

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