Perceived effectiveness and use of naturopathic treatments for endometriosis: A cross-sectional survey of Australian naturopaths experienced in endometriosis management

Introduction: Women with endometriosis are commonly dissatisfied with the standard treatments available and, as such, novel treatment options for endometriosis care needs to be explored. Women with endometriosis are known to seek care from naturopaths to assist in disease management. However, there is limited evidence on the types of treatments naturopaths employ when providing care to women with endometriosis. Methods: This cross-sectional survey describes the naturopathic treatments utilised to manage endometriosis and the perceived effectiveness of those treatments. Naturopaths who self-identified as having experience in women's reproductive diseases were invited to participate in the survey (n = 109). Participants were recruited from the Practitioner Research and Collaboration Initiative (PRACI), a Practice-Based Research Network (PBRN). Data was collected via an online 62-item survey. Results: A total of 29 Australian naturopaths completed the survey (response rate = 26.6%). Participants reported frequently utilising lifestyle recommendations (75.8%), herbal medicines (72.4%), clinical nutritional medicines (72.4%), and dietary recommendations (68.9%). The most frequently prescribed treatments included essential fatty acids (65.5%), exercise (62%), magnesium (55.1%), and Curcuma longa (Turmeric) (48.2%). Respondents who reported prescribing these treatments frequently perceived them to be effective, with the highest level of perceived effectiveness reported for Curcuma longa (Turmeric) (48.2%) and magnesium (44.8%). Conclusions: Naturopaths appear to employ various treatments and report varied perceived effectiveness of those treatments in the management of endometriosis. Clinical research is needed to evaluate the clinician experience and verify the potential value of naturopathic treatments in improving the symptoms and quality of life of women with endometriosis.