Herbal Cures For Endometriosis for Fibroids: Benefits, Safety, and How to Use

September 13, 2025

Herbal Cures for Endometriosis and Fibroids: Benefits, Safety, and How to Use

Many people living with endometriosis or uterine fibroids look to herbal remedies for added relief from pain, heavy bleeding, and inflammation. While “cure” is a strong word—there is no proven herbal cure for either condition—some plant-based approaches may help with specific symptoms as part of a broader treatment plan. Below, we summarize what the evidence shows, how to use herbs safely, and when to seek medical care, drawing on trustworthy sources such as the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH), the Office on Women’s Health (OWH), the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), and professional guidelines.

Quick refresher: Endometriosis and fibroids

Endometriosis occurs when tissue similar to the uterine lining grows outside the uterus, often causing pelvic pain, painful periods, and sometimes fertility challenges. NIH

Uterine fibroids are noncancerous growths of the uterus that can cause heavy menstrual bleeding, pelvic pressure, anemia, and reproductive issues. U.S. Office on Women’s Health

Why consider herbs?

Herbal approaches are often used to complement (not replace) conventional options such as NSAIDs, hormonal therapies, and surgery. Potential advantages include targeting inflammation and oxidative stress, supporting symptom control, and offering nonhormonal options. However, quality of evidence varies widely, and safety considerations are important.

What the evidence says: By herb and condition

Green tea extract (EGCG) for fibroids

Green tea contains the catechin epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG), which has antioxidant and anti-inflammatory properties. Small randomized trials have suggested EGCG may reduce fibroid volume and improve bleeding and quality-of-life scores. Evidence is promising but preliminary, with limited sample sizes and short follow-up. Importantly, concentrated green tea extracts have been linked (rarely) to liver injury; risk appears dose-related. NIH Office of Dietary Supplements (ODS)

Ginger for menstrual pain

Ginger has anti-inflammatory properties and has shown benefit for primary dysmenorrhea (painful periods) in multiple trials. While these studies are not specific to endometriosis or fibroids, some individuals with these conditions report reduced period pain with ginger. Evidence suggests doses around 750–2000 mg/day of standardized ginger during the first 3 days of menses can be helpful for cramps; discuss dosing with your clinician. NCCIH

Turmeric/curcumin for inflammation

Curcumin, the active compound in turmeric, is studied for anti-inflammatory effects. For endometriosis specifically, evidence is largely preclinical or from small human studies; for fibroids, clinical data are limited. Some people use curcumin to help with pelvic pain and inflammatory symptoms, but high-quality trials in these conditions are scarce. NCCIH

Chaste tree (Vitex agnus-castus)

Vitex may help with premenstrual symptoms in some individuals, but there is insufficient evidence that it improves endometriosis or shrinks fibroids. It can interact with medications affecting dopamine pathways. NCCIH

Traditional Chinese herbal medicine and blends

Systematic reviews examining Chinese herbal medicine for endometriosis have found insufficient, low-certainty evidence due to small studies and variable quality. More rigorous trials are needed before strong recommendations can be made. Cochrane Library

Bottom line: A few herbs—particularly EGCG for fibroids and ginger for period pain—show preliminary or indirect benefit. For many others, evidence remains limited or mixed. Always approach claims of “cure” with caution.

Safety first: Key risks and interactions

Liver health and green tea extracts: Concentrated green tea extracts have been associated with rare cases of liver injury. Avoid high doses, stop use if you notice jaundice or dark urine, and speak with your clinician if you have liver disease. NIH ODS
Bleeding risk: Ginger and turmeric may increase bleeding risk, especially with anticoagulants or antiplatelet drugs. Discuss with your clinician before combining.
Medication interactions: Herbs can interact with prescription drugs (e.g., Vitex with dopaminergic medications; St. John’s wort—often self-added—can reduce effectiveness of many drugs, including hormonal therapies). NCCIH
Pregnancy and fertility: Safety in pregnancy is not established for most herbs; avoid if trying to conceive or pregnant unless specifically cleared by your obstetric provider.
Quality matters: Supplements are not FDA-approved for safety or effectiveness before marketing. Choose products with third-party testing (USP, NSF, ConsumerLab) and buy from reputable sources. FDA

How to use herbs wisely—step by step

Start with a diagnosis and a plan. Confirm whether symptoms are due to endometriosis, fibroids, or both. Work with a gynecologist to define goals (pain control, bleeding reduction, fertility). ACOG: Endometriosis | ACOG: Fibroids
Pick one evidence-informed herb at a time.
- For heavy bleeding and fibroid bulk symptoms: Discuss green tea extract (EGCG) with your clinician. If appropriate, use a moderate dose and recheck labs/symptoms after 8–12 weeks. Monitor for liver-related side effects.
- For period pain: Consider ginger during menses; some people also try curcumin for inflammation, acknowledging limited disease-specific data.
Use standardized products. Look for labels indicating standardized extract amounts (e.g., EGCG mg, gingerols/curcuminoids) and third-party certification.
Track outcomes. Keep a symptom diary: pain scores, number of heavy days, pad/tampon counts, energy level, adverse effects.
Set a timeline to reassess. If there’s no meaningful improvement after 2–3 cycles, or if side effects occur, stop and revisit the plan.
Integrate with conventional care. Effective options include NSAIDs, hormonal therapies (e.g., combined pills, progestin IUD), GnRH agonists/antagonists, uterine-sparing procedures for fibroids (e.g., myomectomy, uterine artery embolization), and surgery for endometriosis when indicated. ACOG

Who should be especially cautious

Anyone with liver disease or heavy alcohol use (avoid concentrated green tea extracts)
People on anticoagulants/antiplatelets or with bleeding disorders
Those trying to conceive or who are pregnant/breastfeeding
Individuals taking multiple prescription medications (high interaction risk)

When herbal remedies are not enough

Seek prompt medical care if you have severe pelvic pain, soaking through pads/tampons every 1–2 hours, dizziness/fainting, signs of anemia (fatigue, shortness of breath), new or worsening symptoms, or if you’re considering pregnancy and have known endometriosis/fibroids.

Takeaway

Herbs are not cures for endometriosis or fibroids, but some—most notably green tea extract (EGCG) for fibroids and ginger for menstrual pain—may offer symptom relief for certain people. The strongest strategy is an integrative one: confirm your diagnosis, choose evidence-informed, high-quality supplements, monitor results, and coordinate with your clinician so that herbal options complement proven medical and surgical treatments.