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Faced with the great vagueness that surrounds endometriosis, some women turn to unreliable therapists, sometimes close to sectarian tendencies.
Endometriosis, which affects at least one in ten women of childbearing age, remains a pathology unknown to the general public. Patients, often immersed in vagueness and incomprehension, then sometimes turn to “alternative therapies” to relieve them.
Therapies without any medical follow-up
According to an extensive survey conducted by Marina Kvaskoff, epidemiologist at Inserm at the Paul-Brousse hospital in Villejuif, (CompaRe study), almost 65% of women with endometriosis have already tried an “alternative practice such as osteopathy, yoga, meditation or sophrology”.
The goal? Try to reduce by all means the pain caused by the disease.
Except that some of these practices are carried out without any medical supervision. A very bad idea according to the High Health Authority, which indicates that “these therapies should not replace medical treatments and patients who choose them should inform their doctor“.
In addition, on social networks, advice, experience sharing and “endo specialists” abound… Without control or regulation.
Radio France’s investigation cell thus underlines that “endo well-being coaches” and naturopaths, with sometimes delusional speeches (endometriosis would be a form of expression of our femininity) offer their services at exorbitant prices.
“On two sites, there is for example a consultation at 110 euros and six appointments of 45 minutes and unlimited discussions for 450 euross.”
Another rather staggering example: eight one-hour video sessions for the modest sum of 870 euros.
Abuses on the rise according to the Interministerial Mission for Vigilance and the Fight against Sectarian Abuses.
“The use of unconventional therapeutic practices (PNCAVT) has become increasingly frequent. In the majority of cases, these are practices based on the discourse of an emblematic character, who in many cases has all the characteristics of the guru, or methods inspired by the New Age movement..”
The government body nevertheless specifies that “all therapeutic drift is not necessarily sectarian”.
“The therapeutic drift becomes sectarian when it tries to get the patient to adhere to a belief, to a new way of thinking. Claiming the uselessness of conventional treatments, the pseudo-practitioner will ask the patient to have full confidence in him because only he can propose the “miracle” method capable of curing him..”
Several criteria should put you on the alert, according to the Interministerial Mission for Vigilance and the Fight against Sectarian Aberrations.
- adoption of language specific to the group/therapist;
- change in eating or clothing habits;
- refusal of care or discontinuation of prescribed medical treatment;
- situation of rupture with relatives;
- exclusive commitment for the group;
- absolute submission to the rulers;
- loss of critical thinking;
- stereotyped response to all existential questions;
- existence of attacks on physical or mental integrity;
- lack of sleep.