PCOS & Endometriosis Through a Bioregulatory Lens

Join Dr. James Odell for Season 2 of the Science of Self-Healing Podcast! He's the medical and executive director for BRMI, as well as a practicing naturopathic doctor for over 35 years, and he's here to share with you his extensive knowledge of medicine from a different perspective.

The Bioregulatory Medicine Institute

The Science of Self-Healing Podcast

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and endometriosis touch far more than the reproductive system—they influence metabolism, mood, inflammation, digestion, sleep, and the way women feel in their bodies every day. In this episode of The Science of Self-Healing, we explore these conditions through a lens that views the body as a connected, intelligent system rather than a collection of separate parts.

Learn how PCOS and endometriosis affect the whole body, why insulin, inflammation, and estrogen pathways matter, and which evidence-supported supplements may help. You’ll also see how stress, sleep, nutrition, movement, pelvic-floor therapy, and acupuncture support hormonal balance, along with the shared patterns that make both conditions responsive to a multi-therapeutic approach.

If you’ve ever wondered why symptoms feel so widespread—or why standard treatments sometimes fall short—this episode offers clarity, encouragement, and a grounded view of what whole-body healing can look like.

Transcript for: PCOS & Endometriosis Through a Bioregulatory Lens

Hello, everyone, and welcome to the Science of Self-Healing podcast. For health and wellness knowledge from a different perspective. Produced by the Bioregulatory Medicine Institute, also known as BRMI. We are your source for unparalleled information about how you can naturally support your body's ability to regulate, adapt, regenerate, and self-heal. I'm your host, Dr. James Odell, the medical and executive director for BRMI, as well as a practicing naturopathic doctor for over 35 years. And remember, this podcast is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for the direct care of a qualified health professional who oversees and provides unique and individual care. The information here is to broaden our different perspectives and should not be construed as medical advice or treatment.

Hello everyone, and welcome to another episode of the Science of Self-Healing. Today, we’re going to explore two conditions that quietly shape the lives of millions of women: polycystic ovary syndrome and endometriosis. If you or someone you love has been living with either one, you already know they aren’t just gynecological diagnoses. They touch metabolism, mood, inflammation, digestion, energy, fertility, and the way you feel in your body every single day. Their impact is physical, emotional, and often deeply personal. And while conventional medicine offers important tools, many people are searching for ways to go deeper—ways that don’t just manage symptoms but work with the body’s natural rhythms to restore balance. This is where bioregulatory medicine steps in.

Bioregulatory approaches don’t try to silence the body. Instead, they try to understand why the body is speaking the way it is. They look at hormonal feedback loops, inflammatory patterns, microbiome health, nervous system tone, metabolic flexibility, and the way all these systems dance together—or sometimes misfire together. PCOS and endometriosis may look different on paper, but they have more in common than people think. Both conditions are born from a system that has slipped out of its natural rhythm. And both respond powerfully when we support the body’s ability to regulate and heal.

So today, we’re going to slow things down and take a deeper look at how these bioregulatory strategies work, why they make sense, and what they look like in real life. Think of this not as a lecture, but as a long, thoughtful walk through the physiology, the science, and the lived experience of these conditions.

The Body as a Network, Not a Set of Parts

One of the biggest misunderstandings about PCOS and endometriosis is the idea that they are “ovarian problems.” PCOS is often reduced to cysts or androgen levels. Endometriosis is reduced to where misplaced tissue is growing. But if you talk to people living with these conditions, they’ll tell you the truth: their symptoms don’t stay politely within the pelvis. They show up in cycles that seem unpredictable, in fatigue that doesn’t match their lifestyle, in digestive discomfort, in brain fog, in skin and hair changes, in their emotional landscape, and sometimes in the very way they relate to their own bodies.

Bioregulatory medicine begins with a simple but radical idea: the body is a network. If something feels wrong in one place, chances are the roots extend much further. PCOS is shaped by metabolic signaling, immune activity, endocrine rhythms, and even the gut. Endometriosis is fueled by inflammation, immune recognition, estrogen metabolism, and pain signaling loops in the nervous system. These are not conditions that respond well to a single pill or a single procedure.

This is why integrating lifestyle, nutrition, physical therapies, and mind-body practices with conventional care isn’t “alternative.” It’s appropriate. It’s physiologically coherent. And for many women, it’s the first time anything has made sense.

Understanding PCOS Through a Bioregulatory Lens

Let’s start with PCOS. If you imagine the endocrine system as an orchestra, PCOS is what happens when the conductor loses the baton. The timing between insulin and ovarian hormones becomes chaotic. The ovaries start producing more androgens. Insulin levels rise. The brain receives mixed messages. Menstrual cycles become irregular, ovulation becomes unpredictable, and metabolic systems struggle to keep up.

The Conventional Approach to PCOS and Endrometriosis

The conventional approach often focuses on symptom management. Birth control to regulate cycles. Spironolactone to reduce acne or hair growth. Metformin to improve insulin sensitivity. All these treatments have their place and can be incredibly helpful. But many women find themselves asking: is there a way to calm the entire orchestra, not just quiet one instrument at a time?

Lifestyle Changes

This is where lifestyle becomes a true therapeutic intervention. It’s not the casual “eat healthy and exercise” advice women are often handed. It’s a structured, evidence-based approach that recognizes how intimately insulin sensitivity and ovarian function are linked. Even modest, sustainable changes in movement and nutrition can lower insulin, support ovulation, and reduce the hormonal turbulence happening behind the scenes. And the story doesn’t end with diet and exercise. 

Supplemental Strategies

Supplemental strategies for PCOS are also helpful. Inositol—which acts as a messenger in insulin signaling—has gained attention for its ability to improve menstrual regularity and support ovulation. It plays a critical role in cellular function, insulin action, and brain chemical messengers. Inositol supplements are used to help with conditions like polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) and metabolic syndrome. Many women who cannot tolerate metformin find it gentler, yet surprisingly effective. 

Berberine is effective too.  Berberine’s lipid-lowering and insulin-resistance improving actions have been demonstrated beneficial for PCOS in numerous randomized clinical trials. Research shows that berberine may improve some metabolic characteristics in PCOS patients and insulin resistance. Berberine seems to improve lipid parameters, including LDL cholesterol and total cholesterol, when compared with Metformin

And L-Carnitine is worth a try – L-carnitine is an amino acid that is produced in the body. L-carnitine helps the body turn fat into energy. L-Carnitine supplementation reduces body weight, BMI, waist circumference, and hip circumference when compared with placebo in women with PCOS. There were also noted improvements in markers of glycemic control and insulin sensitivity.

Other supplements that have been proven beneficial include vitamin D, omega-3 fatty acids, and N-acetylcysteine. Of course, consult your physician or healthcare professional before embarking on any new supplement regimen. 

Stress Management Strategies

Then there’s the often-overlooked world of stress, sleep, and the nervous system. Cortisol and insulin are dance partners; when one is out of sync, the other stumbles. Women with PCOS frequently describe waking unrefreshed, feeling tired yet wired, or struggling with anxiety. When sleep becomes regulated, when stress pathways soften through mindfulness or breathwork, when sympathetic overdrive begins to release its grip, something shifts. Hormones begin to recalibrate. Cycles can become more predictable. Energy stabilizes.

A bioregulatory approach to PCOS essentially says: your body isn’t malfunctioning, it’s compensating. And when you take pressure off the metabolic and stress systems, the reproductive system often follows.

Understanding Endometriosis Through a Bioregulatory Lens

Endometriosis, on the other hand, tells a different story. Here, the immune system and inflammatory pathways sit at center stage. Endometriosis isn’t simply tissue growing where it shouldn’t. It’s the immune system responding to that tissue with chronic, smoldering inflammation. Over time, this inflammation affects estrogen metabolism, nerve growth, pain perception, and even the way nearby organs communicate with one another.

Conventional medicine treats this inflammation through hormonal suppression or, when needed, surgical removal of lesions. These tools are essential and often life-changing. But many patients quickly realize that surgery removes lesions, not the inflammatory patterns that allowed the disease to take root. Hormonal suppression reduces symptoms, but does not necessarily build long-term resilience.

The Benefits of Nutrition

This is where bioregulatory therapies fill the gaps. Nutrition becomes a quiet but powerful regulator. Diets rich in antioxidants, phytonutrients, fiber, and omega-3 fatty acids gently lower inflammatory signaling. Many women find that reducing processed foods, supporting gut function, and increasing anti-inflammatory nutrients softens their pain and bloating.

Like PCOS food supplements can be of great help in controlling the underlying hormonal imbalances and inflammation.

Helpful Supplements

My favorite supplement for endometriosis is DIM (Diindolemethane).  DIM is found in cruciferous vegetables (ie. cabbage, broccoli, kale, cauliflower, etc). It iis anti-inflammatory in nature and helps promote healthy estrogen breakdown and removal from the body. Women with endometriosis are estrogen-dominant (meaning high levels of estrogen are present) and that is why proper estrogen metabolism is important. Numerous studies have shown beneficial effects of DIM supplementation in endometriosis. 

Botanicals for Endometriosis

Two useful botanicals for endometriosis are curcumin and milk thistle. Curcumin is an active component in turmeric and has proven anti-inflammatory properties as well as other potentially health-promoting characteristics, such as hormone-regulating abilities.

Research on curcumin for the treatment of endometriosis is limited, however, some studies have found that it can help reduce endometriosis epithelial cells (these are the cells that adhere to parts of the body outside of the uterus) by reducing excess estrogen production.

Milk thistle is a plant that contains silymarin, which decreases inflammation and supports healthy liver function. The liver is important to help manage endometriosis, it’s responsible for filtering out toxins in the body, including excess hormones such as estrogen. As stated previously, endometriosis is an estrogen-dominant condition and endometrial lesions depend on estrogen for development and growth. 

Pelvic-Floor Therapy as a Transformative Tool

Pelvic-floor physical therapy is another transformative tool. Chronic pelvic pain creates muscle guarding, and muscle guarding increases pain—a cycle that can continue even after lesions are treated. When the pelvic floor learns to relax, when trigger points are released, when the deep layers of tissue regain mobility, pain patterns can dramatically shift.

Acupuncture Treatment

Acupuncture enters the picture as a way to modulate pain pathways, calm inflammation, and support hormonal balance. For many women, it becomes a refuge—a place where the body’s highly sensitized nervous system can reset.

Low-Dose Naltrexone

And then there is low-dose naltrexone, an emerging therapy that works by modulating microglial activation and reducing neuroinflammation. It’s not a mainstream treatment yet, but many women with persistent pain find that it eases the intensity and frequency of their symptoms when used as part of a broader, integrated plan.

When you bring all these pieces together—nutrition, physical therapy, hormonal treatments, stress regulation, and occasionally surgery—you begin to see endometriosis not as a mysterious, untamable disease, but as a condition that responds best to multi-layered, patient-centered care.

The Shared Threads Between PCOS and Endometriosis

Even though one condition leans metabolic and the other leans inflammatory, they share surprising commonalities. Both are influenced by the gut microbiome. Both are worsened by chronic stress and poor sleep. Both are shaped by immune signaling and hormonal rhythms. And both improve when these systems are recalibrated.

Supporting gut health, for example, can make a meaningful difference. A balanced microbiome helps regulate estrogen metabolism, insulin sensitivity, and inflammation. A diet rich in diverse fibers and fermented foods isn’t about trends—it’s about restoring one of the body’s most important regulatory systems.

Vitamin D and omega-3s help calm inflammatory signaling in both conditions. Mind-body practices, from breathwork to somatic therapy to meditation, reduce sympathetic overactivation that can worsen pain, disrupt cycles, and impair metabolic function. Even something as simple as consistent circadian rhythms can tune hormonal pathways back into alignment.

When seen through a bioregulatory perspective, PCOS and endometriosis stop being “gynecological problems” and become whole-body conditions that need whole-body solutions.

Why This Approach Works

One of the most powerful aspects of bioregulatory medicine is its respect for the body’s intelligence. Instead of trying to override symptoms, it works to understand what those symptoms are trying to communicate. Irregular cycles, acne, pelvic pain, bloating, fatigue — they all have stories behind them. They are feedback, not failures.

Evidence for bioregulatory therapies varies—some interventions, like lifestyle changes and metformin, are well established. Others, like acupuncture, inositols, or low-dose naltrexone, are supported by emerging research and strong patient experience. The goal isn't to replace medical therapy, but to integrate it with strategies that restore the body’s natural balance.

When care is personalized, when patients feel heard, and when interventions support the root causes rather than just the surface-level symptoms, the body often responds in beautiful, unexpected ways.

Closing Thoughts

PCOS and endometriosis are not conditions you simply “fix.” They’re conditions you learn to understand, partner with, and manage through a combination of science, structure, and self-awareness. A bioregulatory approach invites women to participate actively in their healing—not by doing everything perfectly, but by tuning into what their bodies need.

This kind of care is slower, gentler, and more holistic. It respects the physiology, honors complexity, and recognizes that healing isn’t linear. But for many people, it’s the first time they’ve felt real improvement. The first time their symptoms make sense. And the first time they feel empowered, rather than defeated, by their diagnosis.

In short, a multi-therapeutic approach includes interventions that focus on improving insulin sensitivity, balancing hormones, and reducing inflammation through a low-glycemic diet, stress management, adequate sleep, regular exercise, and specific supplements. 

If you're living with PCOS or endometriosis, you deserve a plan that sees the whole you. A plan that listens to your body, supports your biology, and acknowledges your lived experience. Bioregulatory medicine offers exactly that—a path not just toward symptom relief, but toward resilience, clarity, and long-term balance.

Well, that’s all for this episode. Please tune in again in two weeks for another episode of The Science of Self-Healing. Till then, be well.

Thank you for your time today, and remember that this podcast is made possible by the Bioregulatory Medicine Institute, also known as BRMI, a nonprofit, global, non political, non commercial institute to promote the science and art of bioregulatory medicine. We extend our gratitude to each and every one of you for listening today, and if you haven't already, make sure to visit us at brmi.online. A treasure trove of invaluable information awaits you there. Connect with us across various social media platforms as well. Come and become a member of our thriving tribe. If you've enjoyed today's episode, we invite you to show your support by rating us, leaving us a review, or sharing the podcast within your circle. Our podcast and mission flourish through sharing, and your participation means the world to us. Our organization is sustained by donations, each of which is tax deductible and fuels projects like this. Visit our website, brmi.online, to contribute or simply to explore the wealth of uncensored and impartial information we offer. No contribution is too small. In just two weeks, we'll be back delving into another captivating topic. Until then, we thank you once again for listening. May wellness and wisdom be your path. Be well.

Bioregulatory medicine is a total body (and mind) approach to health and healing that aims to help facilitate and restore natural human biological processes. It is a proven, safe, gentle, highly effective, drugless, and side-effect-free medical model designed to naturally support the body to regulate, adapt, regenerate, and self-heal. BRMI is a non-commercial 501(c)(3) foundation and will expand and flourish with your support. Our goal is to make bioregulatory medicine a household term.

This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for the direct care of a qualified health practitioner who oversees and provides unique and individualized care. The information provided here is to broaden our different perspectives and should not be construed as medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.