Fibroids and Healing Them Naturally
by Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac.
Fibroids are nodules of fibrous tissue that can grown anywhere on the body.
Uterine fibroids are the most common noncancerous tumors of the female
reproductive organs. According to the location of the fibroid in the uterus,
they can be divided into three types.
Fibroids can grow underneath the uterine lining (submucosal), within the uterus
walls (intramural) or can be found on the outer walls of the uterus
(subserosal).
The cause of their growth is unknown. With many of my female patients who have
fibroids, it tends to be seen throughout their family history. Often times,
their mothers, sisters, aunts or grandmothers have suffered from them as well.
Next to heredity , other causes have been thought to be stress related, improper
diet, excessive weight gain and imbalances in hormone levels.
Hormonally, estrogen seems to be part of the problem. When estrogen levels are
high during a women's period, this estrogen surge seems to stimulate tumor
growth. Therefore, fibroids often grow larger during the menstrual cycle as the
uterus engorges with blood, then shrinks after the cycle. They also tend to grow
larger during pregnancy and shrink after menopause due to the lack of estrogen.
Estrogen dominance is generally not caused by one factor, but often many
factors, including:
� Hormonal imbalance
� Hormone therapy
� Environmental estrogens
� Stressful lifestyle
� Glandular dysfunction
Symptoms can range between no symptoms at all or a women can experience heavy
bleeding, abdominal masses, abdominal pain, pressure against the bladder, bowels
or pelvic floor, vaginal discharge, infertility, miscarriage or anemia.
Western medicine looks at several ways to treat fibroids, depending on their
size and depending on how much pain or havoc they are causing the body. Western
treatments include pharmacological inhibition of estrogen secretion, Progestin
supplementation, prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors, a myomectomy, or
hysterectomy.
Cramping, painful and irregular periods are often due to a deficiency of
progesterone and an excess of estrogen. Estrogen-alone birth control pills (the
most commonly prescribed pills on the market) often compound the problem.
That's why some women have intolerable estrogen-induced side effects when they
are on birth control pills such as weight gain, mood swings, and breast
tenderness.
What is rarely mentioned, is the liver requires extra amounts of the B-complex
vitamins, vitamin C, magnesium, and zinc because taking birth control pills for
years at a time, will creating nutrient deficiencies. Weight gain, fluid
retention, mood changes, depression and even heart disease can all arise from
vitamin and mineral imbalance.
In Traditional Chinese Medicine, we treat fibroids differently, based on the
site of the fibroid. Acupuncture and herbal medicine have been found to be more
effective than Western medicine (in most cases) as it works to bring the body
back into hormonal balance, naturally .
When fibroids are less than 5cm, the success rate with acupuncture and herbs is
higer. Although, clinically, I have had success with fibroids that are larger
than 5cm and have been able to shrink these fibroids with a combination of
acupuncture and herbal medicine, diet as well as, lifestyle changes.
Acupuncture treatments are based on the clinical diagnosis of stagnation and/or
dampness. Combinations of local and distal acupuncture points are used in order
to move energy and blood.
Channels that are focused on include the Conception channel, the Spleen,
Stomach, Liver and Kidney channels.
Herbal medicine has long been the apothecary of the world. Folklore and ancient
recipes have been past down for centuries. Nowadays, research studies are being
done on some of these herbs, herbal combinations and formulas. Formulas most
effective for abdominal masses include:
-Chai Hu Shu Gan San with Xie Fu Zuo Yu Tang for Qi and Phlegm Stagnation.
-Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan with Xiao Liu Fang for Blood Stasis.
-Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan for Phlegm Damp.
These formulas have shown to be even more effective when combined with a diet
low in fat that MINIMIZES coffee, black tea, chocolate, alcohol and soy based
products. The proper formula for you, should be determined by a licensed
acupuncturist and/or herbalist only.
The Western Herbal Materia Medica has shown that some herbs are effective for
balancing hormone levels.
Linoleic acid, found in omega-6 fatty acid form and linolenic acid, found
omega-3 fatty acid form are both essential oils found in fish oil. These two
essential oils can reduce estrogen production and are beneficial for women with
fibroids. Take 2,000 mg in divided doses (1,000 mg am/pm).
Nutritional considerations are a diet low in fat that minimizes coffee, black
tea, chocolate and alcohol.
Phytoestrogens are naturally occurring estrogenic compounds that are found in a
variety of foods, herbs, spices (phyto meaning plants). Their chemical
structure resembles estrogen. These compounds are generally weak estrogens, in
comparison to real estrogen but in a body that is already experiencing too much
estrogen, adding more will contribute to the problem.
Some of the strongest phytoestrogen containing substances are soy, the lignans
found in flax seed products, red clover, black cohosh, and dong quai. Soy
includes soybeans, soy milk, tofu, tempeh, textured vegetable protein, roasted
soybeans, soy granules, soy protein powders, miso, and edamames. Over
consumption of phytoestrogenic foods or herbs on a long term basis may actually
increase the risk of estrogen dominance significantly.
Chaste tree berry (although it has some phytoestrogenic properties) has been
shown to promote progesterone production by increasing luteinizing hormone,
which I recommend you DO consider for reducing fibroids.
Limit the amounts of red meat and pork eaten.
Avoid high fat and fried foods. Some women have found that their fibroids
decrease when taking up a vegetarian diet.
Changes in lifestyle can also play apart in reducing fibroids.
Increase or add exercise to your life.
Meditation, visualization and simple breathing techniques are all very helpful
in relieving stress in our lives.
Holding on to certain beliefs in our lives, may be an improper way of thinking.
Metaphysical expert, Louse Hay suggests that a probable cause of fibroids and
cysts is "nursing a hurt from a partner or a blow to the feminine ego."
Certainly, these are all options to consider.
https://www.peacefulmind.com
References
-Boericke, William M.D., Materia Medica with Repertory, 1927, Boericke & Runyon
-Chevallier, Andrew, The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants, 1996, Dorlilng
Kindersley Limited
-Gaeddert, Andrew, Chinese Herbs In The Western Clinic, Get Well Foundation 1994
-Hay, Louise, You Can Heal Your Life, Hay House Inc. 1984
-Mehl-Madrona, L. Complementary medicine treatment of uterine fibroids 2002
Altern Ther Health Med 8;2:34-6, 38-40, 42, 44-6
-Richardson, Jack N.D., The Little Herb Encyclopedia (Third Edition), 1995,
Woodland Health Books
Fibroids - Healing Them Naturally
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