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| \r\n \r\n <!-' + '- message, attachments, sig -' + '->\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n <!-' + '- icon and title -' + '->\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n  \r\n\r\n Fibroids - Healing Them Naturally\r\n \r\n <!-' + '- / icon and title -' + '->\r\n \r\n\r\n <!-' + '- message -' + '->\r\n \r\n \r\n Fibroids and Healing Them Naturally \r\n <!-' + '- / message -' + '->\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \r\n\r\n \nby Andrew Pacholyk, MS, L.Ac. \n \nFibroids are nodules of fibrous tissue that can grown anywhere on the body. \nUterine fibroids are the most common noncancerous tumors of the female \nreproductive organs. According to the location of the fibroid in the uterus, \nthey can be divided into three types. \n \nFibroids can grow underneath the uterine lining (submucosal), within the uterus \nwalls (intramural) or can be found on the outer walls of the uterus \n(subserosal). \n \nThe cause of their growth is unknown. With many of my female patients who have \nfibroids, it tends to be seen throughout their family history. Often times, \ntheir mothers, sisters, aunts or grandmothers have suffered from them as well. \n \nNext to heredity , other causes have been thought to be stress related, improper \ndiet, excessive weight gain and imbalances in hormone levels. \n \nHormonally, estrogen seems to be part of the problem. When estrogen levels are \nhigh during a women\'s period, this estrogen surge seems to stimulate tumor \ngrowth. Therefore, fibroids often grow larger during the menstrual cycle as the \nuterus engorges with blood, then shrinks after the cycle. They also tend to grow \nlarger during pregnancy and shrink after menopause due to the lack of estrogen. \n \nEstrogen dominance is generally not caused by one factor, but often many \nfactors, including: \n� Hormonal imbalance \n� Hormone therapy \n� Environmental estrogens \n� Stressful lifestyle \n� Glandular dysfunction \n \n \nSymptoms can range between no symptoms at all or a women can experience heavy \nbleeding, abdominal masses, abdominal pain, pressure against the bladder, bowels \nor pelvic floor, vaginal discharge, infertility, miscarriage or anemia. \n \nWestern medicine looks at several ways to treat fibroids, depending on their \nsize and depending on how much pain or havoc they are causing the body. Western \ntreatments include pharmacological inhibition of estrogen secretion, Progestin \nsupplementation, prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors, a myomectomy, or \nhysterectomy. \n \nCramping, painful and irregular periods are often due to a deficiency of \nprogesterone and an excess of estrogen. Estrogen-alone birth control pills (the \nmost commonly prescribed pills on the market) often compound the problem. \n \nThat\'s why some women have intolerable estrogen-induced side effects when they \nare on birth control pills such as weight gain, mood swings, and breast \ntenderness. \n \nWhat is rarely mentioned, is the liver requires extra amounts of the B-complex \nvitamins, vitamin C, magnesium, and zinc because taking birth control pills for \nyears at a time, will creating nutrient deficiencies. Weight gain, fluid \nretention, mood changes, depression and even heart disease can all arise from \nvitamin and mineral imbalance. \n \nIn Traditional Chinese Medicine, we treat fibroids differently, based on the \nsite of the fibroid. Acupuncture and herbal medicine have been found to be more \neffective than Western medicine (in most cases) as it works to bring the body \nback into hormonal balance, naturally . \n \nWhen fibroids are less than 5cm, the success rate with acupuncture and herbs is \nhiger. Although, clinically, I have had success with fibroids that are larger \nthan 5cm and have been able to shrink these fibroids with a combination of \nacupuncture and herbal medicine, diet as well as, lifestyle changes. \n \nAcupuncture treatments are based on the clinical diagnosis of stagnation and/or \ndampness. Combinations of local and distal acupuncture points are used in order \nto move energy and blood. \n \nChannels that are focused on include the Conception channel, the Spleen, \nStomach, Liver and Kidney channels. \n \nHerbal medicine has long been the apothecary of the world. Folklore and ancient \nrecipes have been past down for centuries. Nowadays, research studies are being \ndone on some of these herbs, herbal combinations and formulas. Formulas most \neffective for abdominal masses include: \n \n-Chai Hu Shu Gan San with Xie Fu Zuo Yu Tang for Qi and Phlegm Stagnation. \n \n-Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan with Xiao Liu Fang for Blood Stasis. \n \n-Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan for Phlegm Damp. \n \nThese formulas have shown to be even more effective when combined with a diet \nlow in fat that MINIMIZES coffee, black tea, chocolate, alcohol and soy based \nproducts. The proper formula for you, should be determined by a licensed \nacupuncturist and/or herbalist only. \n \nThe Western Herbal Materia Medica has shown that some herbs are effective for \nbalancing hormone levels. \n \nLinoleic acid, found in omega-6 fatty acid form and linolenic acid, found \nomega-3 fatty acid form are both essential oils found in fish oil. These two \nessential oils can reduce estrogen production and are beneficial for women with \nfibroids. Take 2,000 mg in divided doses (1,000 mg am/pm). \n \nNutritional considerations are a diet low in fat that minimizes coffee, black \ntea, chocolate and alcohol. \n \nPhytoestrogens are naturally occurring estrogenic compounds that are found in a \nvariety of foods, herbs, spices (phyto meaning plants). Their chemical \nstructure resembles estrogen. These compounds are generally weak estrogens, in \ncomparison to real estrogen but in a body that is already experiencing too much \nestrogen, adding more will contribute to the problem. \n \nSome of the strongest phytoestrogen containing substances are soy, the lignans \nfound in flax seed products, red clover, black cohosh, and dong quai. Soy \nincludes soybeans, soy milk, tofu, tempeh, textured vegetable protein, roasted \nsoybeans, soy granules, soy protein powders, miso, and edamames. Over \nconsumption of phytoestrogenic foods or herbs on a long term basis may actually \nincrease the risk of estrogen dominance significantly. \n \nChaste tree berry (although it has some phytoestrogenic properties) has been \nshown to promote progesterone production by increasing luteinizing hormone, \nwhich I recommend you DO consider for reducing fibroids. \n \nLimit the amounts of red meat and pork eaten. \n \nAvoid high fat and fried foods. Some women have found that their fibroids \ndecrease when taking up a vegetarian diet. \n \nChanges in lifestyle can also play apart in reducing fibroids. \n \nIncrease or add exercise to your life. \n \nMeditation, visualization and simple breathing techniques are all very helpful \nin relieving stress in our lives. \n \nHolding on to certain beliefs in our lives, may be an improper way of thinking. \n \nMetaphysical expert, Louse Hay suggests that a probable cause of fibroids and \ncysts is "nursing a hurt from a partner or a blow to the feminine ego." \n \nCertainly, these are all options to consider. \n \nhttps://www.peacefulmind.com \n \n \nReferences \n \n-Boericke, William M.D., Materia Medica with Repertory, 1927, Boericke & Runyon \n-Chevallier, Andrew, The Encyclopedia of Medicinal Plants, 1996, Dorlilng \nKindersley Limited \n-Gaeddert, Andrew, Chinese Herbs In The Western Clinic, Get Well Foundation 1994 \n-Hay, Louise, You Can Heal Your Life, Hay House Inc. 1984 \n-Mehl-Madrona, L. Complementary medicine treatment of uterine fibroids 2002 \nAltern Ther Health Med 8;2:34-6, 38-40, 42, 44-6 \n-Richardson, Jack N.D., The Little Herb Encyclopedia (Third Edition), 1995, \nWoodland Health Books\r\n \r\n <!-' + '- controls -' + '->\r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n\r\n <!-' + '- message, attachments, sig -' + '->\r\n\r\n  \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n \r\n <!-' + '- / controls -' + '->\r\n | \r\n
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