Uterine Fibroids
Updated Oct. 13th, 2017
Fibroids are a benign growth of muscle tissue in the uterus. They are very common amongst women from age 30 until meno-pause. At menopause decreasing hormone levels cause the fibroids to shrink. Many women have asymptomatic fibroids and the severity of symptoms does not correlate with the number or size of the fibroids.
Fibroids grow when high estrogen levels stimulate them. Anything that increases estrogen can worsen fibroids. For example, oral contraceptives, pregnancy, high stress levels, a diet high in meat, a diet high in saturated fat and obesity can stimulate fibroids.
Symptoms of fibroids include heavy menstrual bleeding, menstrual cramps, abdominal bloating, spotting between periods, anemia, pain during intercourse, constipation and bladder irritation.
Conventional treatment only occurs if the fibroids are large or symptoms are severe. Several different techniques can be used to remove the fibroids but unless estrogen levels decrease there is a 50 percent chance that they will return. Natural therapies are aimed at decreasing estrogen levels to shrink fibroids and prevent their recurrence.
Two important organs tasked in processing and regulating hormones are the liver and the bowels. Our bowels are responsible for removing excess hormones – so to optimize the bowels and livers functioning it’s important to cleanse and detoxify regularly. See the section on detoxification for more information. Another option so apply castor oil packs to the abdomen on alternating days so as to ease fibroid symptoms and increase hormone processing.
You can also minimize estrogen through diet. Limit red meat, chicken and dairy products as well as coffee, black tea, chocolate and cola, the latter which contain methylxanthines and promote fibroid growth.
Foods that should be eaten include soy products. Soy contains plant estrogens that help to balance estrogen levels. Foods rich in vitamin K should also be eaten to reduce excess bleeding. These foods include leafy greens and seaweeds. Use essential fatty acids, found in flax, walnut and pumpkin seed oil, because they are anti-inflammatory and decrease cramping.
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Fibroids seem to be pretty common in my family and it was good to read this article to kind of understand it more and to also learn about interventions to help with it. In addition, it was helpful to know such interventions as to perhaps avoid getting them as well. This was a good read, very educational and informative. I can now pass this info onto others so that they can benefit from it as well.
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