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NATURAL REMEDIES TO MANAGE UTERINE FIBROIDS

Writer's picture: Danielle Desroches, APRNDanielle Desroches, APRN



STATISTICS


Uterine fibroids (leiomyomas) are benign tumors located in the smooth muscle of the uterus and are typically round, well-circumscribed masses that rarely become cancerous. There are usually multiple and can range in size from a few millimeters to massive growths of 20 cm in diameter and more. It is more common among African American women.


In the USA, 200,000 hysterectomies (surgical removal of the uterus) are performed annually for fibroids. When medications and inpatient and outpatient hospital attendances are added, the annual costs are estimated at between 4–9 billion US dollars. These costs do not include lost work time and other consequences such as spontaneous abortions, pre-term delivery and Caesarean sections.


CAUSES

  • The etiology is largely unknown

  • Researchers confirmed estrogen and progesterone-dependent tumors, very rare before menarche or puberty

  • Common in reproductive life, and frequently regress in size after menopause

SIGNS AND SYMPTOMS

*Asymptomatic (some women may not even experience any signs and symptoms)

  • Abnormal uterine bleeding

  • Anemia due to blood loss

  • Pelvic pain or pressure

  • Dyspareunia (Painful intercourse)

  • Obstructive effects on bladder or rectum, and infertility

  • Constipation

DIAGNOSIS

  • Pelvic exam

  • Ultrasound

  • MRI

  • Routine labs to check for anemia


TREATMENTS

*There is no single best approach to uterine fibroids treatment

  • Contraceptive Pills

  • Progestin-releasing intrauterine device (IUD)

  • Myomectomy or fibroidectomy (removal of fibroids)

  • Hysterectomy

  • Uterine Artery Embolization (UAE)


SIDE EFFECTS OF THE ABOVE TREATMENTS

  • Leg swelling

  • Excessive Weight Gain, Acne, Facial Hair, Deepened Voice and Depression

  • Cardiovascular Problems (Heart Attack)

  • Digestive System Disorder

  • Damage to the Reproductive System

FOODS AND OBJECTS TO AVOID


Eating excess refined carbohydrates and sugary foods may trigger or worsen fibroids. These foods raise blood sugar levels. This causes your body to produce too much insulin hormone. Avoid plastic that has BISPHENOL-A (BPA). BPA acts as a synthetic form of ESTROGEN and can be highly toxic.


The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has found 95% of adult human urine contains BPA and 93% of child urine contains BPA. BPA is much more toxic if subjected to heat. It has a compound call XENOESTROGEN that is released when BPA containing materials are heated. Plastic bottles left in the heat must be discarded. DO NOT COOK ON TEFLON PANS; when heated, they release PFOA (Perfluorooctanoic acid) —also known as C8 which is an ESTROGEN MIMICKER, causing testicular, thyroid and kidney cancer.

Avoid:

  • Soy products

  • white rice

  • Pasta

  • Flour

  • Soda

  • Drinks with corn syrup

  • Baked goods (cakes, cookies, doughnuts)

  • Potato chips

  • Crackers

FOODS TO EAT: (UNPROCESS FOODS)

  • Brightly colored foods

  • Raw and cooked vegetables

  • Dried fruit

  • Whole grains (brown rice, etc.)

  • Lentils and beans

  • Quinoa

SUPPLEMENTS AND VITAMIN

  • Magnesium

  • Calcium

  • Vitamin B1

  • Vitamin B6

  • Omega 3 fatty-acid

  • Iron (if anemic)

HERBAL REMEDIES, FRUITS AND VEGETABLES


Herbal remedies may help to treat fibroids or reduce related symptoms. Further research is needed to find determine the efficacy of these medicines and what the most effective dosage is.


*Herbs are potent medicines and can interact with other drugs. They’re also not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Talk with your doctor before taking any herbal or new medicines.


Traditional Chinese Medicine

Herbal remedies are used in traditional Chinese Medicine to slow fibroid growth and treat symptoms. One herbal formula is called Guizhi fuling or Gui Zhi Fu Ling Tang. This formula contains several herbs that act to shrink uterine fibroids, balance hormone levels, and keep your uterus healthy:


HERBALS MEDICINES

  • Ramulus cinnamomi (decreases neuroinflammation)

  • Radix paeoniae rubra (anti-tumor or cancer effect)

  • Radix paeoniae albacortex moutan (anti-oxidant, anti-inflammation, anti-tumor and cancer effect)

Green tea


A bioflavonoid in green tea called Epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) may help reduce the size and number of fibroids. This may be due to its ability to reduce inflammation and remove toxins from your body.


Chasteberry


Chasteberry, or vitex, is taken for premenstrual syndrome (PMS), heavy menstrual bleeding, painful periods, and boots infertility other symptoms. This herbal remedy helps to balance hormone levels.


ISPHAGULA HUS, SENNA and CASTOR OIL (HELP WITH CONSTIPATION)


Isphagula and Senna are used as natural laxatives. Add these herbs to water or juice to help relieve constipation. Castor oil is an herbal oil that can be taken as a supplement to help occasional constipation.

JUICE RECIPE TO SHRINK FIBROIDS (1 SERVING)

  • One (1) small size of Ginger and One (1) small size of Turmeric

  • One (1) cluster of Spinach (*use it carefully if you are on Coumadin due to vitamin K)

  • One (1) Cluster of Collard Green or (Kale, Arugula, Swiss Chad, your choice)

  • One (1) Beet

  • Two (2) Lemons or a handful of cherries

  • Two (2)-Three (3) apples

HEALTH BENEFITS OF THESE PLANTS:

  • Spinach has potassium, Iron, Zinc, Manganese, Calcium and Magnesium, Niacin, Folate, Vitamin B6, A, C and K, which are all essentials to maintain good health

  • Collard Green helps prevent cancer and stroke, boost cognitive development, regulates blood sugar, and blood circulation, aids bone growth and development, prevent muscular degeneration and night blindness

  • Beet helps to build blood, cleans the intestine, maintain healthy new cell, help to heal wounds, prevent and treat cancer, helps to get rid of sugar craving, instant source of energy, prevent heart disease, detoxifies liver and gallbladder, contains abundant vitamins and minerals

  • Apple helps with weight loss, better sleep, reduces the risk of diabetes, aids in pain relief and bone health, rich in antioxidant

  • Cherries help the risk of stroke

  • Ginger contains Gingerol, a chemical compound that has many medicinal properties to shrink fibroids, anti-inflammatory property (*Ginger is a natural blood thinner; can cause bleeding, use very carefully)

  • Tumeric has anti-inflammatory effects and is a very strong antioxidant (*Use very carefully, it can cause bleeding if taken in large portion, do not use if taking aspirin, Coumadin, Plavix and other anticoagulant or anti platelet therapies).


*ALWAYS TALK TO YOUR HEALTH CARE PROVIDER BEFORE TAKING ANY NEW MEDICATIONS INCLUDING HERBAL ETC.


*ALL MEDICINES HAVE SIDE EFFECTS, HERBAL OR NOT, BUT SOME HAVE MORE THAN THE OTHERS*



LEGEND

* = Extremely Important


 

References


American Cancer Society. (2018). Teflon and Perfluorooctanoic Acid. Retrieved from https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/teflon-and-perfluorooctanoic-acid-pfoa.html


Chen, N. N., Han, M., Yang, H., Yang, G. Y., Wang, Y. Y., Wu, X. K., & Liu, J. P. (2014). Chinese herbal medicine Guizhi Fuling Formula for treatment of uterine fibroids: a systematic review of randomised clinical trials. BMC complementary and alternative medicine, 14, 2. doi:10.1186/1472-6882-14-2. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3881498/





Healthline. (2019). How to Treat Uterine Fibroids Yourself. Retrieved from https://www.healthline.com/health/fibroids-natural-treatment#traditional-treatment


Lin, M. Y., Chiang, S. Y., Li, Y. Z., Chen, M. F., Chen, Y. S., Wu, J. Y., & Liu, Y. W. (2016). Anti-tumor effect of Radix Paeoniae Rubra extract on mice bladder tumors using intravesical therapy. Oncology letters, 12(2), 904–910. doi:10.3892/ol.2016.4698. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4950246/


Rafieian-Kopaei, M., & Movahedi, M. (2017). Systematic Review of Premenstrual, Postmenstrual and Infertility Disorders of Vitex Agnus Castus. Electronic physician, 9(1), 3685–3689. doi:10.19082/3685. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5308513/


Shan Trout. (2019). Natural Way of Shrinking Fibroid. Columbia SC


Yang, H., Cheng, X., Yang, Y. L., Wang, Y. H., & Du, G. H. (2017). Ramulus Cinnamomi extract attenuates neuroinflammatory responses via downregulating TLR4/MyD88 signaling pathway in BV2 cells. Neural regeneration research, 12(11), 1860–1864. doi:10.4103/1673-5374.219048. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5745840/


Williams A. (2017). Uterine fibroids - what's new?. F1000Research, 6, 2109. doi:10.12688/f1000research.12172.1. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5721931/


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