Acupuncture Treatment for Uterine Fibroids

The development of hard muscle tissue in the uterus is known as uterine fibroids. They may be known by other names like leiomyomas, myomas or fibroid tumors. Fibroids usually develop in women who are over 40 years of age. In fact, about half of the women 40 years old and over suffer from this condition. The fibroid can become huge that it has been known to grow about a hundred pounds (albeit very rarely)! Most sufferers though have significantly smaller fibroids, usually the size of a walnut.

In the United States, the number one reason for hysterectomies is the development of fibroids.

Uterine fibroids have no known causes although estrogens particularly estradiol, often makes it conducive for their development. Because the levels of estrogen may increase during the early years of menopause, previously asymptomatic fibroids can grow during the years just prior to the complete stoppage of the menstrual cycle leading to symptoms like severe menstrual flooding and pain, bowel problems, urinary incontinence or frequency, pain during coitus, low back pain or a sensation of heaviness in the stomach.

White women are less prone to fibroids than colored women. The latter are 3 times to 9 times more likely to develop this condition and develop it more quickly than the former.

Although not usually cancerous, fibroid tumors can still become malignant. Still the there is only less than 0.1% chance of that from ever occurring.

Small fibroids usually vanish spontaneously. More hard to resolve are large fibroids although they can be treated using natural remedies.

In Eastern medicine, the lowermost energy center in the body is known as the “root chakra” and this area includes the uterus. This chakra is the part believed to store anger that is unexpressed. Eastern medical practitioners believe unwanted growths in the uterus can be neutralized by allowing the anger to discharge in a safe way.

Menstrual cramps and uterine fibroids can vanish within or after three months following a vigorous exercise program. Irregular ovulation often accompanies the presence of the fibroids and it can even exacerbate the condition. Exercise can help because it promotes regular ovulation.

Daily eating of three or more serving of beans or whole grains helps to decrease the size of the fibroid as well as afford protection to the endometrium and breasts from development of endometrial and breast cancers.

Trifolium pratense or red clover flowers should not be used during menopause as it can complicate your condition if you have fibroids.

Using yellow dock root, milk thistle seed and other herbs can help tonify the liver helping it metabolize estrogen out of the body helping decrease fibroids in the process.

Chasteberry tincture or Vitex can decrease the size of the fibroids after two months of use although results can take longer perhaps up to a couple of years. Use twice to four times daily at 25-30 drops per use.

Burning moxa over the part of the body where the fibroid is located can help shrink the size of the fibroid.

Poke root utilized as a tincture for internal use can help relieve symptoms of fibroids. Use from one to 10 drops daily. When used externally for rubbing the stomac, poke root can greatly alleviate distress and pain related to the fibroids. A WARNING: Poke is known to be poisonous and so is not usually for sale.

Lupron is a medication that can induce menopause by stopping the body from producing estradiol. This usually helps shrink the size of the fibroid size within two to three months. The problem with this treatment is that the fibroids tend to grow back when the drug’s use has been stopped.

Warm ginger compresses (hot ginger water in a towel) or castor oil packs on the stomach can decrease the size of the fibroids and alleviate pain.

Consuming beans and whole grains can improve the ratio of estrogen and progesterone in the body as well decrease the size of the fibroids.

Fibroids can be lessened by avoiding exposure to estrogen. This means not eating foods that have been exposed to pesticides and herbicides (that have residues that mimic estrogen), eating organic foods, not using birth control pills and not avoiding ERT/HRT.

Chlorine-bleached tampons should not be used as they can also mimic estrogen.

Women with fibroids can also consider surgery. There are now several options aside from the extraction of the uterus (hysterectomy). They include suprecrvical hysterectomy, myomectomy, uterine embolization and hysteroscopic resection. It is highly recommended to seek a surgeon who specializes in these procedures since they are relatively new procedures.

Hysterectomy is a very important procedure as it can be a life-saving one. However, a third of American women who have reached 60 have had their wombs already surgically removed. Fibroids that do not manifest any symptoms are not enough reasons to undergo a hysterectomy. A woman is healthier with her ovaries intact, although there can be rare exceptions to this. Therefore, even if you need to undergo hysterectomy, it’s best to keep your ovaries.

Danielle DeVivo is a board certified and licensed acupuncturist in Saratoga Springs, NY.