In my Chicago acupuncture practice I treat many women for various gynecological problems. A common one is uterine fibroids. Uterine fibroids are noncancerous tumors of the uterus that often occur during child bearing years. For many women the fibroids are not problematic but for some they can be painful and cause bleeding. I recently came across this article, by Jill Blakeway, M.S., L.A.c., which provides some helpful tips for women dealing with discomfort from uterine fibroids.
“Herbs and acupuncture can help reduce the size of fibroids but in my experience are unlikely to make them magically disappear altogether. With this in mind its important to consult your GYN and use Chinese medicine as an adjunct to what she recommends. That having been said, I have had very good results using Chinese herbal formulas such as Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan to reduce the size and unpleasant side effects of uterine fibroids.
Fibroids grow in response to excess estrogen in the system which means that you need to reduce your exposure to external sources of estrogen and support your liver whose job it is to process estrogen for you. In Chinese medicine fibroids are related to blood stagnation and so promoting the circulation of blood in the pelvic area is recommended. There is often an emotional element to fibroids and it can be helpful to explore and address that. So when developing your self-help regimen you should focus on these areas.
1- Limiting your exposure to eternal estrogens
2 – Supporting your liver
3 – Moving blood in the pelvic area.
4 – Exploring the emotions associated with your fibroids”
To read in more detail about how to implement these suggestions in your daily life, Jill gives some great explanations and examples here.