Uterine Fibroids – Healthy.net

Healing Fibroids Naturally

Christiane Northrup MD — Tue, 24 Apr 2007 20:39:28 +0000

“The good news is most fibroids don’t cause symptoms, don’t require any fancy treatment, and almost never require a hysterectomy, despite what you may have heard.”

Chances are that you or someone you know has fibroids. Fibroids (also called myomas) are benign tumors that grow in the smooth muscle cells in the uterine wall (the myometrium). They can form on the inside or outside of the uterus; above, below, or on the side of it. They’re present in 25-40 percent of women in their childbearing years, and about 40 percent of women have one or more fibroids when they reach menopause. As a physician, I’ve cared for thousands of women with fibroids-including myself-treating them with everything from diet to drugs to hormone replacement to surgery.
Most
women with fibroids don’t even know they have one until their doctor discovers it during an annual pelvic exam. These benign growths are amenable to lifestyle changes such as diet, taking certain herbs, exercise, and changes in emotional patterns. Lifestyle modifications are likely to have an impact because fibroids are very sensitive to changes in hormone levels in the body. Your hormones can be influenced by everything from dietary modifications to changes in your thoughts
and emotions!

The
good news is most fibroids don’t cause symptoms, don’t require any fancy treatment,
and almost never require a hysterectomy, despite what you may have heard. Unfortunately,
fibroids are the number one indication for hysterectomy in this country. And many
times the ovaries, a woman’s source of testosterone, are removed along with the
uterus to prevent possible ovarian cancer in the future. Though I certainly understand
the rationale for this, many women suffer from unexpected side effects from ovarian
removal and subsequent low testosterone levels, which result in a loss of sex
drive and decreased vitality.

Of
course, depending upon the size, number, and location of the fibroid, some women
experience pain, heavy bleeding, or pressure. If the fibroid is large, 10 cm.
or greater, the lower abdomen can swell slightly and make it appear that a woman
is a few months pregnant, which is what happened to me. Even if her fibroids are
causing problems, there’s a lot that a woman can do besides taking drugs, having
surgery, or undergoing the new Ex Ablate ultrasound procedure. (See below.)
In
his excellent and comprehensive book Healing Fibroids: A Doctor’s Guide to a Natural
Cure (which he co-wrote with Elena Oumano for Fireside, 2002), Allan Warshowsky,
M.D. (a board certified ob-gyn colleague and friend of mine), gives you everything
you need to know to decrease fibroid symptoms naturally. If you have fibroids,
I urge you to read his book. You’re likely to find just the solution you’re looking
for. And keep in mind that the lifestyle changes you adopt to heal your fibroids
will also improve the health of every cell in your body! Here are a few points
from Healing Fibroids. There are many other fantastic insights in the book.

*
Decrease or eliminate “white” foods. Foods such as white bread, cookies,
cakes, and pasta increase insulin, which changes the way estrogen is metabolized,
creating compounds that are more likely to cause cellular inflammation and fibroid
symptoms, including enhanced growth of existing fibroids. (Further evidence of
the diet-estrogen-fibroid connection is the fact that fibroids are more common
in overweight women.)

*
Eat soy and flax. Nearly all women can benefit from taking phytoestrogens-plant-based
hormones found in soy and flaxseed. Not only are phytoestrogens a safe alternative
to synthetic hormones, these phytoestrogen-rich foods decrease the effects of
estrogen levels naturally by blocking the estrogen receptors on the cells in fibroids
and other estrogen-sensitive tissues. Studies have shown that eating soy and flax
helps the body produce smaller amounts of unhealthy estrogens. Flaxseed is high
in both fiber and omega-3 fats, which help reduce inflammation and tumor growth
throughout the body and rid the body of toxins, including excess estrogen.

*
Consider herbs. There’s a wide variety of herbs that help balance estrogen levels
naturally. These include chasteberry, dong quai, and black cohosh-all of which
have been used for centuries for various gynecological conditions. Dr. Warshowsky’s
book contains a comprehensive list of the herbs that work best for fibroids and
includes instructions for exactly how to take them. (I also address the subject
of herbs for menopausal symptoms in my book The Wisdom of Menopause [Bantam, 2001].)

*
Add a tincture of time. Perimenopause and menopause are nature’s own treatment
for fibroids. Falling estrogen levels that occur in late perimenopause often shrink
fibroids considerably. And nothing further needs to be done! Watchful waiting
is especially good for women who have no symptoms from their fibroids or don’t
even know they have them!

When
Natural Methods Aren’t Enough
There is a new ultrasound treatment for fibroids
called ExAblate, which was approved in the fall of 2004 by the FDA. ExAblate is
a new device that combines MRI imaging to map out uterine fibroids followed by
high-intensity, focused ultrasound that heats up and destroys fibroid tissue.
Fibroid tissue is very well suited to this treatment because the blood vessels
in fibroids help the body dissipate the excess heat that’s generated. The procedure
is done on an outpatient basis and is noninvasive, leaving the uterus and ovaries
intact. It involves lying on your abdomen in an MRI tube for up to three hours
while ultrasound waves heat up and destroy the uterine tissue. Side effects may
include blisters on the abdominal skin, cramping, nausea, and some pain that can
be managed with over-the-counter medication.
I had my fibroid surgically removed
during perimenopause some years ago, but didn’t undergo a hysterectomy. (Though
I had no symptoms, I simply got tired of looking pregnant-mine was very large-and
I didn’t want to continue to “dress around my fibroid.”) However, if
ExAblate had been available at the time, I would have strongly considered this
treatment.
Studies show that ExAblate successfully reduces fibroid symptoms
in about 70 percent of women, but that 20 percent will require additional surgery
within a year. The FDA reports that though the procedure successfully reduces
symptoms in the majority of women, these symptoms will return in some women. And
so will the fibroids. This is why I also recommend that all women suffering from
fibroids do their best to adopt the kind of lifestyle changes mentioned above-you’ll
be able to reduce fibroid symptoms over the long term and improve how your hormones
are metabolized. Still, I feel that ExAblate is a major step forward and a very
exciting use of technology.
Please Note: ExAblate should not be used by those
who want to get pregnant because not enough data is available to determine what
happens to the uterine wall and lining following the procedure. For more information
about ExAblate, you can call 866-392-2528 or check out the InSightec Website,
the company that developed the technology, at http://www.uterine-fibroids.org.

Symptoms
Always Carry a Bigger Message
There are many treatments available for fibroids,
including drugs, surgery, and the newer high-tech ultrasound treatment known as
ExAblate. Regardless of which one(s) you choose, it’s important to understand
that fibroids, like all conditions, don’t just jump out of the closet and land
on you (or your uterus). They’re a signal from your inner wisdom that something
in your life needs to be addressed. This doesn’t mean that you need to obsess
or make a career out of them, but it does mean that you’ll be happier and healthier
if you regard them as messengers and then heed the message. (It might be as simple
as losing ten pounds!)

Fibroids
often represent creativity that hasn’t been birthed yet, or creativity (such as
a job or relationship) that’s being directed down a dead-end path. I’ve written
about this extensively in both Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom and The Wisdom of
Menopause. Addressing the lifestyle and mind/body factors that favor fibroid growth
in the first place will also help prevent recurrence. And if you eventually need
a medical procedure for your fibroids, your health will have improved greatly
and you’ll heal much faster.

Subscribe
to Dr. Northrup’s Newsletter today! (Link to:http://www.drnorthrup.com/newsletters/index.php

Provided from the September/October 2005 Issue of The Dr. Christiane Northrup Newsletter with Permission from Hay House, Inc., pg. 6.

Reader’s Corner:Fibroids:

What Doctors Don't Tell You — Sun, 02 Jul 2006 10:49:15 +0000

One reader last time told us that she had been advised to have a hysterectomy because she has a large fibroid, which is embedded in her uterus. Not surprisingly, she wondered if she had other options – and now, thanks to you all, of course she does.

In response, one woman relates her own extraordinary story of the time that she discharged herself from hospital rather than have an emergency hysterectomy because of fibroids and ovarian cysts. Instead she treated herself with a radical change of diet. No more chemical fats, such as hydrogenated found in biscuits, chips and the like, and no more sugar. Instead she had extra virgin olive oil, flax and fish oils, and real butter. For a while she also went on a macrobiotic diet. Today, 25 years later, she remains sexy, young and attractive. Good for her!

Fibroids disappear after menopause any way, another reader says, but in the meantime, treat with a wholefood diet, with plenty of cleansing raw fruits and vegetables, and no added sugar. Most of all, omit all meat and dairy as these can encourage fibroid growth.

Another reader says that coffee can also encourage fibroids. Look at the cause first, advises one reader, and this can include the Pill, diet and especially refined sugars, or a psychoemotional problem, including the relationship with our mothers. Another says that the fibroid is the body’s way of storing waste. If the uterus is full, it’s rather like throwing away the dustbin because it needs emptying. Detox instead, is the advice.

A Homeopathic Perspective on Women’s Health

Dana Ullman MPH — Wed, 06 Dec 2000 13:28:02 +0000

Premenstrual Syndrome
Cystitis
Vaginitis
Cysts & Fibroids
Endometriosis
Fertility and Contraception
Menopause
Osteoporosis

Eliza Flagg Young, MD, a nineteenth century physician, once said, “Every woman is born a doctor. Men have to study to become one.” Although this may be a controversial statement, what isn’t controversial is that women tend to be the primary health care providers in most families. In the vast majority of homes women are responsible for watching over the health needs of the children, and by their shopping and cooking, they are responsible for fulfilling the nutritional needs of the family.

Because homeopathic medicines are considerably more amenable to home care than are conventional drugs, it is predictable that American women have had a history of interest in homeopathy.

It was not simply a coincidence that a large number of leading suffragettes in America during the 19th century were advocates of homeopathic medicine. Susan B. Anthony, Elizabeth Cady Stanton, Julia Ward Howe, Louisa May Alcott, Elizabeth Stuart Phelps, Lucretia Mott, and Clemence Sophia Lozier were but some of the nineteenth century feminists who considered both women’s rights and homeopathic medicine to be important ways to create a healthier society.

The famous Ladies Physiological Societies of the nineteenth century were early versions of contemporary women’s support groups in which women taught each other about their bodies and how to heal themselves. Because of the significant role that homeopathy played at that time, information about homeopathic medicines was integral in many of these meetings of women.

Even many wives of conventional physicians in the nineteenth century sought the care of homeopaths. At an 1883 meeting of the American Medical Association, one doctor complained, “Too many wives of conventional physicians are going to homeopathic physicians. And to make matters worse, they are taking their children to homeopaths too!”¹

Likewise today, the vast majority, approximately two thirds, of homeopathic patients and purchasers of homeopathic products are women. And today, there are approximately 300 homeopathic study groups, the significant majority of which are led by women and participated in by women.

There is one simple reason why so many women, past and present, have sought out homeopathic medicine: it is a safer and more effective method of healing themselves and their families. Because women tend to seek professional medical care more than men do, they also tend to experience more of its dangers as well as its benefits. When women reach the limits of modern medical expertise and experience some of the harsh side effects of modern medical practices, it is certainly understandable that they seek out alternative health methods such as homeopathic medicine.

Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)

Homeopathic medicines can effectively treat the cramps, bloating, and various psychological symptoms that women commonly experience around their menstrual flow. While serious PMS should receive professional homeopathic attention, occasional or mild PMS symptoms can benefit from self-treatment, with either an individually prescribed remedy or one of the combination formula products.

When cramps are the predominating symptom of PMS, consider Pulsatilla (for cramps experienced by women who are gentle, yielding, and easily weepy, and who experience a changeable menstrual flow from month to month, are without thirst, are occasionally nauseous, prefer open air, and tend to feel worse when exposed to heat, which usually aggravates their water retention), Belladonna (for intense bearing down pains or cramps that come on and go away suddenly, and aggravation from motion or any type of jarring or draft, sometimes with a headache), Magnesia phos (cramps that are relieved by bending over, by firm abdominal massage while bending forward, or by warmth and warm application, and that are aggravated by cold, cold air, or uncovering), and Colocynthis (cramps like those of Magnesia phos but the woman is considerably more irritable and restless).

When bloating is the primary symptom, consider Pulsatilla (see above), Sepia (constipation, lethargy, general weakness felt in internal organs, irritable personality, snappishness, sadness), Lycopodium (aggravation of symptoms between 4-8pm, in warm weather, and with flatulence, and backache), and Lachesis (aggravation of symptoms during sleep and upon waking, symptoms worse on left side, pains relieved by the flow).

When moodiness, irritability, and heightened emotions are the main symptoms, consider Pulsatilla (see above), Sepia (see above), Ignatia (emotional vulnerability, especially grief, contradictory feelings, and hysteria), Cimicifuga (sharp labor-like pains that dart from one side of the body to the other, possible back pain or sciatica, intolerance of pain, loquaciousness, hysteria, feelings of being overwhelmed, and “I can’t take it anymore”), Lachesis (loquacious, sharp-tongued, sarcastic ,irritable, suspicious, and jealous, with flushes of heat, symptoms worse upon waking and exposure to heat; headaches), and Nux vomica (irritable, faultfinding, quarrelsome, competitive; Type-A personality; nausea).

Dose: Take the 6, 12, or 30th potency every two hours during intense symptoms and every four hours for less intense symptoms. Stop taking the remedy if symptoms are gone or quite mild. If there isn’t some type of obvious improvement in 12 hours, try another remedy.

Cystitis (Bladder Infection)

Another extremely common condition for which homeopathic medicines seem to work wonders is cystitis (bladder infection). While professional homeopathic care and/or medical attention should be sought to treat recurring bladder symptoms and for severe symptoms, an individually chosen homeopathic medicine can alleviate the pain and discomfort of most acute conditions before the woman reaches the doctor’s office.

The two most common remedies for acute cystitis are Cantharis (burning, cutting pain before, during, and after urination, each drop passing as though it were scalding water, frequent urges to urinate) and Sarsaparilla (severe pain at end of urination, burning pain and constant urging; a characteristic but not common symptom is that urine can be passed only while standing). Other remedies to consider are Berberis (pain in the thighs and loins during urination, pain extending from the bladder and/or over the abdomen to the urethra), Pulsatilla (pain during and after urination as well as when lying down, dry mouth but no thirst), Apis (stinging pains with an aggravation of symptoms by warmth of any sort), Belladonna (acute pain aggravated by any motion or simple jarring, a sensation of something moving inside the bladder, restlessness at night with wild dreams), Nux vomica (constant urge to urinate, short relief when passing small quantities and from warm applications or warm bathing), and Causticum (cystitis after surgery, involuntary urination when coughing or sneezing).

Dose: Take the 6, 12, or 30th potency every two hours during intense symptoms and every four hours for less intense symptoms. Stop taking the remedy if symptoms are gone or become mild. If there isn’t some type of obvious improvement in 24 hours, try another remedy. The correct remedy may need to be taken for up to three days for an acute urinary tract infection.

Vaginitis

Vaginitis refers to an inflammatory condition in the vagina that is primarily the result of infection (i.e., from Candida albicans, Trichomonas vaginalis, Gardnerella vaginalis, or Chlamydia trachomatis) or exposure to an irritant (chemical or allergic). The symptoms of vaginitis generally include an abnormal vaginal discharge and itching or burning pains. To understand how and why homeopathic medicines are effective, it is useful to learn something about the nature of vaginitis.

One of the most common types of vaginitis is a yeast infection, usually caused by the yeast Candida albicans. The vagina normally is populated by a variety of microorganisms that help to prevent infection. The “good” microorganisms create a chemical environment that inhibits the “bad” microorganisms. They also compete for food with the “bad” infective organisms. If a woman takes antibiotics to treat an infection, whether it is for vaginitis or not, the antibiotics kill both the bad and the good microorganisms, ultimately creating various imbalances in the body, including yeast infections.

The vagina can normally live comfortably with small amounts of yeast, but the killing of good microorganisms by antibiotics allows yeast to grow in significant numbers, creating a yeast infection.

Conventional treatment for yeast conditions is usually antifungal medications or suppositories. While these medicines may temporarily decrease the number of yeast cells, they do not increase the body’s good microorganisms, nor do they protect the body from future yeast infections.

Other factors that can disrupt the ecological balance in the vagina are a high sugar diet, birth control pills, and certain hormonal changes, including those caused by pregnancy. Simply getting rid of the yeast, bacteria, or other pathogens growing as a result of the ecological imbalance and leading to vaginitis does not resolve the fundamental stress to the woman’s health.

Homeopathic medicines are not antifungal or antibacterial in the conventional sense. Rather, they strengthen a woman’s own defenses, which then help her body fight off the fungal infection itself. By this process they do not create the same type of internal ecological disruption that antibiotics cause. Some of the common remedies for vaginitis are Pulsatilla (white, yellow, or greenish bland vaginal discharge with vaginal soreness, a weepy, moody, emotionally-laden state, thirstlessness, aggravated by heat and relieved in the open air; a common remedy for vaginitis in pregnant women), Kreosotum (itching with burning pains, a yellow, putrid vaginal discharge which is acrid and irritates the vaginal lips and surrounding skin; the discharge may stain bedsheets, and is worse in the morning and upon standing), Borax (a burning vaginal discharge which is the color of egg whites; Borax tends to be useful for vaginitis that occurs midway between menstrual periods), Hydrastis (profuse stringy yellow vaginal discharge with great itching, worse after menstruation), Sepia (white, milky, offensive, itchy, and burning discharge which tends to be more profuse in the morning and while walking, sensations of uncomfortable pressure and heaviness in the vaginal area, general fatigue, constipation, irritability, depression), Graphites (premenstrual yeast infection, often in overweight women with thin, white, acrid discharge and who may experience a concurrent backache, increased discharge in the morning and while walking), and Calcarea carb (thick yellow or milky discharge which tends to cause intense itching, usually in overweight, fair-skinned women, worse before menses and on becoming warm, though they tend to be very chilly; a headache and spasmodic cramps may be concurrent). These remedies are effective not only for yeast infections, but also for other types of vaginal infection. In addition, there are numerous homeopathic formula products in pill or suppository form that can be used to treat the acute vaginal infection effectively.

Chronic or recurrent vaginitis should receive professional homeopathic care for an appropriate constitutional medicine.

Dose: Take the 6, 12, or 30th potency every two hours during intense symptoms and every four hours for less intense symptoms. Stop taking the remedy if symptoms are gone or have become mild. If there isn’t some type of obvious improvement in 48 hours, try another remedy.

Cysts and Fibroids

A cyst is a usually harmless fluid-filled sac of tissue that may be found in the breast, ovaries, or vagina, or simply under the skin. Small cysts are often imperceptible, and even large ones can sometimes be symptomless unless they are large enough to press on certain organs or nerves. Fibroids are noncancerous growths in or on the walls of the uterus which can lead to abnormal uterine bleeding, painful intercourse, and bladder and bowel pressure.

Cysts and fibroids are relatively common symptoms experienced by women. Conventional medical care ranges from the conservative (“Let’s leave it alone and let it go away”) to the radical (“We need to remove it before it gets worse or causes any other problem”). Homeopathic treatment for these conditions generally requires professional constitutional care. Some homeopaths have observed that cysts often respond rapidly to the correct homeopathic medicine, while fibroids tend to take longer. Homeopathic remedies for fibroids will not always completely get rid of them, but they do often at least reduce bleeding or other complications. Homeopathic treatment of fibroids tends to be more effective when they are not too extensive.

In reference to the treatment of cysts, a gynecologist from Barcelona, recently reported on a study she performed evaluating 40 cases of ovarian cysts. After nine months of treatment using individually chosen homeopathic medicines, 36 of the 40 women had no evidence of a cyst, three had only a right-sided cyst, and one had a cyst on both sides.²

Endometriosis

Endometriosis is a condition in which the lining of the uterus gets displaced and appears in various sites in the body, including the ovaries, the bladder, or the bowel. Although the cause of this condition is unknown, it is sustained by ovarian hormones.

Endometriosis can lead to varying symptoms, including heavy, painful periods, breast swelling, backache before periods, infertility, painful intercourse, dizziness, and depression. Conventional treatments for it are diverse and problematic. The conventional pharmacological treatment is with drugs that inhibit ovarian or pituitary hormones. These drugs produce various masculinizing effects, including increased body hair and irreversible changes in the voice. Some physicians recommend surgical treatment in which the displaced cells are burned out with a laser, or removal of the uterus, Fallopian tubes, and/or ovaries.

Because some women experience great pain with this condition, they are desperate for any relief. These conventional medical treatments sometimes provide relief, but at the cost of new problematic symptoms and sometimes at the cost of the recurrence of the original condition.

Michael Carlston, MD, a homeopath and assistant clinical professor at the University of California at San Francisco School of Medicine, asserts that homeopathic medicines can be very helpful at the early and middle stages of endometriosis, though because of severe scarring during advanced stages of the disease, they are not very effective later on. Endometriosis is not an ailment amenable to self-care; professional homeopathic care is required.

Fertility and Contraception

Because homeopathic medicines can be effective in reestablishing health in women’s reproductive organs, it follows that they can be helpful in reestablishing fertility. Homeopathic constitutional care, rather than self-care, is necessary for treating problems of fertility.

Some women ask if homeopathic medicines can be used for contraception. The answer to this question is a definitive “No.” Homeopathic medicines create healthy people, and in the process of doing so tend to make people more rather than less fertile.

Any pharmacological agent that is strong enough to block conception is also strong enough to cause other physiological disruptions. Birth control pills have been linked to heart disease and to breast cancer, though while some studies have found this latter link, others have not. Various less drastic but still problematic symptoms have also been associated with the use of birth control pills, including increased vaginal bleeding, migraine headaches, bladder infections, depression, and various nutritional deficiencies. Dr. Ronald W. Davey, physician to Queen Elizabeth II, notes that he sometimes uses homeopathic doses of the Pill to treat women who have suffered from side effects of this drug. To get the best results, however, a woman has to have stopped taking the Pill.

Many women have experienced symptoms from the IUD as well. Chellis Glendinning, in her book When Technology Wounds, describes her traumatic experiences with the ill-famed Dalkon shield IUD.³ Ultimately, professional care from a homeopathic physician helped restore her health when no other treatment was effective.

Side effects from conventional drugs and from medical devices generally require the attention of a professional homeopath, unless the symptoms are extremely minor.

Menopause

Menopause is a natural life phase which some doctors seem to have made into a disease. The fact that women secrete less estrogen in their fifth or sixth decade of life does not signify an ailment but is part of normal body evolution. While it is true that many women experience various symptoms during this change of life, there are many natural ways to deal with them which are safer than the lifelong estrogen replacement therapy that physicians commonly recommend (see Resources section for details).

Homeopathic medicines are effective for relieving the common symptoms experienced during menopause (hot flashes, vaginal dryness, cramping, bloating, constipation, and emotional swings). Self-care with homeopathic medicines can be provided for these symptoms, though because the symptoms can be so diverse in their effects on women’s bodies and minds, it is not possible to summarize the key remedies in this book (see Resources).

Osteoporesis

Osteoporesis is one of the serious conditions that some women experience late in life. Because there are several homeopathic medicines, notably Calcarea phos (calcium phosphate), which are known to help build stronger bones, it makes sense that homeopathic remedies be considered as part of a woman’s health program. However, because osteoporesis can be an insidious condition which develops without obvious symptoms prior to a fracture, women are encouraged to become familiar with the various nutritional and lifestyle factors that decrease the chances of developing osteoporesis. When such efforts are combined with homeopathic medicines, women will inevitably be significantly stronger and healthier.

Dose: Although classical homeopaths prefer to prescribe constitutionally to women just prior to, during, or after menopause, women who have increased risk factors for osteoporesis and are not under professional homeopathic care might consider taking the 6th potency of Calcarea phos once a day for three to five days, every month. If, however, the woman is undergoing professional homeopathic constitutional care, this remedy will generally not be necessary.

References

¹Harris L. Coulter, Divided Legacy: The Conflict Between Homoeopathy and the American Medical Association, Berkeley: North Atlantic, 1973, 116.

²Dr. Maria Luisa Queralt Gimeno, “Research and Practical Application of the Treatment of Forty Women with Ovarian Cysts,” 45th Congress of the International League for Homeopathic Medicine, Barcelona, Spain, May, 1990.

³Chellis Glendinning, When Technology Wounds, New York: Morrow, 1990.

Resources

Lonnie Barbach, The Pause: Positive Approaches to Menopause. New York: Dutton, 1993.

Susan Curtis and Romy Fraser, Natural Healing for Women. London: Pandora, 1991.

Chellis Glendinning, When Technology Wounds. New York: Morrow, 1990.

Liz Grist, A Woman’s Guide to Alternative Medicine. Chicago: Contemporary Books, 1988.

Rima Handley, A Homeopathic Love Story. Berkeley: North Atlantic Books, 1990.

Dr. Andrew Lockie and Dr. Nicola Geddes. The Women’s Guide to Homeopathy, New York: Simon and Schuster, 1994.

Robin Murphy, Women’s Health (a set of seven tapes). Available from Homeopathic Educational Services (Berkeley, CA.). This set of tapes is not for the beginner. It provides useful, practical information for people who already have introductory level information and books and who want to expand their knowledge.

Christine Northrup, Women’s Bodies, Women’s Wisdom. New York: Bantam, 1994.

Dana Ullman, The One-Minute (or so) Healer. Los Angeles: Tarcher, 1991.

Copyright 1991 by Dana Ullman, M.P.H. used by permission of the author from
the book Consumer’s Guide to Homeopathy: The Definitive Resource for
Understanding Homeopathic Medicine and Making it Work for You
published by Jeremy P. Tarcher/Putnam.

For further information about homeopathic medicine, contact:

Homeopathic Educational
Services

2124B Kittredge St.

Berkeley, CA. 94704

(510)649-0294

(510)649-1955 (fax)

Email: mail@homeopathic.com

Healing Uterine Fibroids

Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman ND MSW — Wed, 06 Dec 2000 13:28:02 +0000

If you happen to know anything about uterine fibroids, commonly
called just “fibroids”, it’s probably because you have them yourself. Perhaps your mother had a hysterectomy because of fibroids and you assume the same will happen to you. We see many women who have fibroids and want to share with you the many options available.

Fibroids are benign uterine tumors, usually multiple, but sometimes
single, found in about 20% of all women over 35. They rarely grow after
menopause. Only 0.5% of all fibroids develop into cancer. Fibroids may be so
small that you never even know you have them or so large that it appears you
are in the early stage of pregnancy. Fibroids are discovered either during a
routine pelvic exam or when symptoms develop, such as abnormal vaginal
bleeding, discomfort, heaviness, or increased urinary frequency due to the
fibroid(s) pressing on the bladder. Diagnosis of fibroids is confirmed by
pelvic ultrasound.

What do I do if I found out I have a fibroid? Women have usu- ally
been told that surgery is the only solution, often fear a hysterectomy, and
come to us seeking an alternative. If you do have fibroids, it is quite helpful
to have an ultrasound, if you haven’t already. This provides a base- line of
the size which you can compare later after treatment. What you do next depends
on the size of the fibroid(s) and whether or not you or not it is causing any
symptoms. If the fibroids remain small, you may never have to worry about them.
If the fibroids are not very large, but are causing bleeding or other symptoms,
natural therapies may be enough. If your fibroids are very large, and
particularly if they are calcified, surgery may be necessary. Keeping your
fibroids at their current size (unless they are large) until menopause may be
enough to prevent surgery.

What natural therapies are available to treat fibroids? Various
natural therapies can be used to ideally shrink the fibroids, or at least to
keep them from growing. We always use homeopathy as a main-stay in treating
fibroids. One remedy, for example, is helpful for women with fibroids who are
irritable, have heavy, clotted periods, cry easily, and have very low sex
drive. A different remedy is needed if the woman is bleeding heavily, with
bright red blood but no clots, quite thirsty, and is a very gregarious and
sympathetic person. There are over fifty homeopathic remedies which may fit the
individual woman. Ayurvedic body typing can also be helpful for fibroids. If
the woman is bleeding heavily, she has a fire (Pitta) imbalance and had best
avoid hot spicy, acidic, and sour food and hot tubs. If she is overweight, has
a sluggish metabolism, and prob- lems with mucus congestion, her fibroid will
respond better to a diet free of or low in dairy, red meat, salt, and heavy
foods. Many cases of uterine of fibroids are due to an excess of estrogen in
the body. Therefore, we often advise decreasing red meat, chicken, and other
dietary sources of estrogen. It is the job of the liver to break down
(conjugate) estrogen. If the liver is sluggish or overworked (which can happen
whenever the body needs to detoxify substances such as fats, caffeine, alcohol,
drugs, or chemicals of any kind), excess estrogen can build up. A combination
of herbs and amino acids can help the liver detoxify more efficiently. A
multiple vitamin and mineral is always important, and if the woman is bleeding
a lot, it’s essential to make sure she’s not anemic and have her take iron if
necessary. Castor oil packs to the abdomen, following the directions of Edgar
Cayce, may help fibroids as can a variety ofWestern, Chinese, and Ayurvedic
herbs. We always recommend daily visualization to send healing light and love
to the uterus.

What about the psychological factors relating to fibroids? This
could be an article it itself! We almost always do hypnosis with any women with
fibroids to discover the underlying cause. Frustrated or unwanted pregnancies,
sexual abuse or lack of sexual satisfaction, self reproach or blame, or the
inner self asking for nurturance are common themes, though what comes up for
each woman is unique. Be sure, regard- less of what therapy you use, to try to
discover the source of why your body manifested the fibroids in the first
place.

What about surgery? If surgery is necessary, find a gynecologist
whom you really trust. Talk carefully with the surgeon prior to scheduling
surgery to make sure that he or she will remove only what is absolutely
necessary and that the uterus and ovaries will all be saved if at all pos-
sible. Many women don’t understand how important it is to try to retain their
ovaries so that hormone therapy will not be required prematurely. None of our
patients, so far, have had hysterectomies due to fibroids. If you do need
surgery, try not to worry. It is routine and safe. We prescribe a homeopathic
remedy for before and after surgery, vitamins and minerals such as beta
carotene, C, zinc, and E to promote rapid recovery and wound healing, and
bromelain to prevent scar tissue formation after surgery. We also do a
pre-surgery hypnosis session to program a very positive outcome. We often hear
reports that the surgeon was amazed at how quickly the woman healed.

Most of all,stay calm, take this opporunity to love and nurture yourself,
make the choices which you, not others, feel are best for you, surround
yourself with healing, and learn the most you can from your experience.

Drs. Judyth Reichenberg-Ullman and Robert Ullman are naturopathic and
homeopathic physicians and cofounders of the Northwest Center for Homeopathic
Medicine in Edmonds, WA. They are coauthors of The Patient’s Guide to
Homeopathic Medicine and Beyond Ritalin: Homeopathic Treatment of ADD
and Other Behavioral and Learning Problems. They can be reached at (206)
774-5599.

Cancer

American Institute for Preventive Medicine — Wed, 06 Dec 2000 13:28:02 +0000

Cancer refers to a broad group of diseases in which body cells grow out of control and are or become malignant (harmful).

Cancer is the second leading cause of death in the United States (heart disease is first). Current estimates say that 30 percent of all Americans will develop some kind of cancer in their lifetimes. The most common forms are cancer of the skin, lungs, colon and rectum, breast, prostate, urinary tract, and uterus.

Exactly what causes all cancers has not yet been found. Evidence suggests, however, that cancer could result from complex interactions of viruses, a person’s genetic make-up, their immune status and their exposure to other risk factors that may promote cancer.

These risk factors include:

Exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays, nuclear radiation, X-rays, and radon.
Use of tobacco and/or alcohol (for some cancers).
Use of certain medicines such as DES (a synthetic estrogen).
Polluted air and water.
Dietary factors such as a high fat diet, specific food preservatives, namely nitrates and nitrites; char-broiling and char-grilling meats.
Exposure to a variety of chemicals such as asbestos, benzenes, VC (vinyl chloride), wood dust, some ingredients of cigarette smoke, etc.).

Lifestyle:

Do not smoke, use tobacco products or inhale second hand smoke.
Limit your exposure to known carcinogens such as asbestos, radon, and other workplace chemicals as well as pesticides and herbicides.
Have X-rays only when necessary.
Limit your exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet (UV) rays, sun lamps and tanning booths. Protect your skin from the sun’s UV rays with sunscreen (applied frequently and containing a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher) and protective clothing (sun hats, long sleeves, etc.).
Reduce stress. Emotional stress may weaken the immune system that is relied on to fight off stray cancer cells.

Visiting Your DoctorGynecologist Checklist

American Institute for Preventive Medicine — Wed, 06 Dec 2000 13:28:02 +0000

First:

Be ready to give your doctor information about your health history. Make a list of these things:

Health conditions that run in your family (examples: breast or other cancers, diabetes, high blood pressure, alcoholism).
Past illnesses and what medical treatment you had for each.
Past hospitalizations and any surgery you have had.
Medications you take, have taken (names, doses, side effects, if any).
Number of pregnancies, their outcomes and any problems you had.
Birth control method(s) you have used and use now and side effects, if any.
Menstrual history, when you started your periods, if they’ve been regular or not and if you have or have had any problems.
Take the list with you when you go to the doctor’s office.

Second:

It’s easy to forget to ask your doctor all your questions and express all your concerns. The following checklist helps to identify what things you might forget to ask and discuss. Jot down the questions from the list that you want to ask your doctor. Take the list with you.

Sample questions to ask your doctor:

Diagnosis (What’s wrong?)
Why do I have this problem? Ask the doctor to explain any medical terms you don’t know.
Do I need more testing? If so, what? How much do these tests cost? Will my insurance cover them? Where do I get the information?
Prognosis (What will happen?)
How will this problem affect me in the future?
Treatment (What should I do?)
What treatment should I follow? This could include medical treatment or changes to diet or lifestyle.
What will happen if I don’t treat it now?
How do I get ready for any tests that I need?
How often should I have a mammogram, pelvic exam, pap smear and professional breast exam? Should I have any tests for STDs?
What other tests should I have and when?
Do I call to schedule the test or does your office do it for me?
When and how will I get the test results?
Should I call you?
When do you want to see me again?
What else should I know?
Can I get any more information about this problem?
Are there any local or national health organizations that I can call or write to for more information? Do you have their numbers and addresses?
Where should I go if I need emergency care?
Specialists (What about seeing another doctor?)
Should I see a specialist?
Does this specialist work out of more than one office?
Whom should I see? Can you write this down for me?
Is this person board certified?
How soon should I be seen by this specialist?
What if I can’t get an appointment for a month or more? Can you help me get in sooner or should I try to see someone else?
Doctor Fees (How much will this cost me?)
What will this office visit cost me today?
What will the fees be for other services? Ask this before you get the services.
What does my health insurance cover?
Medications (What will the medicine do?)
Why do I need this medicine?
What is the name of the drug?
How and when should I take it?
Are there any foods, drinks or things I should avoid when taking this medicine?
What should I do if I forget to take it?
Should I expect side effects?
Is this drug known to cause birth defects? (For women who are pregnant or planning a future pregnancy.)
Will I have to take this medicine for a short time or from now on?
Is there a generic equivalent of this medicine?
Will this medicine be okay to take with other medicine I’m already taking?
Could any non-drug measures work as well?
Surgery (What if I need an operation?)
Do I need surgery at this time?
Who will do the surgery? How many times has this surgeon done it?
Is there a certain time of the month I should have this surgery?
What are my choices with surgery? Ask about minor procedures vs.. major ones.
Do I have any choices instead of surgery?
What are the benefits? What are the risks?
Where will I have this surgery?
Can I have the surgery as an outpatient?
Where can I get a second opinion? Know if your insurance company needs a second opinion for surgery. Find out what their rules are. Your insurance company may want you to call a certain number and use certain doctors for second opinions.

Fibroids

American Institute for Preventive Medicine — Wed, 06 Dec 2000 13:28:02 +0000

Fibroids are benign (not cancerous) tumors made mostly of muscle tissue. They are found in the wall of the uterus and sometimes on the cervix. They can range in size from as small as a pea to as large as a basketball! With larger fibroids, a woman’s uterus can grow to the size of a pregnancy that is more than 20 weeks along. About 20-25% of women over 35 get fibroids. A woman is more likely to get fibroids if:

She has not been pregnant
She has a close relative who also had or has them
She is African American. The risk is 3 to 5 times higher than it is for Caucasian women.

Why fibroids occur is not really known. They do, however, depend on estrogen for their growth. They may shrink or even disappear after menopause.

Signs and Symptoms

Some women with uterine fibroids do not have any symptoms or problems from them. When symptoms or problems occur, they vary due to the number, size, and locations of the fibroid(s). These include:

Abdominal swelling, especially if they are large
Heavy menstrual bleeding
Bleeding between periods or after intercourse
Pain (backache, during sex, with periods)
Bleeding after menopause
Anemia from excessive bleeding
Frequent urination from pressure on the bladder
Constipation from pressure on the rectum
Infertility (the fallopian tubes may be blocked)
Miscarriage (if the fibroid is inside the uterus, the placenta may not implant the way it should)

You can find out if you have fibroids when your doctor takes a medical history and does a pelvic exam. The doctor can also do other tests such as an ultrasound or a D & C to confirm their presence, location, and size. The ultrasound is the most common test for diagnosing fibroids.

Treatment

Treatment for fibroids includes:

“Watchful waiting” if fibroids are small, harmless, and painless or not causing any problems. Your doctor will “watch” for any changes and may suggest “waiting” for menopause, since fibroids often shrink or disappear after that time. If you have problems during this “waiting” period (too much pain, too much bleeding, etc.), you may decide that you do not want to “wait” for menopause, but choose to have something done to treat your fibroids.
Medication. One type, gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) agonists, blocks the production of estrogen by the ovaries. This shrinks fibroids in some cases but is not a cure. The fibroids return promptly when the medicine is stopped. Shrinking the fibroids might allow a minor surgery to be done instead of a major one. (See surgical methods below.) GnRH agonists are taken for a few months, but not more than 6, because their side effects mimic menopause.
Surgery. There are two basic surgical methods:
- Myomectomy-The fibroids are removed, but the uterus is not. There are 3 approaches.
  - Laparascopic-A laparascope is used with a laser to remove the fibroids.
  - Hysteroscopic-The fibroids are cut out and the uterine lining is destroyed by laser (ablation). This makes a woman sterile (no lining, no bleeding). Laser ablation can also be done with a small electrocautery ball. This is known as “Rollerball.”
  - Laparotomy-Surgery in which the abdomen is opened and the fibroids are removed under direct vision. Fibroids can still be present, grow, and cause future trouble.
- Hysterectomy-Surgery that removes the uterus and the fibroids with it. Depending on the size of the fibroids, this can be done:
  - Vaginally
  - Through abdominal surgery

A hysterectomy may be recommended when the fibroid is very large or when there is severe bleeding that can’t be stopped by other treatments. This leaves a woman sterile. It is the only way to get rid of fibroids for sure. A hysterectomy may also be done in the rare occasion that the fibroid becomes cancerous.

Questions to Ask

Do you have severe abdominal pain?

Do you have any of these problems? Heavy menstrual bleeding (you saturate a pad or tampon in less than an hour) Bleeding between periods or after intercourse Bleeding after menopause Anemia (noted by paleness, weakness, fatigue)

Do any of these things define the pain? It comes during sexual intercourse. It comes with your menstrual periods. It is in the lower back, and is not caused by strain or any other condition.

Do you have to urinate often or do you feel pressure on your bladder or rectum?

Self-Care/Prevention Tips

Maintain a healthy body weight. The more body fat you have, the more estrogen your body is likely to have, which enhances fibroid growth.

Exercise regularly. This may reduce your body’s fat and estrogen levels.
Follow a low-fat diet.

Stress Reduction for Relief of Fibroids & Endometriosis

Susan M. Lark MD — Wed, 06 Dec 2000 13:28:02 +0000

Many of the fibroid and endometriosis patients I see in my medical practice complain of major stress along with their physical symptoms. My personal impression as a physician who has worked with women patients for close to 20 years is that stress is a significant component of many recurrent and chronic health problems, including fibroids and endometriosis. To discount the effects of lifestyle stress on illness is a grave mistake. If the physician ignores stress as a contributing factor, the patient never receives the tools or insight necessary to modify her habits and behavior to better support good health and well-being.

Research studies have confirmed the negative effects of stress on many different diseases. On the physiological level, stress increases the cortisone output from the adrenal glands, impairs immune function, elevates blood pressure and heart rate, and affects hormonal balance. In women with fibroids and endometriosis, stress may negatively affect hormonal balance and muscle tone, upsetting the estrogen and progesterone balance and triggering excessive output of adrenal stress hormones. This can impair the body’s ability to limit the scarring and inflammation caused by the endometrial implants. Growth in the size of fibroid tumors is also seen during times of stress.

Stress in fibroid and endometriosis patients can arise over such issues as job security and performance, money worries, relationship problems with family and friends, overwork, and a host of other common problems. In addition, women with fibroids and endometriosis have specific stress due to the diseases themselves, including concerns about their health and about the painful symptoms that are disrupting their lives and well-being. The infertility that can result from fibroids and endometriosis is a particularly upsetting problem for women who are trying to start a family. The pain during intercourse that is also common in women with endometriosis can disrupt a healthy sexual relationship, causing anguish and discord.

A variety of stress management techniques can help women suffering from fibroids and endometriosis. Some women find counseling or psychotherapy to be effective, while others depend heavily on the support of family and friends. Many women find it helpful to rethink their way of handling stressful situations and to implement lifestyle changes. Practicing stress reduction techniques like meditation and deep breathing exercises on a regular basis also helps them handle stress more effectively, as does a program of physical exercise. Whatever methods you decide to practice, I urge you to look at your stress level carefully and make every effort to handle emotionally charged issues as calmly as possible.

The stress management exercises described in this chapter are a very important part of the fibroid and endometriosis self help program I recommend to my patients. For many women, the intensity of menstrual pain and cramps varies from month to month, depending on many lifestyle factors. My patients frequently tell me their bleeding and cramps are worse when they are more upset. As you begin to anticipate the onset of your menstrual period, I recommend using stress reduction techniques on a daily basis. They can really make a difference. If you break up the tasks of the day with a few minutes of stress reducing exercises, you will feel much more relaxed. With the use of these stress reduction techniques, you can accomplish tasks on time but in a much more relaxed, enjoyable, and health enhancing manner.

Exercises for Relaxation

To help you cope with the emotional stresses that may become magnified if you are suffering from fibroid and endometriosis related symptoms, I recommend a variety of relaxation methods. Focusing, meditation, muscle relaxation, affirmations, and visualizations can each help foster a sense of calm and well-being if practiced on a regular basis.

This chapter includes exercises from all of these categories for you to try. Pick those you enjoy most and practice them on a regular basis. I have taught these exercises to women patients for many years and love to practice them myself. Sometimes I recommend that my patients learn these techniques on their own through books and tapes; other times I teach the exercises to patients at my office. My patients have been very enthusiastic about the results they attain through stress reduction exercises. They often tell me that they feel much calmer and happier. They also find their physical health improves. A calm mind seems to have beneficial effects on the body’s physiology and chemistry, restoring the body to a normal condition.

To prepare yourself for the relaxation exercises in this chapter, I suggest taking the following steps:

First Step. Wear loose, comfortable clothes. Find a comfortable position. For many women, this means lying on their backs. You may also do the exercises sitting up. Try to make your spine as straight as possible. Uncross your arms and legs.

Second Step.
Focus your attention on the exercises. Do not allow distracting thoughts to interfere with your concentration. Close your eyes and take a few deep breaths, in and out. This will help remove your thoughts from the problems and tasks of the day and begin to quiet your mind.

Exercise 1: Focusing

If you have fibroid or endometriosis related menstrual cramps and pelvic pain, this focusing exercise takes your attention off your pelvic region and lower part of your body as you focus elsewhere, clearing your mind and breathing deeply. At the end of this exercise, you may find that your discomfort is less severe. This is also a helpful exercise for inducing a sense of peace and calm.

Sit upright in a comfortable position.
Hold your watch in the palm of your hand.
Focus all of your attention on the movements of the second hand of the watch.
Inhale and exhale as you do this. Continue to concentrate for 30 seconds. Don’t let any other thoughts enter your mind. At the end of this time, notice your breathing. You will probably find that it has slowed down and is calmer. You may also feel a sense of peacefulness and a decrease in any anxiety that you had on beginning this exercise.

Exercise 2: Peaceful Meditation.

Many women suffering from fibroids or endometriosis complain of daily life stresses. Stress can lower the pain threshold, increasing muscle tension and discomfort. It can also worsen PMS related irritability and mood swings, which often coexist with fibroids and endometriosis.

Simple meditation techniques are a way to combat this stress. Meditation requires you to sit quietly and engage in a simple and repetitive activity. By emptying your mind, you give yourself a rest. The metabolism of your body slows down. Meditating gives your mind a break from tension and worry. It is particularly useful during menstruation, when every little stress is magnified. After meditating you may find your mood greatly improved and your ability to handle everyday stress enhanced.

Lie or sit in a comfortable position.
Close your eyes and breathe deeply. Let your breathing be slow and relaxed.
Focus all of your attention on your breathing. Notice the movement of your chest and abdomen in and out.
Block out all other thoughts, feelings, and sensations. If you feel your attention wandering, bring it back to your breathing.
Say the word “rest” as you inhale. Say the word “relax” as you exhale. Draw out the pronunciation of each word so that it lasts for the entire breath: r-r-r-r-e-e-e-e-s-s-s-s-t-t-t-t, r-r-r-e-e-e-l-l-1-a-a-a-x-x-x. Repeating these two words will help you to concentrate.
Repeat this exercise until you feel very relaxed.

Exercise 3: Healing Meditation

This meditation exercise promotes healing through a series of beautiful and peaceful images you can invoke to create a positive mental state during your premenstrual and menstrual time of the month. (You can use this exercise during your symptom-free time, too.) The premise of a healing meditation is the fact that the mind and body are inextricably linked. When you visualize a beautiful scene in which your body is being healed, you stimulate positive chemical and hormonal changes that help to create this condition. This process can reduce pain, discomfort, and irritability. Likewise, if you visualize a negative scene, such as a fight with a spouse or a boss, the negative mental picture can trigger an output of chemicals in the body that can worsen the symptoms caused by fibroids or endometriosis.

The axiom “you are what you think” is literally true. I have seen the power of positive thinking for years in my medical practice. I always tell my patients that healing the body is much harder if the mind is full of upset, angry, or fearful images. Healing meditations, when practiced on a regular basis, can be a powerful therapeutic tool. If you enjoy this form of meditation, try designing your own with images that make you feel good.

Lie on your back in a comfortable position. Inhale and exhale slowly and deeply.
Visualize a beautiful green meadow full of lovely fragrant flowers. In the middle of this meadow is a golden temple. See the temple emanating peace and healing.
Visualize yourself entering this temple. You are the only person inside. It is still and peaceful. As you stand inside this temple, you feel a healing energy fill every pore of your body with a warm golden light. This energy feels like a healing balm that relaxes you totally. All anxiety dissolves and fades from your mind. You feel totally at ease.
Open your eyes and continue your deep, slow breathing for another minute.

Exercise 4: Discovering Muscle Tension

This and the following exercise help you get in touch with your areas of muscle tension, and then teach you how to release that tension. This is an important sequence for women with fibroids or endometriosis who suffer from recurrent menstrual cramps, low back pain, or abdominal discomfort. Many of these symptoms are due in part to the chronically tight and tense muscles that can accompany both problems.

Tense muscles tend to have decreased blood circulation and oxygenation, and may accumulate an excess of waste products like carbon dioxide and lactic acid. Interestingly enough, some women with menstrual cramps and pelvic pain carry tension in these areas throughout the month, even when cramps are absent. They tend to tighten the pelvic and lower abdominal muscles in response to work, relationship, and sexual stresses. Usually, this tensing of the pelvic muscles is an unconscious response that develops over many years and sets up the emotional patterning that triggers cramps. For example, when a woman has uncomfortable feelings about sex or a particular sexual partner, she may tighten these muscles when engaging in or even thinking about sex. Tense muscles also affect a woman’s moods, making her more “uptight” and irritable.

Muscular and emotional tension usually coexist. Movement is one effective way of breaking up these habitual patterns of muscle holding and contracting. When muscles are loose and limber, a woman tends to feel more relaxed and in a better mood. Anxiety tends to fade away, replaced by a sense of expansiveness and calm.

Lie in a comfortable position. Allow your arms to rest comfortably by your sides, palms down, on the surface next to you.
Now, raise just the right hand and arm and hold it elevated for 15 seconds.
Notice if your forearm feels tight and tense or if the muscles are soft and pliable.
Now, let your hand and arm drop down and relax. The arm muscles will relax too.
As you lie still, notice any other parts of your body that feel tense, any muscles that feel tight and sore. You may notice a constant dull aching in certain muscles. Tense muscles block blood flow and cut off the supply of nutrients to the tissues. In response to the poor oxygenation, the muscle produces lactic acid, which further increases muscular discomfort.

Exercise 5: Progressive Muscle Relaxation

Lie in a comfortable position. Allow your arms to rest at your sides, palms down, on the surface next to you.
Inhale and exhale slowly and deeply.
Clench your hands into fists and hold them tightly for 15 seconds. As you do this, relax the rest of your body. Visualize the tense part contracting, becoming tighter and tighter.
Then let your hands relax. On relaxing, see a golden light flowing into the entire body, making all your muscles soft and pliable.
Now, tense and relax the following parts of your body in this order: face, shoulders, back, stomach, pelvis, legs, feet, and toes. Hold each part tensed for 15 seconds and then relax your body for 30 seconds before going on to the next part.
Finish the exercise by shaking your hands and imagining the remaining tension flowing out of your fingertips.

Exercise 6: Affirmations

Affirmations are positive statements that describe how you want your body to be. They are very important because they align your mind with your body in a positive way. As the healing meditations (exercise 3) achieve this goal through the use of positive images, affirmations do it through the power of suggestion. Your state of health is determined in part by the interaction between your mind and body via the thousands of messages you send yourself each day with your thoughts.

You can aggravate your fibroid and endometrial menstrual bleeding and cramps as well as pelvic discomfort with negative thoughts, because when your body believes it is sick, it behaves accordingly. Thus, it is essential to cultivate a positive belief system and a positive body image as part of your healing program. It is not enough to follow an excellent diet and a vigorous exercise routine when you are in the process of healing menstrual cramps. You must also tell your body that it is a well, fully functional system. I have seen people stay ill and sabotage their healing program by sending themselves a barrage of negative messages. Sit in a comfortable position. Repeat the following affirmations. Repeat three times those that are particularly important to you.

My female system is strong and healthy.
My hormonal levels are perfectly balanced and regulated.
My body chemistry is healthy and balanced.
I go through my monthly menstrual cycle with ease and comfort.
My menstrual flow self-regulates. I have light to moderate bleeding.
My body is relaxed and pain-free.
My vaginal muscles are relaxed and comfortable.
My cervix and uterus are relaxed and pain-free.
My uterus is normal in size and shape.
My menstrual flow leaves my body easily and effortlessly each month.
My body feels wonderful as I start each monthly period.
I barely know that my body is getting ready to menstruate.
I feel wonderful each month before I menstruate.
My uterus is relaxed and receptive; I welcome my monthly period.
My low back muscles feel supple and pliable with each menstrual cycle.
I am relaxed and at ease as my period approaches.
I desire a well balanced and healthful diet.
I eat only the foods that are good for my female body.
It is a real pleasure to take good care of my body.
I do the level of exercise that keeps my body healthy and supple.
I handle stress easily and in a relaxed manner.
I love my body; I feel at ease in my body.
My body is pain-free and relaxed.

Exercise 7: Visualizations

Visualization exercises help you lay down the mental blueprint for a healthier body. This powerful technique can stimulate positive chemical and hormonal changes in your body to help create the desired outcome. Through positive visualization, you are imaging your body the way you want it to function and be. The body can modify its chemical and hormonal output in response to this technique and move toward a state of improved health. As a result, you may find this technique useful for reducing the symptoms and severity of both fibroids and endometriosis.

Patients with many types of illnesses have used visualization to great benefit. The technique was pioneered by Carl Simonton, M.D., a cancer radiation therapist who used visualization with his patients. Aware that his patients tended to see their cancer as a “big destructive monster,” he had them instead visualize their immune systems as big white knights or white sharks attacking the small and insignificant cancer cells and destroying them (instead of the other way around). In many cases, he saw his patients’ health improve.

This visualization exercise for fibroids and endometriosis uses an “erasure” image that helps you see your fibroids or the endometrial implants melt away and disappear. Simply skip the part of the exercise that does not pertain to your symptoms.

Sit in a comfortable position.
Close your eyes. Begin to breathe deeply. Inhale and let the air out slowly. Feel your body begin to relax.
Imagine that you can look, as if through a magic mirror, deep inside your own body.
Focus on any areas of your reproductive tract that you sense contain endometrial implants. See any lesions, cysts, or scarring that the endometriosis has caused. You may visualize the actual implants, or you may simply see the endometriosis as discolored areas within your body (colors such as gray or brown are common).
Next, imagine a large eraser, like the kind used to erase chalk marks, coming into your pelvic area. See this eraser rubbing the areas of endometriosis. See these implants begin to loosen, shrink, and finally disappear.
Now, look at your female organs. See your uterus and ovaries. They are an attractive pink color. Your uterus is relaxed and supple. Any fibroid tumors are melting away as you look at them. Your uterus is becoming its normal size and shape. Your uterus has good blood circulation. Look at your ovaries. They are extremely healthy and put out just the right levels of hormones. They are shiny and pink and look like two almonds. The fallopian tubes that pick up the eggs and bring them to the uterus are totally open and healthy.
Look at your abdominal and low back muscles. They are soft and pliable with a healthy muscle tone. They are relaxed and free of tension during your menstrual period. Your abdomen is flat and your fluid balance is perfect in your pelvic area.
Look at your entire body and enjoy the sense of peace and calm running through your body. You feel wonderful.
Stop visualizing the scene, and focus on your deep breathing, inhaling and exhaling slowly.
You open your eyes and feel very good. Visualizing this scene should take a minute or two. Linger on any images that particularly please you.

More Stress Reduction Techniques

The rest of this chapter explains other techniques that I have found useful for relaxing tight and tense muscles. You can also use these methods to induce deep emotional relaxation. Try them for a delightful experience.

Hydrotherapy

For centuries, people have used warm water to relax their muscles and calm their mood. You can create your own “spa” at home by adding relaxing ingredients to the bath water. I have found two recipes extremely useful in relieving muscle pain and tension related to fibroids or endometriosis.

Recipe 1: Alkaline Bath. Run a tub of warm water. Heat will increase your menstrual flow, so keep the water a little cooler if that is a problem. Add one cup of sea salt and one cup of bicarbonate of soda to the tub. As this is a highly alkaline mixture, I recommend using it only once or twice a month. I’ve found it very helpful in reducing cramps and calming anxiety and irritability. Soak for 20 minutes. You will probably feel relaxed and sleepy after this bath. Try it at night before going to sleep. You will probably wake up feeling refreshed and energized the following day. Heat of any kind helps to release muscle tension. You may also want to try a hot water bottle or a heating pad to relieve cramps.

Recipe 2: Hydrogen Peroxide Bath. This is one of my personal favorites. Hydrogen peroxide is a combination of water and oxygen. By adding it to your bath, you “hyperoxygenate” the water. This helps to induce muscle relaxation. Hydrogen peroxide is inexpensive and can be purchased from your local drug store or supermarket. I usually add three pint bottles of the 3 percent solution to a full tub of warm water and soak for up to 30 minutes. If you use the stronger food or technical grade hydrogen peroxide (35 percent strength), add only 6 ounces. With the more concentrated peroxide, be sure to avoid direct contact with your hands or eyes and keep it stored in a cool place, as it is a very powerful oxidizer.

Sound

Music can have a tremendously relaxing effect on our minds and bodies. For women with fibroid or endometriosis-related cramps and pain, I recommend slow, quiet music, classical music is particularly good. This type of music can have a pronounced beneficial effect on your physiological functions. It can slow your pulse and heart rate, lower your blood pressure, and decrease your levels of stress hormones. It can also help reduce anxiety and induce sleep for women with cramps. Equally beneficial are nature sounds, such as ocean waves and rainfall; these sounds can also induce a sense of peace and relaxation. I have patients who keep tapes of nature sounds in their car and at home for use when they feel stressed. Play relaxing music often as your menstrual cycle approaches and you are aware of increased levels of emotional and physical tension.

Biofeedback Therapy

Biofeedback therapy is an effective way to relieve pain of all kinds caused by muscular tension, as well as poor circulation caused by narrowing of the blood vessel diameter. Constriction of the skeletal muscles and the smooth muscle of the blood vessel wall usually occurs on an unconscious basis, so a person is not even aware that it’s happening. A variety of factors, including emotional stress and nutritional or chemical imbalances, can trigger this involuntary muscle tension. This constriction can worsen problems such as fibroids, endometriosis, migraine headaches, and high blood pressure.

Using biofeedback therapy, people learn to recognize when they are tensing their muscles. Once this response is understood, fibroid and endometriosis sufferers can learn to relax their muscles to help relieve the pain. Since muscle relaxation both decreases muscular discomfort and improves blood flow, either factor can be monitored. For relief of cramps, women can learn how to implement biofeedback therapy through a series of training sessions, requiring about 10 to 15 thirty minute office visits with a trained professional. During these sessions, a thermometer is inserted into the vagina like a tampon. The thermometer is connected to a digital readout machine that monitors the woman’s internal temperature. The professional teaches her how to consciously change her vaginal temperature. Even a slight rise in the temperature indicates better blood flow and muscle relaxation in the pelvic area, with a concomitant relief of menstrual pain.

After the training sessions, most women are able to raise their temperature at will and thereby control their own cramps. I went through biofeedback training many years ago and found that it had a significant effect on my level of muscle tension. Many hospitals and university centers have biofeedback units, as do stress management clinics, so it is relatively easy to find a treatment facility that offers this type of therapy.

Putting your Stress Reduction Program Together

This chapter has introduced many different ways to reset your mind and body to help make menstruation a calm and relaxed time of the month and ease the symptoms of fibroids and endometriosis. Try each exercise at least once. Experiment with them until you find the combination that works for you. Doing all seven exercises will take no longer than 20 to 30 minutes, depending on how much time you wish to spend with each one. Ideally, you should do the exercises at least a few minutes each day. Over time, they will help you gain insight into your negative beliefs and change them into positive new ones. Your ability to cope with stress should improve tremendously.

Uterine Fibroids – Healthy.net

Healing Fibroids Naturally

Reader’s Corner:Fibroids:

A Homeopathic Perspective on Women’s Health

Healing Uterine Fibroids

Cancer

Visiting Your DoctorGynecologist Checklist

Fibroids

Stress Reduction for Relief of Fibroids & Endometriosis

Exercises for Relaxation

Exercise 1: Focusing

Exercise 2: Peaceful Meditation.

Exercise 3: Healing Meditation

Exercise 4: Discovering Muscle Tension

Exercise 5: Progressive Muscle Relaxation

Exercise 6: Affirmations

Exercise 7: Visualizations

More Stress Reduction Techniques

Hydrotherapy

Sound

Biofeedback Therapy

Putting your Stress Reduction Program Together

Suggested Reading