Estrogen Molecule
In the last post, I expressed a bit of dismay when my Gynecologist didn't show any type of surprise or relief towards the shrinking of my fibroids with the assistance of Acupuncture over the last 18 months. He actually dismissed the fact that Acupuncture had anything to do with the shrinkage I've been experiencing. Well, I know what has been going on with my body, and I want to prove him wrong in his assessment in that Acupuncture has nothing to do with the continued decrease in size. His diagnosis was that I was "probably" beginning menopause, and my body was naturally not producing as much estrogen.
I'm aware that during two different occasions of missing my Acupuncture sessions, the fibroids began to grow very fast. It took almost a month of reverting to my weekly schedule to reduce the fibroids to the size they were before missing a few sessions in a row. In essence, if I hadn't jumped back into my weekly Acupuncture routine, the fibroids would have begun to infiltrate space in my upper abdominal/chest area. It was at that point of growth that I got a second opinion from another Gynecologist, and she was ready to get me scheduled with "prep" to have a hysterectomy within the following 3 to 5 months. That's when I researched, and subsequently began Acupuncture. Eighteen or so months later, the third Gynecologist didn't abruptly want to slap me on the operating table, but (not as strongly) suggested a total or partial hysterectomy, in addition to the option of "wait and see what happens" and have another sonogram in 3 months. The results of the most recent sonogram (10/25/13) showed shrinkage of about 4-5cm ( which I believe was due to Acupuncture/herbals).
I began some more research to counter what the Western Doctor said with regard to the Eastern perspective of healing.
- Acupuncture can help reduce the size of fibroids, but it is more effective when it is combined with Chinese herbal medicine.
- A combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine may make a fibroid disappear if it is very small (less than walnut-sized, 2-3 cm in diameter, but it could be larger).
- If you have a large fibroid, a combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine may reduce its size, but probably not to a large extent; however, the treatment can help prevent it from growing larger.
- A combination of acupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine can relieve symptoms caused by your fibroid(s) – heavy period, menstrual cramps, etc.
- Lifestyle change and dietary change are also very important along with TCM treatment....
In addition, "....if you are interested in a noninvasive method of treatment, TCM is a good choice; however, it will not be instantaneous as healing the body naturally takes time." http://chiyuacupuncture.wordpress.com/author/chiyuacupuncture/
As far as the effects of Acupuncture on Estrogen are concerned, Maureen M. Conant, L.Ac explains:
"....acupuncture points are locations at the surface of the body, which send messages along channels (called ‘meridians’) that not only run along the skin, but also travel internally to provide nourishment to the muscles, joints, tendons, bones and internal organs. If there is a disruption in the flow of blood and energy along any of these channels, an imbalance occurs, leading to symptoms of illness. Stimulating the points with fine acupuncture needles helps to redirect the flow of blood and energy throughout the body to restore balance and health. In particular to the female hormonal system, acupuncture meridians connect the uterus with the kidneys, the heart and the brain which helps to explain the influence of mental thoughts and emotions on hormonal function and vice versa.
So, what does acupuncture do to your hormones in scientific terms? Current research shows that acupuncture treatment influences the production and circulation of hormones in the body. It also has an effect on endorphins (the ‘feel good’ chemicals in the brain), which are heavily linked to hormones and thus mood changes at different times in our cycle or different phases of our lives, such as pregnancy and menopause. In TCM terms, acupuncture regulates the flow of energy and substances in the body." http://www.fullbloomacupuncture.com/articles/balance-your-hormones.aspAs the Practitioner states above (in more professional terms than I), this is why I believe the Acupuncture has caused my fibroids to shrink. My body is being restored to a healthier state, and has been, in turn, induced a homeopathic state that has impacted my estrogen levels. The stress level I experienced at the time of consistent fibroid growth has lessened drastically, my diet is improved by cutting out as many estrogen-promoting foods, I meditate more, sleep more than 5 or 6 hours per night, drink lots of water, and exercise. These factors have contributed to internal and external balances in the way my body functions, and to the incredible degree of how effective the Acupuncture has been in shrinking my large fibroids. Check out the proof below:
This photo is from July, 2013. My abdomen was still a bit protrusive to the point where my panties couldn't fit over or up to my stomach.
This photo was taken on Oct., 2013. More flattening in the upper abdominal/rib cage area can be seen. I wore the same panties in this picture so that a better comparison can be viewed. The lower abdominal area is steadily decreasing, and the elastic from my panties is not as tight around
my stomach. Also, be aware that the protrusion from my fibroids is coming from my right side only. This seems to be the place of origin (according to my Practitioner) due to its concentration, and how long it has taken to soften, then slowly dissolve. My left side is actually flat. Most, if not all fibroids on my left side have shrunk.
Here are a few more facts and links researched from Professionals that I would like to share in relation to the effectiveness/benefits that Acupuncture offers for fibroids, as well as other gynecological conditions. One can gain better insight of how Acupuncture works:
It is suggested...."that the explanation for the reduced severity of hot flushes might be that acupuncture boosts the production of endorphins, which may stabilize the body's temperature controls
http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2011/03/110307184640.htm
http://healthystuffu.com/natural-uterine-fibroid-treatment-with-acupuncture-chinese-herbs/
".....you can get pregnant faster and also prevent fibroids or endometriosis from growing back again (with Acupuncture). In my practice, I keep following up on those ladies who currently have fibroids or endometriosis, or had surgery for this condition. I have found that if hormone balance cannot be restored after surgery, fibroids and endometriosis will grow back very soon." Li Zheng, L.Ac.
"In Chinese Medicine, fibroid and endometriosis are associated with blood stasis and phlegm condition. You may try to eat food to release blood stasis: kelp, lemons, limes, onions, Irish moss, bladder wrack, and linseed oil, which has omega-3, a natural blood thinner...." Li Zheng, L.Ac.
"The cause of uterine fibroids are unknown, but it is known that estrogens, especially estradiol (E2), promote their growth. Dr. Northup, MD states that estrogen dominance can be attributable to the
stress hormones such as epinephrine, norepinephrine and cortisol."
http://www.chiyu-acupuncture.ca/Blog.html?entry=can-acupuncture-shrink-uterine-fibroids
http://www.uchospitals.edu/online-library/content=P00171
http://www.sharecare.com/health/acupuncture/how-does-acupuncture-work
www.chinese-medicine-works.com/acupuncture-ctm/acupuncture.html
I hope this info and the links will help you in deciding the best method of treatment for YOUR fibroids.
Please remember: in dealing with fibroids, you have options for treatment - explore them ALL!
Happy Health!
K
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