Here is a list of more frugal fixes for females with fibroids (some I use daily and intermittently), and their said effects on shrinking/breaking down uterine fibroids:
***Although this list highlights my personal suggestions of frugal fixes, there are a myriad of other herbs/vitamin supplements that claim to shrink fibroids. Research, and trial and error (under a Physician's care and done with caution) is the key in finding what will work for YOU.
Apple Cider Vinegar - ....or, ACV as it is affectionately referred to is highly acidic. and offers a great means by which the body can relieve itself of toxins and fat. I have also read that it helps in breaking down the fibroid (made of fibrin) over time. In addition, ACV helps to alkalize the body, which promotes a less acidic (toxic) internal environment. Remember, fibroids are a result of a toxic, imbalanced system. I use Apple Cider Vinegar with salads that I eat everyday (sometimes alternating with balsamic), and I use it with fish and seafood preparations that call for wine.
Recommended dosage: two tablespoons with water or apple juice, daily.
Molasses - Although being seriously sweet and flexible to be used as a substitute in many cooking/baking recipes, molasses is one of the healthiest things for a woman to ingest. It's full of Iron, Magnesium, Manganese, Calcium, B6 and Potassium. All of these minerals and vitamins are essential to the body when the aim is to shrink fibroids. However, as opposed to having a more direct affect on the fibroids, molasses is good at helping in the regulation of menstruation (stopping heavy periods), and replenishing iron that is lost.
Recommended dosage: Unfiltered is best, one tablespoon per day
Lemon Juice - Chocked full of Vitamin C, lemon juice works similarly to Apple Cider vinegar in that when taken with water, it also promotes internal alkalinization buy driving toxins out of the body. It stimulates the liver, and helps maintain blood sugar levels. With relation to fibroids, lemon juice assists the liver in expelling excess estrogen from the body - remember, fibroids come about when there is too much estrogen floating around.
Recommended dose: (use fresh lemons when possible) a fourth of a wedge of lemon with hot or warm water.
Green Tea - Provides added hydration, is full of vitamins and minerals, a potent antioxidant, and has high levels of alkaloids. More importantly, with respect to fibroids Green Tea contains epigallocatechin-3-gallate (EGCG), which has been shown to inhibit the growth of fibroid cells (causes them to stop growing).
Recommended dose: Check with Physician first before using. Green Tea Extract is more potent than drinking a cup or two of tea everyday, and works faster.
Gelatin -A great source of Folic Acid (B9), which is essential in aiding the body in getting rid of estrogen excess, as well as a good source of protein.
***Folic Acid is also good for hair and nails, so you may see increased growth in both over time when drinking gelatin.
Recommended dosage: I dissolve two to three tablespoons of powdered gelatin in 8 oz. of warm or hot water. However, I read where some take up to half of a packet of gelatin. Research all the facts. Drink daily as an alternative to plain water or Green Tea.
Milk Thistle - This herb is used to support the liver, which expels estrogen from the body. The better your liver works, the healthier you can become internally because all the junk is being filtered out. When it stays in the system, hence cometh the fibroids.
Recommended dosage: Consult a Physician first before implementing into your regimen.
Vitamin D - Shown from a recent study to shrink fibroids in rats, Vitamin D contains a compound that stops or slows down the growth of fibroids. (I do know that by taking it on a regular basis, Vitamin D stopped my hot flashes) If there has been any affect on my fibroids, it is hard to gauge because I am also taking Chinese herbs with my Acupuncture regimen. So we will see.
Recommended dosage: Get some sun throughout the week on a regular basis. This is the best source of Vitamin D, and you can't overdose from being in the sun too long. Darker-skinned people need to be exposed to sunlight longer to get sufficient amounts of Vitamin D than lighter-skinned people.
Also, drink Vitamin D3 reinforced milk and juices (although the amount of Vitamin D in these products is not equivalent to what you would get from the sun).
You can also take Vitamin D3 supplements (as opposed to Vitamin D2). Please consult your Physician before implementing into your supplement regimen.
Garlic - (My favorite fix) Garlic helps to boost the immune system due to its high antioxidative properties. It can also, slowly inhibit fibroid cell growth.
Recommendation: Garlic is more powerful when eaten in a raw state: chopped, minced, sliced. When cooked, it loses some of its antioxidative power, but is still good for the body. Use as a regular seasoning with meals.
Tumeric - I heard about Tumeric when I first started my fibroid journey. Actually, there was a Doctor on a talk show who mentioned that Tumeric was good for shrinking fibroids - so I did research. I use it in my vegetable broth a couple of times each week when I do a short-term fast. It detoxifies the body, as well as supports the liver. Again, when the liver is functioning optimally, it can get rid of the excess estrogen which promotes the growth of fibroids.
Recommended dosage: First consult a Physician before implementing into your healing regimen. Check out side effects! (Amongst other things, it can cause insomnia if you take too much - half of a teaspoon is fine with 8 - 10 oz. of liquid).
Vitex - Recommended by Hippocrates (460-375 B.C), the Father of Medicine himself, for what he termed "uterine stones". "Researchers believe that Vitex works by regulating the pituitary gland, the one that tells other glands how much of each hormone to make. The hormone in question here is estrogen, on which Vitex has a regulating effect. Vitex needs to be taken for six months for its full benefits to be felt." http://www.women-health-info.com/133-Fibroids-natural-remedies.html
I tried Vitex early on in my fibroid journey, but it caused me to menstruate for several days outside of my regular cycle. At that point, I was borderline anemic, and didn't need anything that was going to make me bleed more. I stopped taking it after about two weeks.
Recommended dosage: Consult a Physician first before implementing.
Siberian Ginseng (Eleuthero Root) - This root has been used in Chinese medicine for over 3000 years. It promotes circulation and reduces heavy bleeding, helps the body sustain energy levels, and supports the adrenal gland, which helps the body handle physical and mental stress.
Recommended dosage: Please consult a Physician before implementing into supplemental regimen.
Gerson Therapy - This method was designed by Dr. Max Gerson in response to an alternative, non- surgical treatment for cancer (and other degenerative diseases). It helps the body restore and regenerate itself through raw foods, vegetable and fruit juices, coffee enemas and natural supplements. The Gerson Therapy diet platform can be used for detoxing the body, which, in turn will help shrink uterine fibroids. Feel free to check out the link above.
Vitamin E - Another powerful antioxidant, Vitamin E protects the body from free radicals which can cause cells to degenerate quickly. When that happens, the body becomes vulnerable to disease. According to Dr.Tori Hudson, Naturopathic Physician, Researcher, and author of Women's Encyclopedia of Natural Medicine: Alternative Therapies and Integrative Medicine for Total Health and Wellness, "free radicals can promote fibroids". http://www.livestrong.com/article/390051-vitamins-for-fibroid-tumors
In addition, Dr. Andrew Weil, the former U. S. Surgeon General (and current Integrative Physician) recommends taking Vitamin E for uterine fibroids in his Condition Care Guide. I take Vitamin E only every so often, as I do with other Vitamins I take (except for Vitamin D and Vitamin B), because I focus on getting as much nutrition as possible through food. A great source of Vitamin E is wheat germ.
Ladies, as you go along your fibroid journey, remember Pfeiffer's Law:
"For every drug that benefits a patient, there is a natural substance that can achieve the same effect."
This is Part 2. Part 1 is here.
Happy Health!
K
Sunday, July 13, 2014
Saturday, July 12, 2014
Taking Vitamin D Stopped My Hot Flashes: Follow-up Report
No More Hot Flashes!!!!!
On my blog post for May 9, 2014, I relayed the results of a personal experiment with taking Vitamin D to improve/stop my hot flashes. Its been over 60 days, and I have not had ONE hot flash!
I have maintained my routine of taking Vitamin D (with Vitamin B) every other day, and especially on days when I am not able to spend some time in the sun. I've begun to incorporate a daily stroll during my breaks at work to the park across the street, and just sit by the fountains for 20 minutes or so in direct sunlight. So when I get a substantial amount of sun, I don't take Vitamin D. Many reports I've read all agree that the sun is a human's best source of Vitamin because the body absorbs it better, and naturally, synthesizing all that it needs to function optimally. Of course, milk and juices reinforced with Vitamin D are great, as well. However, I have subscribed to the idea of getting as much of the daily nutrients I need by eating the right kinds of foods in the right combinations, as opposed to relying on taking tons of supplements everyday. As it has been said, "Food is the best medicine".
My quality of life has greatly improved with no more hot flashes:
- No more waking up in pools of sweat at night.
- Now I can actually sleep well for up to 8 hours without having to run to the shower, then remake the bed with fresh sheets.
- I have not experienced any insomnia (which comes as a symptom of my perimenopausal state.
- I don't have to suck on cubes of ice or run into the freezer when at work to cool off.
- I don't worry about bursting out in a profuse, embarrassing sweat while in front of clients when making a presentation.
- I don't have to run to bathroom several times throughout my work shift to partially undress and wipe myself of (constant refresh).
I feel normal again! Of course those ladies around me who have gone through hot flashes guarantee me that they will be back. They have expressed that there's just been a fluctuation in my estrogen levels (lower), and that accounts for the lack of hot flashes. Based on this sentiment, by taking the Vitamin, the hot flashes stopped. As I continue to take the Vitamin D (intermittently), and get more sun throughout the week, the flashes have not come back. So, I will continue my routine until something different occurs.
Although I took the chance of taking Vitamin D without Doctor's supervision, I strongly suggest that you get tested to see if you actually are deficient, first. If so, allow your Doctor to prescribe dosage and/or frequency. I was prompted to try it because of all the research I had done prior, realizing that I was not getting any sunshine, and, due to being extremely healthy/non-allergic to anything, I figured it wouldn't hurt my body. I was sure that if I began having some off things to occur from the routine I chose to follow with a daily dose of Vitamin D, naturally I would stop. In addition, as I have also been on a journey to shrink my fibroids as naturally as possible (foregoing a hysterectomy). I have done short-term experiments with natural herbs in the past, so I concluded this instance would be no different. If it worked and I noticed a difference, fine. If not, I'd stop taking it.
Not enough trials and testing has been done. Humbly, the report concluded that "looking at vitamin D levels in women as they go through the menopause transition might be valuable" - no sh*t!
As clinical trials and studies slowly come about to enlighten us women on information that can knowingly keep us healthier and happier as our bodies transition from multiple phases throughout life, we may find ourselves resorting to personal experiments (such as mine) to figure things out for ourselves. What may work for some, may not work for others. Trials and studies take time (as they should). However, I'd personally rather compliment what my Doctor has suggested, then research and become educated about options that have shown positive results, and then be involved in (or direct) my course of medically preventive action. To be a 'meducated' patient means you are an empowered patient. You don't have to feel forced to take only one course of action. An end can be justified by several means, not just one.
If you are experiencing Menopause, and you have hot flashes, in addition to other symptoms, feel free to peruse these three sources from Penny Wise Budoff, a long-standing physician and "blockbuster" researcher of female health. Essentially, she showed the Medical community physical and emotional discomfort before, during and after menstruation WASN'T something "in the mind", or "in your head" symptoms. She proved what was actually going on was REAL, from the biological/chemical connections and processes that occurred at certain times (of the month) within the female body. Her research and professional perspective will empower, educate, and relate to YOU.
Check out these great sources:
1. No More Hot Flashes
2. No More Hot Flashes .....and Good News
3. No More Hot Flashes...and Even Better News
If there are any questions that you want answered that I have not addressed on this blog, based on research/actual experience with regards to uterine fibroids, acupuncture and menopause, please feel free to leave a comment, or contact me by e-mail. I research all things related to uterine fibroids and menopause on a daily basis...the new and insightful, as well as the traditional and overlooked techniques (that have worked) is what I focus on in healing myself. I don't discount Traditional Western Medical practices at all, and am grateful for Western Medical advancement and technology. I applaud them!......But sometimes, I might just find (and entertain) something that has been shown to work, and has a natural affinity with the human body. No side effects (such as anal leakage and suicidal ideations, etc.) if taken under professional supervision, cautiously, and correctly. No surgery if not absolutely necessary. Do you FEEL me???
This is the follow-up (Part 1 is here)
Happy Health!
K
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