Reprinted from Nature's Field Vol. 6 No. 5
Fibroids
by Judith G. Cobb

Please read also: Feminine Health (part 1 and part 2)

When the doctor announces to his female patient that she has fibroid tumors, often the only word she hears is TUMORS. While this can play in the favor of unscrupulous doctors who would choose to rush in and perform surgery, (varying in degree from removal of the growth(s) to removal of the uterus and ovaries) it is important for each woman to be educated enough to know what is happening inside her body so she can have a say in her own treatment.

What is a Fibroid?

A fibroid tumor is a solid, bumpy growth, usually benign (99 % of the time), located on the outside wall, inside wall, or in the muscular tissue of the uterus. The general technical names for such a growth are myoma or leiomyoma. Specific fibroids are named according to their location. Intramural or interstitial are nestled entirely in the uterine muscle wall. Unless they become very large they usually don't cause any problems.
Subserous or subperitoneal myomas are on the outside of the uterine wall. These may cause some pain, put pressure on the bladder, and if large enough can obstruct the birth canal.

The least common but most problematic type of fibroid, the submucous, is on the inner wall of the uterus and protrudes into the uterine cavity. Only five per cent of fibroids are this type, but since these can cause heavy bleeding and miscarriages they are the most widely known.
Each of these kinds of tumors can be diagnosed through a bimanual internal examination. If this fails to give specific enough information, ultrasound can be used. (I would only use ultrasound as a last resort, or to determine if major surgery was really necessary since ultrasound has not been proven totally safe according to Robert Mendelsohn, M.D.).

Fibroids have a genetic tendency and are more common in women who have never been pregnant, have dark skin, or are Jewish. The growth of these usually harmless tumors has been shown to be influenced by estrogen. This explains why they appear after the first menstruation, usually disappear after menopause, and usually increase in size during the first trimester of pregnancy. Approximately 20% of all women develop fibroids before age 35. Fibroids rarely grow singly and are usually fairly small but the largest reported fibroid weighed more the 100 pounds.

Symptoms
Symptoms of fibroids vary depending on location, size, and complications. Most fibroids stay small and cause no problems at all. They are only discovered during routine medical examinations. Approximately one quarter of all fibroids cause abnormal bleeding. Pain, infertility or repeated miscarriage, back pain, and urinary problems

Causes
There is a lot of inaccurate information concerning this problem. Frequency and type of sexual intercourse, trauma, and accident have nothing at all to do with the development of these growths. In fact, there are no confirmed causes, only theories.
Estrogen, from all sources (natural and synthetic) has been shown to affect the growth of fibroids.

In all cases estrogen increases the rate of growth. High fat diets lead to increased weight and cholesterol which in turn leads to an increase in naturally produced estrogen and the resulting fibroids.

Remedies
The medical profession has a few remedies. These include performing a D & C (dilatation and curettage of the opening of the cervix and scraping out of the uterus) to remove submucous fibroids, and eliminating all oral estrogen supplements. For women past child bearing age a hysterectomy is usaully performed.

Natural remedies take a very broad approach.
For irregular bleeding caused by fibroids, reduction of animal fat in the diet might be helpful as this would help to lower cholesterol which would then help to lower estrogen and help control bleeding.

The addition of d-alpha tocopherol (Vitamin E) could also be beneficial as this vitamin helps to increase HDL (good cholesterol). The addition of fiber can also reduce cholesterol. (Yes, psyllium hulls have proven very effective in lowering cholesterol.)

It might also be a good idea if bleeding has been heavy to use natural iron supplements like chlorophyll, yellow dock, red raspberry, and herbal iron formulae to prevent or remedy anemia.

Reduction of caffeine intake has also been suggested as helpful. The addition of vitamins A, E, C, bioflavonoids, and the minerals zinc, iodine, and copper has been helpful for some women.

Specific herbal therapies could include a blend of red clover and chaparral which has been found to reduce many tumors, growths, and cysts. These herbs put the body in a defensive posture which enables it to counter problem cells.

Red raspberry is God's gift to women.
For any menstrual or reproductive irregularities red raspberry is a safe bet. Bugleweed is especially helpful in stemming heavy or irregular bleeding of any sort and especially excessive menstruation. Capsicum can also be used to curtail heavy bleeding. (If capsicum "burns" in the tummy and/or when it's on its way "out", try taking it with slippery elm. Slippery elm can really put the fire out.)

Another possible solution is a vaginal bolus of chickweed, comfrey, golden seal, marshmallow, mullein, slippery elm, squawvine, and yellow dock. These herbal powders are mixed with enough coconut oil or coconut butter to make a fairly stiff dough. This is rolled out thin, like a pencil, and refrigerated. At least twice each day a piece about one and one half inches long is cut off and inserted into the vagina. (A panty shield should be worn as this gets a little messy when it melts.) The herbs in this combination are beneficial for cleansing, normalizing cell growth, restoring integrity to the mucous membranes of the reproductive tract, and healing.

Hopefully, now when a woman hears the diagnosis of fibroid tumors she will not panic, but will ask questions of her doctor such as:
Where are they located?
How many are there?
What therapy do you recommend, if any?
How will these affect my life/health if they are left alone?
And, can I have an educated voice in my treatment?

Bibliography
Benson, Ralph C. Handbook of Obstetrics and Gynecology (eighth edition). Lange Medical Publications, Los Altos, California, 1983.
Boston Women's Health Collective. The New Our Bodies, Ourselves. Simon & Schuster, Inc., New York, 1984.
Lauersen, Niels, M.D. & Whitney, Steven. It's Your Body: A Woman's Guide to Gynecology. Playboy Paperbacks, New York, New York, 1977.
Mendelsohn, Robert, M.D. Malepractice. Contemporary Books, Inc., Chicago, Illinois, 1982.
Michaud, Ellen, & Anastas, Lila. Listen to Your Body. Rodale Press, Emmaus, Pennsylvania, 1988.
Royal, Penny C. Herbally Yours. Sound Nutrition, Payson, Utah, 1982.

This information is for educational purposes only. Consult with a qualified health practictioner for all serious or persistant illness. Copyright © 1999 by Robinson & Horne, L.C., P.O. Box 1028, Roosevelt, UT 84066. This material may be duplicated for educational purposes only (not for resale) provided it is not altered in any way.
Distributed by: Webnat.com and Four Winds Nutrition Club

Another Point Of View
Part of this information was abstracted from a fact sheet developed by the National Institutes of Health.

What is the treatment for fibroids?

Until very recently, a woman with growing uterine fibroids was considered a candidate for hysterectomy (removal of the uterus). However, treatment by hysterectomy in a woman of reproductive age means that she will no longer be able to bear children and hysterectomy may have other effects, both physical and psychological, as well. A woman considering hysterectomy should discuss the pros and cons thoroughly with her physician and naturopath doctor(s).

More and more, physicians are beginning to realize that uterine fibroids may not require any intervention or, at most, limited treatment. For a woman with uterine fibroids that are not symptomatic the best therapy may be watchful waiting. Some women never exhibit any symptoms or have any problems associated with fibroids, in which case no treatment is necessary. For women who experience occasional pelvic pain or discomfort, a mild, over-the counter anti-inflammatory or painkilling drug often will be effective. More bothersome cases may require stronger drugs available by prescription.

The Natural Approach

What you eat can be crucial because it can help to control excess levels of estrogen that can encourage the fibroid to grow. And if you need to have surgical treatment because a fibroid is preventing conception, for example, then it is crucial that you start eating well as soon as you can, even before the surgery, in order to prevent a fibroid from regrowing after it has been removed.

Your liver
Your liver detoxifies harmful substances, such as toxins, waste products, drugs and alcohol. It also processes the hormones that your body produces and renders them harmless. It is supposed to deactivate estrogen, but if your liver is not functioning efficiently, you can develop an accumulation of estrogen because it is not being excreted properly. Again, this will encourage the growth of a fibroid. (We recommend Dandelion or Milk Thistle Combination)

Supplements
For best results, you should take your supplements over a period of three months, at the end of which you should be reassessed every month, in order to monitor improvements and changes and then adjust the supplement program according to your new condition.

The approach for controlling the excess bleeding from fibroids involves undertaking the same program which would be suggested for heavy periods (menorrhagia). The idea is to use vitamins, minerals and essential fatty acids to control the main symptoms (heavy bleeding), while you use dietary changes to help control the growth of the fibroids

Multivitamin and Mineral
A good quality multivitamin and mineral would form the foundation of your supplement program to make sure that you are getting a 'little bit of everything'. You then add in those nutrients in slightly higher amounts which are known to be helpful for fibroids.

Vitamin A
Vitamin A is an antioxidant that generally helps to protect your cells against damage. It helps cells reproduce normally and is also needed for red blood cell production. Vitamin A deficiency has been found in women with heavy bleeding. One study showed that 92 percent of women prescribed supplemental vitamin A found that their heavy bleeding was either cured or alleviated.

B vitamins
The B vitamins are particularly important for heavy periods for a number of reasons. First and foremost, they are needed by the liver to convert excess estrogen into weaker and less dangerous forms. One of the B vitamins, B6, is needed for the production of beneficial prostaglandins which help reduce abnormal blood clotting.