Uterine Fibroids and Traditional Chinese Medicine

 

Traditional Chinese medicine can be a treatment to consider if you are suffering from the pain and discomfort of fibroids. Uterine fibroids are classified as a stagnation of qi, blood and possibly phlegm in traditional Chinese medicine (TCM).

Often acupuncture, herbs, and lifestyle changes can help stop the fibroid from growing bigger and alleviate the symptoms such as painful cramps and heavy bleeding. However, if your fibroid is bigger than 3-5 cm it can be very difficult to get rid of completely.

Uterine fibroids are classified as a stagnation of qi, blood and possibly phlegm in Traditional Chinese medicine with the treatment strategies aimed as improving circulation to the pelvis and breaking up stagnation.

 

My Top Suggestions:

 

1. Castor Oil Packs

 

Castor oil packs help increase blood circulation in the body to relieve pain and stagnation in the uterus. We have more information on castor oil packs and how to use them correctly here.

 

2. Acupressure

 

Using acupressure can help move the qi and blood. If you’d like to learn all of the acupressure points I use in my women’s health fertility clinic, you can sign up for our comprehensive at-home acupressure programs here.

Here are my favourite points. Push these points with your finger with medium amount of pressure. It should feel uncomfortable, not painful. Do this 10 minutes daily for best results:

 

 

3. Diet Changes

 

Avoiding foods that can cause stagnation and dampness can improve your fibroid symptoms. Foods like dairy, wheat, processed foods and refined sugars are all foods you should limit or avoid altogether.

 

4. Environmental Toxins

 

Our homes, cleaning products, makeup, soaps often contain harmful environmental toxins which effect our hormonal health. Changing household items like cleaning supplies, makeup, food wrapping/containers to all natural products will help. Reduce plastic use by getting glass containers to store food, avoiding plastic wrap on your foods and never microwaving in plastic.

 

5. Daily Bowel Movements

 

Having daily bowel movements helps to detoxify your body and is not only beneficial for your overall health but also your hormonal health.   Adding in flax seeds, making sure you are drinking lots of water and staying hydrated, exercise throughout the day, eating lots of vegetables are all beneficial for healthy bowel movements.

 

6. Breath Work

 

Using daily breath work to open up the chest, move the qi and blood throughout the pelvis can help. I recommend breathing in through your nose for 4 seconds, holding for another 4 seconds, then releasing the breath for 4 seconds. You want to feel the breath in your diaphragm expand and fully release it when breathing out. This helps to move qi and blood throughout your body.

 

7. Chinese Herbs

 

I often prescribe a custom herbal formula for patients with fibroids. Taking Chinese herbs can break up stagnation, move the qi and blood, and help with painful symptoms. To get a custom herbal formula through our clinic, book an appointment here so I can assess your symptoms and create an appropriate formula.