Natural Remedies for Treating Uterine Fibroids

Physicians have several pharmaceutical options that are short-term alternatives in order to shrink fibroids before a more permanent surgical solution. These permanent solutions are usually endometrial ablation, uterine artery or uterine fibroids embolization, laser treatment and hysterectomy. However, most of these options do not retain the fertility for the woman or they cost a permanent loss of the uterus.

Some women are more interested in beginning with natural remedies to treat their fibroids which may help to decrease the size of the tumors and reduce the symptoms. Most often these symptoms will reduce completely as a woman enters menopause and her natural blood levels of estrogen drop. During this period in time the size of the fibroids also decreases significantly. Most natural remedies for fibroids may decrease the symptoms but they do not usually get rid of the tumors.

The least invasive type of treatment is called watchful waiting. When the tumor is causing no symptoms and they do not grow quickly physicians usually advise the patient to have a physical examination every six to 12 months to measure the growth of the tumors. Physicians also look at physical examination and medical history during these intervals in order to determine whether or treatment protocols should be advanced. If a woman experiences abnormally heavy menstrual bleeding and resulting anemia several dietary and supplemental changes can be recommended to increase the levels of iron and help the body maintain blood levels.

Dietary supplements of iron include spinach, beans, peas, dried fruits, nuts, organ meats and fish. Unfortunately the iron in meat can be poorly absorbed and also caused growth of the fibroids because of the growth hormones fed to the animals before slaughter. These growth hormones are very similar in molecular structure to estrogen, which stimulates the growth of fibroids. For this reason it is better to increase the dietary supplementation of whole fruits and vegetables to increase iron than it is to increase the amount of meat eaten.

Vitamin C can also help to increase the absorption of iron which will help to decrease the problem with anemia. Regular vitamin C does not appear to have a significant effect on iron stores. Interestingly, nutritionists have found that one orange or 6 ounces of orange juice can double the amount of iron the body absorbs from plant sources.

Another dietary supplement that helps the body to produce more hemoglobin and reduce the incidence of anemia is B12 and folate. B12 and folate are both added to dried commercial cereals and bread products and can also be found in the avocados, bananas, orange juice and green leafy vegetables.

Prevention is the best medicine. By avoiding meat that has been injected with growth hormone, most plastic storage containers and pesticides which contain xenoestrogens women can reduce the rate of growth of the fibroid tumors. Many women who have eliminated or significantly reduced the amount of meat in their diet have found relief from their symptoms as the extra estrogen no longer stimulates the growth of the tumors.

Other women have found relief from pelvic pain and heaviness using acupuncture and yoga. Each of these alternatives does not offer relief from heavy menstrual periods but it does help with the physical discomfort associated with large fibroids. Others also find relief using black cohosh which has some significant research behind it showing improvements with hot flashes. Although these remedies offer relief in the feelings of pelvic heaviness they do little to stem the heavy monthly menstrual flow and do not cure the fibroids.

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