Uterine Fibroids are abnormal growth that forms muscular tissue in our uterus. They are amongst the most common non-cancerous tumors - 70% of women develop uterine fibroids by age 45. And while it occurs due to various environmental, dietary, and genetic reasons, there are a few proven natural ways to treat fibroids.
Here, you'll learn the top four such natural remedies to treat and lower the risks of fibroids from ever forming in your uterus. But let's first start with the basics:
What are Uterine Fibroids?
Uterine fibroids, also called benign tumors, uterine leiomyomas, and myomas, are non-cancerous or life-threatening (99% of the time) muscular tissues.
The fibroids' sizes range from as small as seeds to some growing larger than a grapefruit. That's why it goes unnoticed and undiagnosed until it grows large enough to be found in physical examination (only 1/3rd of fibroid grows this big). Also, it's non-uncommon for women to develop multiple fibroids growths throughout the uterus instead of one.
While a few women suffering from uterine fibroids may show no symptoms, myomas can cause uncomfortable and painful signs such as:
- Painful periods
- Heavy menstrual bleeding
- Abdominal pain
- Enlarged lower abdomen
- Lower back pain
- Pain during sex
- Reproductive problems (miscarriages and infertility)
- Anemia
What Causes Uterine Fibroids?
While scientists and doctors are unsure why fibroids form in the first place, research suggests that multiple factors play a role in this abnormal growth. According to the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development, the following might be the key factor behind uterine fibroids:
- Estrogen progesterone imbalance
- Growth hormones
- Lack of micronutrients
- Genetics major stress
4 Natural Ways to Treat Fibroids
Hormonal imbalance is one of the major causes of fibroid formation in women. Finding a way to balance your hormones can, hence, help you relieve symptoms.
Fortunately, the following four-stage can be very effective in rebalancing your hormonal levels and healing (or preventing) uterine fibroids from the roots:
1. Reduce your estrogen overload
Estrogen is a key hormone responsible for regulating your reproductive system. From spurging in puberty for sexual development to dropping after ovulation - its levels rise and fall throughout life.
However, if the estrogen levels get too high (estrogen dominance), it can lead to the development of uterine fibroids. Therefore, reducing estrogen overload can be vital in managing the symptoms of women struggling with uterine fibroids.
Some ways to reduce estrogen overload include: -
- Eating a balanced diet rich in cruciferous vegetables, which contain compounds that help the liver detoxify excess estrogen
- Avoiding or limiting alcohol consumption, as alcohol can disrupt hormone balance and increase estrogen levels
- Limiting exposure to xenoestrogens, which are synthetic chemicals that mimic estrogen in the body, by choosing natural and organic products whenever possible
- Considering hormone therapy or birth control options, which can regulate estrogen levels under the guidance of a healthcare provider
2. Improve your lymphatic drainage
A case study done in Ayurveda found lymphatic drainage 'very effective' in relieving uterine fibroid in a series of women. With these revolutionary findings, the study concluded that with a larger sample clinical trial and more research, increasing the circulation of lump throughout the body with lymphatic drainage can significantly reduce the need for uterine surgery at the initial stages.
Thankfully, there are a few natural ways to improve lymphatic drainage, including:
- Drinking plenty of water
- Eating a healthy diet
- Yoga
- Lymphatic drainage massage
Religiously using castor oil packs over your liver can also be a great natural tool to promote lymphatic drainage. It helps reduce inflammation and improve circulation, improving lymphatic drainage's effectiveness.
We've covered a detailed blog post on castor oil for liver detoxification where you can learn about the process in detail - Castor oil for liver detox
3. Reduce your gut inflammation
'All disease begins in the gut' Hippocrates
A healthy digestive system is crucial for extracting wastes, toxins, and excess hormones from the body, which can help reduce the presence or formation of fibroids. In addition, studies show that women with uterine fibroid tend to have higher levels of inflammation in their guts.
Another study found that women with uterine fibroids have a different composition of bacteria in their guts. The link between gut health and fibroid can hence promote inflammation. Moreover, gut microbes can also promote estrogen, thus further contributing to estrogen dominance.
Therefore, keeping your gut health and inflammation in check goes a long way in managing uterine fibroid, and castor oil can be a great aid in ensuring just this.
To reduce your gut inflammation - alongside the risk of uterine fibroids - religiously use a castor oil pack.
- Start with a small amount of castor oil and increase the amount gradually (as tolerated)
- Lukewarm the oil and pour it over your organic castor oil pack (or cotton cloth)
- Let the pack sit for 45-60 minutes while you focus your energy on mental and emotional healing
Note: A healthy lifestyle is the key to a healthy gut. So eat a nutrient-rich diet, add probiotics to support good bacteria in your gut, and exercise consistently.
4. Improve your liver function
A healthy liver can be an essential tool for healing uterine fibroid by:
- Metabolizing Estrogen: Improving your liver function strengthens the organs to eliminate excess estrogen – healing fibroids issues from roots.
- Producing Bile: By producing the essential amount of bile, your liver improves digestion and absorption of nutrients - reducing the symptoms of uterine fibroid
- Detoxifying the body: A healthy liver can remove harmful toxins from your body which helps in reducing the risk of developing fibroid in the first place.
So keep your liver health in check. Eat a healthy diet, avoid alcohol, and exercise regularly.
You can also add castor oil liver detoxification regime to your healing routine. Along with detoxification, castor oil packs for the liver will help reduce inflammation, stimulate the lymphatic systems, and protect against damage.
To know more, you can read the ultimate guide to castor oil pack for liver detoxification.
Natural Ways to Treat Fibroid: The Emotion-Fibroid Connection
At Arandi, we believe that our physical health is closely connected to our mental and emotional well-being, and we encourage this perspective.
Repressed anger, stress, and unprocessed emotional load can provide a fertile ground for a toxic internal environment to develop where problems like fibroid thrive.
The connection between emotional state and fibroid growth can also be traced back to traditional Chinese medicine. Plus, a growing body of research indicates how badly stress can impact our physical health.
It weakens our immune system, and increased Cortisol levels promote estrogen dominance.
Therefore, while using the above four steps in your healing journey, investigate your relationship with anger, prioritize self-care, manage stress levels, and increase your life's pleasure.
Focus on the inward-out approach, and your body will start healing itself.
PRECAUTIONARY NOTE: Remember, it's important to discuss any changes to your hormone levels or treatment options with a healthcare provider to ensure they are safe and effective.
