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Natural Remedies for Managing Fibroids – How Can I Reduce Fibroids Without Surgery?

May 10-16th was Women’s Health Week, so for this post we have decided to spotlight an issue that many of our customers have asked about: our top 9 natural remedies for managing fibroids.

What are Fibroids?

Uterine fibroids (also known as uterine leiomyoma) are “noncancerous growths of the uterus that often appear during childbearing years.” They are benign, meaning non-cancerous, but they can cause symptoms such as heavy periods, cramping, enlargement of the lower abdomen, painful sex, urge to urinate, and lower back pain. Not all women have symptoms, so many have fibroids that may grow and shrink without them ever knowing. Fibroids are most common for women for women in their 30s through 50s.

Growth of fibroids is stimulated by estrogen, so women with estrogen dominance more frequently get them. Fibroids usually shrink after menopause. In addition to age, the risk factors for developing fibroids are race (since fibroids are more common in women of African-American or Caribbean descent), overweight or obesity, family history, and eating a lot of red meat or ham.

While doctors know that fibroids are connected to hormones, no one knows exactly what causes them. They can develop during pregnancy, but this does not mean there will necessarily be problems during pregnancy.

For the majority of symptom-less fibroids, no treatment is required. However, for women who are in discomfort or have other symptoms of their fibroids, there are natural ways to treat the symptoms, and some that may reduce the size of fibroids. Keep in mind that since fibroids often decrease naturally as women age, many of these treatments could be more effective in women approaching menopause, or they may prevent further growth until the natural reduction in hormones helps the fibroids decrease.

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Here is our List of Top 10 Natural Remedies for Fibroids:

 

Avoid Processed White Foods

Processed, high-carbohydrate foods such as white bread, pasta, and sweets spike blood sugar and then insulin, which then affects estrogen metabolism. Overall, they can increase inflammation and existing fibroid size. In addition, the way these foods are processed in the body increases your chances of weight gain, and additional weight is associated with fibroid development.

Monitor Exposure to Xenoestrogens

This issue of xenoestrogens, which are false estrogens that can come from plants, foods, and man-made chemicals, is highly debated, especially concerning issues like fibroids. Studies and experts conflict on whether or not women should avoid xenoestrogens while dealing with hormonal conditions. To give an extremely simplified explanation, xenoestrogens look similar to human estrogen, so they can fill estrogen receptors in the body.

While the “key” of the false xenoestrogens fits in the “lock” of the estrogen receptor sites, they do not have the exact same effect as human estrogen would in those same sites. However, since the body senses that the estrogen sites are full, it can slow production of estrogen. Empty receptor sites would signal, “Produce estrogen, these receptors are empty!” while full receptor sites signal, “The receptor sites are all full, better slow down the production upstream.”

Different Types of Xenoestrogens

There are different types of xenoestrogens- some naturally occurring, some man-made. For example, naturally occurring phytoestrogens (phyto means from plants) are in flax and soy. Many chemicals that we come in contact with in our modern world are synthetic xenoestrogens:

• Bisphenol A (BPA)
• Parabens (found in many skin and beauty products)
• Phthlatates
• Polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs) (flame retardants used in plastics, foams, building materials, electronics, furnishings, motor vehicles)
• Polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs)
• Erythrosine / FD&C Red No. 3
• Butylated hydroxyanisole / BHA (food preservative)
• Chlorine and chlorine by-products
• and many, many more

So the big question is, how do xenoestrogens affect fibroids? There is no simple answer. Exposure to xenoestrogens during formative years (especially infancy, but also childhood and puberty) can increase risk of developing uterine fibroids later on.

What Increases the Proliferation of Uterine Fibroid Cells?

Estrogenic pharmaceutical drugs and pesticides increase the proliferation of uterine fibroid cells in rats, so it is best to avoid them. Researchers have not confirmed the effects of BPA on fibroids, but they appear not to stimulate their growth. However, concentrations of nonylphenol (NP) and octylphenol (OP) were found to be higher in women with uterine fibroids, so women who have or are likely to develop fibroids should avoid those chemical compounds, which can be found in paints, adhesives, pesticides, adhesives, plastics and rubbers and cosmetics.

To do this, buy or make your own natural cleaning, beauty, lawn, and other products. Lots of dominant companies now sell all-natural versions of products that typically contain endocrine-disrupting chemicals. Eat organic food as much as possible.

However, consuming phytoestrogens may have a protective effect against fibroids. Soy may have a slight protective effect, but many people are skeptical about soy. Lignans, one type of phytoestrogens, appear to have a protective effect against fibroid development. Flax is by far the highest food source of lignans, followed by sesame seeds, and in much lower doses, some fruits and vegetables.

Some of the herbs we suggest in this list are also sources of naturally-occuring phytoestrogens.

Green Tea

One study showed that EGCG stopped growth and decrease fibroid size in rats as soon as 2 weeks after beginning treatment. A double-blind, placebo-controlled human study of green tea extract showed that while fibroids grew in the placebo group over the 4 month study, fibroids in the green tea treatment group decreased 32.6% in volume. They also saw a significant reduction in their symptom severity and improvement in overall quality of life.

The treatment also decreased blood loss and improved anemia. Green tea is extremely safe and full of cancer-fighting antioxidants, so it makes a fantastic addition to your daily diet for several reasons. If you don’t like the taste, you can purchase encapsulated green tea.

Vitex

Vitex is a small shrub with lance shaped leaves and purple flowers. It is native to the Eastern Mediterranean and has since been cultivated in temperate climates around the world. Vitex berry, also known as chaste-berry, helps re-balance hormones.

It supports natural progesterone production, which is helpful in estrogen-dominant conditions such as fibroids. Since it is helping the body to regulate it’s own hormone production, it can take 6-8 months to see results, but solving the root cause of imbalances is worth it.

Red Raspberry Leaf

This can help detox excess hormones, which could help with fibroids. “Its use is to control disproportionate menstrual bleeding while strengthening the uterine muscles. Red Raspberry is effective for helping the body return balance to the reproductive organs.

Also it offers anti-inflammatory and anti-emetic effects, making Red Raspberry a powerful herb for easing menstrual symptoms related to uterine fibroids.” It is also very mineral-rich, which makes it a great restorative tonic for women with bad menstrual symptoms. This herb is incredibly safe with no known side effects, so it is a good choice for a daily tea.

Dandelion Root

It is especially supportive of liver function, which is the organ that breaks down estrogen. You can consume this herb in capsules, tincture, or tea. Roasted dandelion root makes a mild, tasty tea with lots of health benefits; it is safe to drink all day long if you choose!

Dong Quai

Dong quai is a traditional Chinese herb that can regulate hormones. It could be helpful for women who have painful cramping during periods because it has an antispasmodic effect, meaning it can relieve cramps, and it helps replenish blood in the Chinese conception. However, if you have very heavy periods, you probably want to avoid dong quai, because it can thin blood and increase menstrual flow.

Systemic Enzymes

Enzymes are all throughout our body. Its primary use is to undertake most metabolic functions. They destroy foreign compounds and abnormal cells, which is how they can help with fibroids. Enzymes will help eat up abnormal tissue in fibroids and help clear thickening agents in the blood.

Get proteolytic enzymes from a reputable source; there is some overlap with digestive enzymes, but some are different.

Good Nutrition

Diet alone is unlikely to shrink fibroids, but it will help make any other natural treatments you try far more effective. Considering that fibroids are also associated with excess weight, eating healthily will help balance out your weight, which may have some effect on estrogen, and then your fibroids. Try to eat a lot of organic produce, especially cruciferous vegetables.

Cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, kale, cauliflower, and brussels sprouts “contain a phytonutrient called diindolylmethane (DIM) which supports the activity of enzymes that improve estrogen metabolism. Scientific research shows diindolylmethane increases the level of “good” estrogens (2-hydroxyestrogen) while reducing the level of “bad” estrogens (16-hydroxyestrogen).”

Unfortunately, fibroids can be hard to treat with natural remedies, especially when women are of reproductive age, so if no natural remedies have worked for you, talk to your doctor and see if you need to have them removed.

As with any type of treatment, get in touch with your body and pay attention to how you react to different remedies. Each of us are so individual that it is unlikely two people will respond to a supplement in exactly the same way.

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