Uterine fibroids also known as uterine myomas, lelomyomas or fibromas are strong compact tumors made of smooth muscle cells and fibrous connective tissues; they develop in the uterus and are the most frequently seen tumors in the female reproductive system.
It is estimated that 20-50% of women of childbearing age have fibroids; 30-77% will develop fibroid at a point during their childbearing age and only 1/3 of these fibroids become large enough to be detected by medical physical examination. It is a non-cancerous growth.
The cause of fibroid is not clearly known; it is believed to be caused by estrogen influence on the aberrant muscle cell in the uterus; estrogen makes it to multiply rapidly. Obese women and women approaching menopause are at greater risk of fibroids than other women.
Symptoms of fibroids are heavy and prolonged menstruation, painful intercourse, frequent miscarriages, frequent urination, low back pain, labour problems, infertility, abnormal bleeding between menstrual periods, pelvic pains and presence of a firm mass located near the pelvis which can be felt by the doctor.
When you have fibroids and you are undergoing treatment, you also need to treat anemia because the heavy and prolonged menstrual bleeding leads to iron-deficiency anemia.
Go and see a doctor regularly and use this home remedies and supplements to ease the symptoms and quicken healing and recovery.
You also need to avoid certain chemicals and toxins like synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides, food preservatives, harmful cleaners and bleach; they aggravate the symptoms, go for natural cleaning products, avoid oral contraceptives, they contain synthetic estrogen thereby increasing estrogen level and causing hormonal imbalance.
In this article, we will be looking at home remedies for preventing and treating fibroids.
Prevent or treat high blood pressure
Studies have linked high blood pressure in women to increased risk of fibroids in pre-menopausal women; although there is no explanation for this but preventing or treating high blood pressure will help to lower the risks of developing fibroids.
Essential oils
Essential oils helps to balance hormones naturally, they also lower hormone levels and are anti-depressants; put two drops of any essential oil on your abdomen and massage, if you have a sensitive skin, mix it with a carrier oil like coconut or olive oil.
Thyme, clary and frankincense essential oils are the best in treating fibroids, and clary helps in balancing a woman’s hormones.
Ginger
This is a wonderful herb that that increase circulation and blood flow to the ovaries, uterus and fallopian tubes. It also reduces inflammation.
Balance your hormones naturally
Sunlight, eating fresh organic fruits, vegetables and foods, exercises and living healthy lifestyles can help one to balance hormones naturally.
Castor oil packs
Apply castor oil packs to your abdomen will help to increase blood circulation to the area and also increase the number of white blood cells that helps fight infection and eliminates toxins.
Many health professionals believe that buildup of toxins plays a role in the development of fibroids; castor oil also contains ricin oleic acids which are anti-inflammatory compounds which help to fight inflammation.
To do a castor oil pack treatment; fold a large cloth into 2 or 3 layers thick; make sure that it can cover your abdomen.
Drizzle about 2 tablespoons of castor oil on the cloth; fold and unfold the cloth in half so that the oil can saturate, then lay down with a towel put under you, and put the cloth on your abdomen.
Cover this castor oil cloth with plastic and then with an old towel; place a hot water bottle over the towel; cover yourself with a warm blanket. Leave this pack on you for at least 30 minutes. Does this thrice every week till your condition improve.
Avoid certain foods
There are some foods that are known to make the symptoms of fibroids worse; avoid them totally.
High fat processed meats and foods are high in unhealthy fats; they contain chemical additives and other ingredients that triggers and increase inflammation, eat only organic grass fed beef and increase your intake of plant based protein.
Non organic diary are high in steroids, hormones and other harmful chemicals that can alter hormone levels and triggers the growth of fibroids; rather go for organic diary and organic plant milk like rice milk, coconut milk and almond milk.
Avoid refined sugar, they lead to weight gain leading to hormonal imbalance and promote inflammation; they reduce the strength of the immune system and increase pains.
Refined carbohydrates increase levels of hormones in the body and lead to malnutrition because they offer no nutrients to the body; examples of refined carbohydrates are products made with white bleached flour and processed grains.
Avoid Alcohol, it increases inflammation and decrease immune function, it increase weight gain and leads to hormonal imbalance.
Avoid caffeine it tasks the liver and this prevents the liver from regulating the level of hormones in the body; it also increase the levels of estrogen in women and encourage the development of fibroids.
Eat healing foods
Eat lots of organic foods, they prevent and shrink fibroids because they have no chemicals in them, they also help to regulate hormone levels.
Eat lots of green leafy vegetables, they fight inflammation and discourage the growth of fibroids, they are rich in Vitamin K which prevents blood clotting and heavy bleeding.
Cruciferous vegetables like cabbage and tomatoes helps to detoxifies the liver and helps the liver to balance hormones naturally, their high anti-oxidants and fiber content helps to fight against the formation of uterine fibroids, fresh fruits too helps in fighting uterine fibroids.
Beta-carotene rich foods convert to Vitamin A in the body and this promotes healthy growth and repair of body tissues and organs; they also heal fibroids, take lots of carrots, kale, spinach and sweet potato.
Foods high in iron helps to fight anemia which comes with fibroids and also replace iron lost during heavy bleeding; take lots of legumes and dark green leafy vegetables.
Flaxseeds are very powerful in balancing the levels of estrogen in the body; they also shrink fibroids, eat lots of it and sprinkle the ground seeds in your meals and drinks.
Whole grains and not refined grains supply the body with nutrients and minerals, thus helping immune function.
Supplements
There are supplements that can shrink fibroids and hasten healing; chaste berry reduces estrogen levels, fish oil and flaxseed oil reduce inflammation, vitamin B complex helps liver function and decrease estrogen levels and milk thistle helps detoxifies the liver and regulate hormones. Low Vitamin D3 levels have also been linked to fibroids.
Exercise
Exercise has many benefits for women treating fibroids. It expels toxins and helps in regulating ovulation. Don’t exceed your limits, mild exercises are better than none.
If you can’t exercise at all, you can try to walk for at least 30 minutes daily. Do so under moderate sunlight and you will increase the benefit of exercising.
Another thing that will help you is a warm compress on your abdomen.
Warm compress
This helps relieve abdominal pain and it gives instant relief. It soothes the muscles of the uterus and improves the flow of blood to your womb.
Apply a hot water bottle to the affected area. It also relaxes the body and helps you sleep well.