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A Natural Approach to Treating Uterine Fibroids

We recently had a guest at our fasting clinic who was startled to find that on day 7 of her water-only fast, she could no longer feel a uterine fibroid in her lower abdomen that she had been carrying around for years.

I can confirm from the evaluation that I did on her first day with us that she had a mass that was about the size of a medium-sized adult fist in her lower abdomen, diagnosed by ultrasound as a uterine fibroid before she arrived. I couldn't find even a trace of a mass when I did a thorough re-check of her abdomen.

I was, of course, extremely happy for her healing experience. Although some of the guests who visit our clinic experience obvious symptoms of cleansing and detoxification like diarrhea and vomiting, it never gets old to see a dramatic change like the melting away of a benign tumour.

Getting back to uterine fibroids, our recent guest's positive experience prompted me to outline some thoughts on their origin and some steps that all women can take to help prevent their growth and formation and even help to reduce or eliminate existing fibroids.

What are uterine fibroids, exactly?
They are benign tumours of muscle and connective tissue that grow in and/or around the wall of a woman's uterus.

What causes uterine fibroids to develop and grow?
To the best of my knowledge, there is one major cause:

Having too much estrogen in one's system relative to progesterone, a state often referred to as estrogen dominance.

Let's take a closer look at this topic.

Estrogen and Progesterone Output During a Healthy Monthly Cycle
From the onset of puberty to menopause, a woman's body is designed to have estrogen and progesterone work together to fuel and regulate her monthly cycle.

The bulk of estrogen is released into a woman's blood circulation during the first half of her monthly cycle. Estrogen works to build the lining of a woman's uterus to prepare it for implantation of a fertilized egg should fertilization occur.

The bulk of progesterone is released into a woman's blood stream during the second half of a healthy monthly cycle. During this time, progesterone acts to maintain the rich lining of the uterus that estrogen helped to build up during the first two weeks of her cycle.

If a fertilized egg successfully implants into the uterine wall i.e. if a woman becomes pregnant, her body must continue to produce a large amount of progesterone on a continuous basis to maintain a thick and well vascularized uterine wall throughout the course of pregnancy. This job of continuous progesterone production is handled nicely by a healthy placenta.

If there is no implantation/pregnancy, a woman's body stops producing large amounts of progesterone, which results in sloughing off and elimination of the thickened uterine lining, also known as a woman's monthly flow.

This cycle repeats itself about once every month until a woman experiences menopause, with estrogen dominating the first half of each cycle, and progesterone dominating the second half.

Estrogen Dominance
Sadly, many women and even teenage girls in industrialized countries have too much estrogen and/or too little progesterone in their systems.

Why is estrogen dominance a problem?

There are many reasons, but the relevant answer for this article is that having estrogen dominance causes a woman's uterine lining to thicken far more than is healthy during her monthly cycles. This repeated, excessive thickening can result in localized growths in the muscle and connective tissue that line the uterus. We call these growths uterine fibroids.

All of these physiological facts have had me convinced for years that addressing estrogen dominance is essential to shrinking and preventing uterine fibroids.

What causes estrogen dominance?

  1. Exposure to Xenoestrogens
    Xenoestrogens are estrogens that are produced outside of the body.
    Here is a list of significant sources of xenoestrogens:

    • Birth control pills
    • Hormone replacement drugs
    • Condom spermicides
    • Conventional personal care products, particularly cosmetics
    • Plastic cookware
    • Growth hormones found in factory-farmed animal products
    • Pesticides and herbicides
    • DDT
    • PCBs - polychlorinated biphenyls
    • Foaming agents in soaps and detergents
  2. Being Overweight
    Estrogen is produced in three different areas of the body:

    • Ovaries (testicles in men)
    • Adrenal glands
    • Fat cells

    That's right. Estrogen is produced by fat cells. The more fat cells a person has, the greater chance he or she has of experiencing estrogen dominance.

  3. Chronic Stress
    When a person experiences chronic physical and/or emotional stress, his or her body will begin to convert progesterone into the stress hormone, cortisol. In fact, we now know that a woman who experiences significant stress during pregnancy can actually draw upon her baby's progesterone stores to manufacture enough cortisol for the mom to deal with her stress. The point is, stress can lead to a depletion of progesterone, which creates the same condition of estrogen dominance that a woman experiences when she has too much estrogen in her system.

So, what can you do to prevent and work at shrinking uterine fibroids?

  1. Clearly, you must strive to avoid unnecessary exposure to xenoestrogens. Study the list of xenoestrogens above and do your best to avoid them.
  2. Because fat cells produce estrogen, reaching and maintaining your ideal body weight is essential to addressing chronic estrogen dominance.
  3. Finally, estrogen dominance must be addressed in part by making a conscious and consistent effort to manage emotional stressors effectively.

It shouldn't come as a surprise that some people with uterine fibroids find that their fibroids shrink dramatically and sometimes even disappear completely with a water fast.

This makes a lot of sense, since a water fast addresses each major cause of estrogen dominance. Assuming that a water fast is done under optimal conditions, there is no exposure to xenoestrogens. A water fast forces the body to burn excess fat for energy, particularly after the two-day mark. And finally, a water fast helps to decrease the tone of one's sympathetic nervous system, decreasing a need for the stress hormone, cortisol.

The best part of all of this information is that you don't have to do a water fast to effectively address estrogen dominance. So long as your food and lifestyle choices are in alignment with the suggestions listed above, you will give your body its best shot at preventing and shrinking uterine fibroids naturally.

Please note: A more thorough look at this topic would require a technical discussion of the entire endocrine system. The purpose of this article is to give you a clear understanding of fundamentals of estrogen dominance and practical suggestions on how to avoid experiencing it.

If you would like to study this topic in greater depth, I recommend that you read

Taking Charge of Your Fertility: The Definitive Guide to Natural Birth Control, Pregnancy Achievement, and Reproductive Health (Revised Edition) for a comprehensive look at female reproductive health,

and
What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Premenopause : Balance Your Hormones and Your Life from Thirty to Fifty for a thorough look at endocrine imbalances that can contribute to uterine fibroids.

 
 

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Comments

Thank you so much for your articles on: A natural approach to treating fibroids and The full body cleanse diet. I was diaganosed with fibroids yesterday after failing to concieve for a year and having the most irregular periods. I resolved not to have an operation as per the doctor's suggestion. So I've started fasting today. It's refreshing to come across useful articles as yours without being told about some miracle tablets I need to buy.
I'm using Kloss' Back to Eden as a guide. So your article on enemas is useful as he tends to advocate for them.

My problem is doc that I honestly don't see anything on your list that applies to me. I am not overweight and consciouly do not use convensional products (cosmetics or foods etc). As far as emotional stress is concerned, even if I am stressed sometimes it's occasional, not chronic. But I had a large firboid that had to be removed a few years ago and I have another one now.
Can you explain the water fast? Isn't that dangerous?

You hold the fibroids cure –any disease for that matter.

According to Dr. Joseph Murphy, author of divine books, illnesses, diseases, conditions are born of a negative mind. Sometimes we have these dark thoughts about life without realizing it because they are normal to our culture or self-beliefs. For instance, some of us say people are “filthy” rich. Why do they want money if it is so nasty? Or, they have never been sick in their lives. “Knock on wood!” This expression counteracts the good that was stated in the first place. In essence, they are saying that they hope they do not get sick; thereby, a negative thought is planted.

To prove Dr. Murphy’s theory, I meditated/prayed about three times a day while fasting for 40 days/nights on raw fruits, vegetables, water, herbs, and homemade juices and teas. To inform you, I was also taking various supplements and had been before.

I appreciated shrinkage of the tumors before I started reading one of his books and applying its techniques. What is astounding is that the tumors shrunk faster over this period compared to the herbal treatment that I have been on for five months.

Based upon what I have gathered, I must state clearly, we must find something good to believe in if we definitely want to achieve fibroids cure.

With this said, you could learn more about what I do or have been doing for almost 10 years to avoid surgery by reading the details in this article, "Will Uterine Fibroids End" at Fibroids Fighter. Otherwise, if you want to practice Dr. Murphy’s methods, you could read the post, "...Fibroids Cure" at Fibroids Fighter to read the book that helps me.

In the meanwhile, you may find this prayer I repeat every morning, noon, and night helpful. It is extracted and slightly modified from Dr. Murphy’s book:

“This Infinite Healing Presence [of my subconscious mind is] transforming every cell of my [entire] being, making me whole and [most certainly] perfect. I give thanks for the healing I know is taking place at this time. Wonderful are the works of the creative intelligence within me.”

We have to fight negative elements that rise in our minds and manifest themselves in our language, our bodies for the rest of our lives.

All the best to you Fibroid Fighters!

THANK YOU Fibroids Fighter for you're encouraging words. I had my Abdominal Myomectomy procedure 10+ weeks ago. I had 5 the size of grapefruits in my uterus. Today I went back for an ultrasound only to find out one has returned 2cm in size. I had a bitter sweet moment seeing my uterus look amazing for the 1st time in 11 years (I've been fighting this since I was 18) but I could not help but cry after knowing one has returned already. After reading your response and the prayer you quoted, it has given me the strength to fight this, and to believe that I will conqueror my fibroid issue and it will shrink and go away. I declare that they are longer welcome in my body, they have overstayed their welcome long enough! I will order Dr. Kim's book so that I can become healthy inside and out.

Many Thanks!

Fibroids are a symptom of a larger problem. Surgery does not remedy the overall problem. If changes aren't made to restore your overall reproductive health the fibroids will continue to reoccur. I have one large and several small fibroids. I opted against surgery and decided to pursue a holistic path. I bought a nutra bullet and make 3 veggie and fruit smoothies a day. I eat a protein bar, almonds or dates intermittently and eat a one meal of steamed veggies and lima or kidney beans with a little quinoa. I will eat fish at some point too. I'm taking a set of herbal supplements at different times throughout the day. since I've started my regiment, I'm no longer constipated (which leads me to believe the fibroid is shrinking causing it to let up on my rectum), my skin is no longer oily and breaking out, my circulation has improved and my hair is growing and my nails are stronger. Surgery is an answer only if you are committed to making significant changes in your diet and fixing your hormonal imbalance. I can't afford the surgery now but I know that if I opted for it and continued with the changes I've made, the fibroids would not reoccur. I will also add the prayer the Doc mentioned to my regiment. Gratitude and positive thinking never hurt anyone.

While I mentioned in an earlier comment that the cure is or could be in what we believe, I'm certain uterine fibroids is a scientific problem. It is as true as if you eat poorly, you might end up with high cholesterol or another health problem. Therefore, you cannot pray the problem away and continue to engage in this unhealthy habit. As with fibroids, we have to make a lifestyle change that stems beyond diet changes. Once we stick with it, that will probably be the only true cure that exists. So while I didn't want to admit it in another comment where the user was insulted that I was blaming the victim, it is true that most of it is our fault unless we had been and still doing everything right. I don't know anyone who lead this ideal life and is afflicted with this problem. Some people, like myself, claim to be eating healthily when indeed we eat most processed foods (frozen fruits and vegetables included). If such a person is out there, I humbly apologize to you. And to go back to science, it means that it is something you inherited, and I hope that you find the perfect treatment. I am healing and I give thanks to being better to myself and the universe.

I've been skinny all my life; I've been a picky eater all my life; I rarely wear makeup; and I'm conscious about what else goes in/on my body.

As studies state, science doesn't know the cause of uterine fibroids.

It could be one factor in you or me that triggered it. I blame Depo Provera because when I had my annual in 2003, I was well. By the end of the year, I was bleeding terribly and was in a lot of pain. But guess what? My mom and my sister (father's child) had it, too.

Further, my paternal grandfather and my maternal grandmother had tumors, although they were malignant.

Like Dr. Kim said:

"Please note: A more thorough look at this topic would require a technical discussion of the entire endocrine system. The purpose of this article is to give you a clear understanding of fundamentals of estrogen dominance and practical suggestions on how to avoid experiencing it."

I blame that shot, but I also know what my state of mind was during that time. Hush softly! I don't want to talk about it now.

To end, if we dwell on uterine fibroids or anything horrible, it comes to light.

May blessings fill our wombs!

Processed foods should have been included on the list. Foods are a huge reason why, despite America's 'wealth', they are more unhealthy than many of the poorer countries in the world. Everything that is put on or in the body should be looked at. Processed food is unnatural food. It's not a part of America's diet to eat food as it was grown without changing it. I should also mention that all reproductive issues (and even non repro issues) should be looked at as interconnected. American medicine tries to treat symptoms and health problems separately from one another.

Women who have fibroids often have other repro problems like endometriosis and polycystic ovaries. PCOS is already connected to processed foods (enriched flours, anything with the word enriched should not be looked at positively...it means the grain was stripped of its germ and brand and has synthetic nutrients added back into it-the body knows better). It is also connected to high glycemic fruits and veggies. And caffeine and sugars are a factor. As long as the body is fed fake nutrients, changed foods, sugars (pop, candy, cereal, salty and sugary snacks), fibroids will always grow. And if you cut them out, THEY WILL RETURN. These foods fuel estrogen dominance.

The hard part is most of the foods at grocery stores, outside of the fresh fruit and vegetables and UN-enriched grains, is engineered for addiction. People usually can't stop eating all these foods because they crave them like a drug. We are also trained for quick, convenient packaged foods. People don't want to give up comfort or convenience or make even small changes. Without change, we will have the same results.

I'm sure science will find out more about fibroid causes, especially as more and more women get into science. I eat a vegetarian diet, drink mostly water, I like to juice. Each time I water fast, something unhealthy/processed drops from my diet. I DID notice that when I added in certain processed or junky foods, my fibroid growth would accelerate and my PCOS symptoms worsened (can you say hirsutism?). Since I've fasted since childhood, I'm ready to include rounds of dry fasting with my water fasting. I've been reading a rough Russian translation about dry fasting (they do not fear fasting like many do here) and a lot of it makes sense when compared to my own experiences. Dry fasting is way more intense because without water, fibroids cannot live long. Fat cells are incinerated in a way, as well as growth and tumors. I am my own guinea pig and have only had positive results. (I don't advise it to inexperienced fasters, nor people who have clogged their body with toxic foods their entire lives...the body needs a pure diet of real food first). One of the most amazing thing was how I began growing skin tags as my PCOS/fibroids got worse. With one of my last water fasts, all but one of my skin tags fell off. I look forward to seeing what happens next!

Just now diagnosed 2 fibroids of 7mm in my MOM's uterine wall. Your article gives me hope and strength that my MOM will recover soon. Thanks a lot. My prayers towards The Almighty to prevent these causes for the entire women community.

Thanks for this post. I've had fibroids since my 30s (now in early 50s) and my doctors have always advocated the "wait and see" approach since I do not want a hysterectomy unless absolutely necessary. This turned out to be not such a good thing, because now "waiting" has made it so large that the surgery will be much more of a major deal than before. My symptoms were also much worse.

Last year I went to the emergency room with severe period bleeding that would not stop. I went back on a low-dose birth control pill to help control this. It is hoped that menopause and shrinkage is coming soon but a new doctor wants to take everything out because despite 2-3 clear uterine-lining biopsies, "it could be cancer." (I said no, and am finding a new doctor again.)

I have recently found a firm selling nattokinase for fibroid shrinkage and have been taking for about 3months. I still have some symptoms of pressure and other things but I feel (with my hands) that the growth is smaller now. Of course we won't know until another ultrasound. I'll do more research on the water-fast and find a time to do that very soon. Thank you Dr. Kim!

Hi. Thanks for your story ,am experiencing the same thing for over 6 years now just found out they increased and one of my cysts are bleeding. Where can I found the stuff that you said you were taking? Is that an herbal supplement?