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Intestinal Health Institute

UTERINE FIBROIDS
by Robin Leebardt and Sheila Shea

This project has lingered for a few years. I agreed to do a


research paper for a client on Uterine Fibroids. I got some
material written in rough form. Along came Robin who has a
great interest in Uterine Fibroids. Her story follows in part two!
Robin agreed to edit, add to my material plus write her own
'case history.' This is the finished product. Women and their
partners will appreciate this information culled from many
INTRODUCTION sources. Please feel free to give us feedback. The paper is in 5
parts: Definition, Causes, Remedies, Case Study and Footnotes.
ABOUT ME
1. DEFINITION
Fibroids are benign tumors of the uterus. They grow in various
CLINIC - OFFICE locations on and within the uterine wall itself or in the uterine
cavity. Fibroids are made from hard, white, gristly tissue that
ARTICLES has a whorl-like pattern. Less than 0.1% of all fibroids are
malignant and they occur in up to 50% of women over 40.
BOOKS
They can reach the size of a grapefruit or cantaloupe but the
REFERRALS majority remain marble-sized or smaller and cause no
discomfort or distress. Standard medical practice gauges the
NEWSLETTER size of a fibroid to the size of the uterus at various stages of
pregnancy. A woman may be told that she has a sixteen-week-
LINKS size fibroid if her uterus is a big as it would be if she were 16
weeks pregnant.
CONTACT ME
Fibroids do not harm other organs next to the uterus, but
sometimes the position of the fibroid causes symptoms that are
annoying. Susun Weed says in her book, Menopausal Years,
"Large fibroids can exert pressure on the bladder, bowels, or
sensitive pelvic nerves, causing a variety of symptoms including
pelvic pain, frequent urination, constipation, low back pain,
irritable bowels, and severe menstrual/menopausal flooding."
Andrew Weil, M.D. comments in his book, Natural Health,
Natural Medicine, "They [fibroids] may make menstrual periods
painful and heavy, leading to anemia in some cases. They do
not turn malignant."

2. CAUSES
A. ESTROGEN
Fibroids are hormone dependent, thriving on estrogen. Fibroids
often change size during each menstrual cycle, reaching their
peak during ovulation and just before the menstrual period
begins. They increase in size during pregnancy when this
hormone is at its highest and shrink dramatically and often
disappear after menopause, when estrogen levels are at their
lowest, except in women who take supplemental hormones
(estrogen replacement).

B. XENO-ESTROGENS
The Washington Post printed in its June 29, 1993 issue, "Many
toxins target women specifically." The article points out that
man-made chemicals can introduce estrogen-like hormones into
the body thereby increasing the fibroid's size. John McLachlan,
scientific director of Olden and National Institute of
Environmental Health Science says that chemicals like
polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), organochlorines (DDT), dioxin
and other industrial by-products all have estrogen-like activity."
And T. Colin Campbell reports findings from the Cornell-China
Project that "The chemical industry must also take credit for
upsetting the delicate balance of female hormones as pesticides
and other poisons that enter the food chain or are otherwise
ingested, lodge, particularly in fatty tissues, where they mimic
estrogen."

Target sites for estrogen, McLachlan said, include bones, brain,


cardiovascular system, liver, skin, uterus and vagina. Diseases
related to estrogen include breast and uterine disease, including
cancer, as well as endometriosis, fibroid tumors, premenstrual
syndrome, reproductive dysfunctions such as infertility or
lactation suppression.

http://www.mercola.com/2000/dec/31/estrogen_cancer.htm
Dr. Mercola, the author of this site, has a newsletter article
entitled, Estrogen Should be Added to Cancer-Causing List
Along with Other Substances.

"Estrogen, the hormone used in birth control pills and hormone


replacement therapy, should be listed as a known cancer-
causing agent, according to the advisers to the National
Toxicology Panel (NTP).

Maybe, one scientist said, this step might encourage doctors to


talk with their patients about both the risks and the benefits.
'Physicians never discuss any of these risks when they are
prescribing hormone therapy,' Michelle Medinsky, a toxicologist
from Durham, NC, told the National Toxicology Program
advisory committee. 'They only discuss benefits. Listing might
force it on the table.' Medinsky said. 'Is knowledge power or is
ignorance bliss? Everyone has to make their own decision,' she
said. An estimated 16 million postmenopausal women take
hormone therapy, either estrogen alone or estrogen combined
with a progestin. Millions of other women use birth control pills.

The advisory panel acted after looking at studies showing that


estrogen is associated with an increase in uterine and
endometrial cancer and to a lesser extent, breast cancer."

C. DIET
One's diet can continue to feed an already existing fibroid.
Various theories and opinions exist. Jackson ND and Teague ND,
DC authors of The Handbook of Alternatives to Chemical
Medicine, suggest that a diet high in protein feeds growths in
the body, cancerous and non-cancerous. Dr. Chang, founder of
the Canadian company Prime Health Products, says that
soybean products promote the production of estrogen and
therefore can promote an increase in the size of fibroids. Foods
that promote coagulation of cells, such as dairy products, can
be detrimental if taken in high quantities. Sheila Shea feels that
refined sugars and starches, perhaps complex carbohydrates in
general which include soy, and foods containing growth
hormones, drugs and chemicals can feed the fibroid.

Robin's personal note: I noted that after eating at an Italian


restaurant, my fibroid had grown immensely the following
morning. My colon hydrotherapist and I felt that the
combination of eating a meat sauce with non-organic meat and
questionable sauce ingredients; wine with potential sugars,
sulfites and yeast; and a slice of cheese cake for desert with
non-organic cheese, milk, sugar, and various chemicals
promoted a feeding frenzy in my fibroid. So was it the sugars,
chemicals, hormones and drugs contained in the dairy and meat
or the dairy and meat itself or the combo?

D. EMOTIONS
Some experts believe that mental conflicts and spiritual
stagnation play a role in fibroid development. They can grow
during times of stress. A.D. Feinstein believes that fibroids are
often associated with conflicts about creativity, reproduction,
and relationships. Dr. Northrup asks her patients to meditate on
their relationships with other people, their jobs, and how they
express their creativity because she believes that there is a
connection between the inability of women to express
themselves honestly and fully and their fibroids. Many
alternative healers have observed fibroids as excess or stagnant
energy in the uterus or abdominal region.

E. LIVER, GALL BLADDER AND INTESTINAL TOXICITY


Julia Chang's website http://www.sensiblehealth.com
describes the relationship the liver and gall bladder have to the
body. The liver regulates hormones in men and women.
Hormones are removed through bile via the intestines and
through urine via the kidney-bladder. If they are not effectively
flushed out of the body, abnormal growths can occur such as
uterine fibroids, ovarian cysts, endometriosis, breast cysts,
breast cancer, prostate enlargement, or prostate cancer.
Excessive estrogen is also the most common cause of painful
menstruation.

The liver and intestines, organs daily detoxifying and renewing


the body, cannot do their job efficiently or at all when they are
overworked or blocked with excessive toxins. Liver congestion,
parasites and gall stones contribute to the weakened condition
of these organs and lower their productivity. The liver does not
conjugate or break down estrogen when unable to process and
eliminate sufficiently.

Estrogen once released from the liver into the intestines may be
reabsorbed into the body if the intestines are sluggish and the
walls are compromised. If a women has a slow transit time (the
time it takes for food to travel from the mouth to the anus) or
she is constipated, estrogen gathers in the intestines and is
absorbed back into the blood stream. Therefore, higher levels of
estrogen circulating through the body may have an effect on
fibroid development.
Leaky gut occurs when the intestinal walls start to break down.
Leaky gut offers obvious trouble to the body and reproductive
area whether fibroids are present or not.

3. REMEDIES
A. SURGERY
Most fibroids can be treated conservatively by letting them be
and having an examination every six months to a year or so to
monitor their growth. Some doctors will want to remove the
fibroid and recommend a hysterectomy (removal of the uterus)
or a myomectomy (removal of the fibroid only). Treatment of
fibroids is the most frequently cited reason for a hysterectomy.
Studies have shown that there is little or no justification for
this. Unless you have repeated episodes of severe bleeding that
cannot be controlled with hormonal treatments or other
measures, surgery is one option. It is not the only one.

B. HERBAL FORMULATIONS

Herbal remedies offer a less invasive approach. A word on using


herbal formulas. Investigate whether the herbal formula will aid
the body THERAPEUTICALLY or TONICALLY. Therapeutic use is
for a short period of time, one to four weeks, and taken at the
appropriate time of day, be it morning or evening. Tonic use is
for a longer period of time, four to six months or longer to alter
a deep imbalance over time.

Follow the general rule of rest followed by activity, ie, use an


herb for six days, rest for one day, or use for 6 weeks, rest for 1
week, or use for 6 months, rest for 1 month. Each period of rest
allows the herb to become integrated into the body and
therefore become most effective.

1. The following herbal formulas are taken from the


Naturopathic Handbook of Herbal Formulas.
http://www.gaiaherbs.com/
Gaia products available to order.

http://www.naturalwoman.org/generic.html?pid=5
Lists Reed's RX Compounding Pharmacy

a. COMPOUNDED FRAXINUS/CEANOTHUS
(40-60 drops, four times a day in a small amount of warm
water.)
A uterine fibroid and cyst corrective formula. Therapeutic
actions: the herbs in this compound act to remove catabolic
wastes from the pelvic cavity and from uterine and ovarian
tissues. These herbs accelerate metabolism and lymph drainage
and promote the sloughing-off of wasted tissues.
Contents:
Fresh Mountain Ash Bark (Fraxinus americanus)
Fresh Red Root (Ceanothus americanus)
Fresh Life Root (Senecio aureus)
Mayapple Root (Podophyllum peltatum)
Fresh Helonias Root (Chamaelirium luteum)
Fresh Goldenseal Root (Hydrastis canadensis)
Lobelia Herb and Seed (Lobelia inflata)
Fresh Ginger Root (Zingiber officinalis)

b. COMPOUNDED SCUDDER'S ALTERATIVE (30 drops, three


times a day)
Do not use if pregnant.
A deep tissue cleansing formula. Therapeutic actions: this
formula helps to replace catabolic tissue with healthy, more
vibrant tissue. It helps to restore energy through removal of
obstructing waste material.
Contents:
Corydalis Tubers (Dicentra canadensis)
Fresh Black Alder Bark (Alnus serrulata)
Mayapple Root (Podophyllum peltatum)
Figwort Flowering Herb (Scrophularia nodosa)
Fresh Yellow dock Root (Rumex crispus)

c. COMPOUNDED ECHINACEA/RED ROOT (30-40 drops,


three times a day)
Do not use if pregnant.
A blood and lymphatic alterative formula. Therapeutic actions:
the herbs help bring changes in metabolism, repair catabolic
tissue and waste, and stimulate the body's immune response.
Contents:
Fresh Echinacea spp.
Fresh Red Root (Ceanothus americanus)
Fresh Baptisia Root (Baptisia tinctoria)
Fresh Thuja Leaf (Thuja occidentalis)
Fresh Stillingia Root (Stillingia sylvatica)
Fresh Blue Flag Root (Iris versicolor)
Prickly Ash Bark (Xanthoxylum clava-herculus)

d. COMPOUNDED ELIXIR OF VITEX (1 tsp, three times a


day)
A female hormone corrective tonic. Therapeutic actions: this
compounded elixir corrects imbalances of estrogen metabolism
associated with excessive catechol estrogens and elevated
inflammatory prostaglandins.
Contents:
Fresh Chaste Tree Berry (Vitex Castus Agnus)
Fresh Squaw Vine (Mitchella repens)
Fresh Black Haw Bark (Viburnum prunifolium)
Fresh Butterbur Root (Petasites officinalis)
Fresh Mugwort Leaf
Fresh Dandelion Leaf and Root (Leontodon taraxacum)
Usnea Lichen
Rose Hips solid extract
Concentrated Mulberry syrup
Custom Extract of Sea Vegetation and Marine Algae
Vegetable Glycerine

e. POKE ROOT OIL (rub oil on uterus/abdomen before bed.


Therapeutic actions: cleans lymph glands.)

f. BLACK COHOSH ROOT (use if tissue tension is present in


uterine region)
Do not use if pregnant.
2. Other helpful herbal remedies include:
a. Carotenoids (150,000-300,000 IU daily) carrot juice, cod
liver oil

b. Castor Oil packs (apply over pelvis 3-5 times per week)

c. Hot ginger water compresses

d. Sitz baths daily

e. Herbal Suppositories: White Oak Bark or Goldenseal Root or


Tea Tree Oil

f. Blue cohosh herb (caulophyllum thalictroides): 2


capsules 2xd for a month if painful periods are a problem. If
this helps, continue for another month, then cut the dose in half
and gradually reduce to nothing, as suggested by Dr. Andrew
Weil. (p 329)

g. Anti-estrogenic brew by Rina Nissim (1 tsp or 5 ml on


rising)
(Book available on amazon.com, Info might not be in English.)
Any one of these herbs is beneficial to premenopausal women
dealing with fibroids. Expect noticable results with 2-4 months.
Tincture equal parts of:
Black currant buds or leaves (Ribes nigrum)
Gromwell herb or seeds (Lithospermum officinalis)
Lady's mantle herb (Alchemilla vulgaris)
Chaste tree berries (Vitex agnus-castus)
Yarrow flowers (Achillea millefolium)
Wild pansy flowers (Viola tricolor).

h. Vitex berry tincture, 25-30 drops 2xd, may shrink small


fibroids within 2 months. Dr. Susun Weed says it can be used
for up to 2 years.

i. Chapparel and Yucca root extracts by Tierona Low Dog,


MD
Dr. Low Dog is a Family Physician and Medical Director of the
Treehouse Center of Integrative Medicine in Albuquerque NM.
The clinic phone is 505.872.2611. Her assistant Rita's phone is
505.875.1312. Dr Low Dog has recently published a book called
Women's Health, a joint project between the Integrative
Medicine Education Associates (IMEA) and the American Dietetic
Association (ADA). It is written primarily for physicians and
retails at $94.50. Dr Low Dog has also been assigned to the
President's Commission on Complementary and Alternative
Medicine Policy. For those who would like to study with her, she
has designed a correspondence course entitled the Foundations
of Herbal Medicine. The website for the course is
http://www.fihm.com
and the email is fihm1@aol.com

Dr Low Dog has a recipe for uterine fibroid


reduction/dissolution.
Fill a crock pot full of chaparral and cover with water. Cook for 4
days on low and strain. Put strained fluid in crock pot again and
cook for another 4 days until liquid is thick and syrupy. Set this
extract aside.

Chop Yucca Root into small pieces, put 4 ounces in crock pot
and add 48 ounces of water. Cook on low for 4 days. Strain root
and continue cooking strained root until you have 2 inches of
black syrup on bottom of crock pot. Combine the two syrups in
a glass bottle, take 15 drops 3 times a day.

C. DIET

Dietary habits promote health or disease. Many women's paths


to uterine health begin with dietary changes.

Some health practitioners and nutritionists recommend avoiding


complex carbohydrates. According to Elaine Gottschall in
Breaking the Vicious Cycle, the complex 'sugars' are the major
culprits in Inflammatory Bowel Disease, Irritable Bowel
Syndrome and Candida. Inability to digest the complex sugars
increases the population of pathogenic bacteria and fungi which
can lead to a host of intestinal and immune deficiencies.
Diarrhea, constipation, pain, rectal bleeding, bloating and gas
are some key symptoms. Inflamation and irritation to the gut
wall can contribute to and is associated with 'leaky gut
syndrome.' I theorize that the fibroids may thrive on refined
and/or complex sugars. I speculate that damage to the gut wall
may upset the flow and balance of hormones. For more
information on the benefits of eating the Specific Carbohydrate
Diet visit her website, http://www.scdiet.org.

Dr. Andrew Weil recommends eating a low fat diet and hormone
free foods (meat, poultry, eggs, and dairy products).
Consumption of whole foods and avoidance of processed and
refined foods (white flour and white sugar) definitely helps to
keep the body's systems healthy, thereby, making it ready to
heal itself and to ward of any health problems. Vitamin E (400
IU) 2xd adds an added boost.

http://www.sensiblehealth.com
Dr. Julia Chang also identifies refined flour and sugar, deep fried
foods, caffeine and ice cold drink/food as damaging to the liver
and kidneys, the organs that aid in elimination of toxins. Avoid
and eliminate these foods from your diet and your liver will
begin to function more effectively. Soy bean products will
elevate estrogen levels. Avoid overuse of soy products in order
to help the liver eliminate the existing excess estrogen
circulating in the body (remember, fibroids feed on estrogen).
Seek a balance between progesterone and estrogen and female
health will be optimal.

http://www.westonaprice.org
Dr. Weston A. Price, a dentist who was amazed by his patients
decline in dental health and physical health, researched for 10
years the variables between a culture's diet and their health.
His book, Nutrition and Physical Degeneration, explains his
findings. At his website, you may read more on how 'civilized'
nations are suffering from 'third world diseases' and how
'uncivilized' societies enjoy excellent health.

For the women of America, Dr. Price advocates high doses of


Vitamin A for optimum thyroid functioning which will lead to
optimum female health. True Vitamin A (retinol) is found in
animal products such as cod liver oil, liver, other organ meats,
butter, cream, fish, shell fish, and animal fats. The Vitamin A
that is found in plants is good, too, but not nearly as potent. Dr.
Price also has a section at his site called 'Soy Alert.' The article
is eye-opening and educational.
http://www.westonaprice.org/soy_alert.htm

http://www.healthyhealing.com
Dr. Linda Page's website article promotes sea vegetables as a
way to regain and maintain a healthy female system. Sea
vegetables and herbs are higher in vitamins and minerals than
any other food group. Some sea vegetables available today are
arame, bladderwrack, dulse, hijiki, Irish moss, kelp, kombu,
nori, sea palm and wakame.

Benefits of sea vegetables:


1. high in vitamin B12 which is necessary for cell development
and nerve function,
2. aids in body cleansing, alkalinizes and purifies the blood,
3. nourishes the thyroid with natural iodine. Iodine from sea
plants can prevent fibrocystic breast disease, and in some
cases, completely eradicate it, especially when taken with
Vitamin E,
4. fight cancer and proliferation of cancer cells by supporting
the immune system with a multitude of antioxidants.

Medical doctors Agatha and Calvin Thrash wrote a book entitled


Nutrition for Vegetarians in 1982. In their chapter on
Endocrinology they list foods that are low in estrogen-like
sterols. They suggest a diet low in plant steroids for persons
with cancer stimulated by taking estrogen or having a
pregnancy. The suggestion might also apply to uterine fibroids.
They list the following as high in estrogen-like hormones: beet
roots, potato tubers, parsley roots, yeast, honey, sage and
clover.
(pages 101-102)

D. CLEANSE THE INTESTINES

Cleansing, rebuilding and reflorastating the intestinal walls is a


priority for foundational healing. Improving the muscle tone and
peristalsis of the intestines improves elimination. Cleansing
programs are available to eliminate dehydrated waste from the
gut walls be it mucus, fecal or parasitic. Specific diet, herbs and
supplements are used to rebuild the walls. Another key priority
is implanting viable cultures of positive flora in the intestines
called reflorastation. The good and balanced flora and healthy
gut walls are the foundations of a healthy immune system not
to mention digestion, assimilation and elimination. Colonics,
colemas and enemas are all helpful in the cleansing, rebuilding
and reflorastation of the intestines. See Sheila's website for
additional information.
http://www.intestinalhealthinstitute.com

E. CLEANSE THE LIVER AND GALL BLADDER

To strengthen the liver and gall bladder, Julia Chang prescribes


a variety of products (Chinese herbal formulas) which she has
developed to take in addition to this gall bladder/liver flush:

Prior to Day 1: Eat only whole grains and whole foods.

DAY 1: Drink two 8-ounce glasses of organic apple juice or


apple cider every two hours from 8 AM- 8 PM. Eat no food and
only drink water in addition to the apple juice/cider. Juice should
be at room temperature.

DAY 2: Repeat Day 1. At 8:30 PM drink 4 ounces of olive oil


with 4 ounces of lemon juice (or 1/2 olive oil to 3/4 cup of
grapefruit juice). After sipping whole drink go immediately to
bed and lay on your right side for 20 minutes. Then go to bed
for the night.

DAY 3: Upon rising drink two 8-ounce glasses of warm water


with juice from half a lemon. One half hour later, drink two 8-
ounce glasses of prune juice. Eat softly cooked vegetables only
this day. Gall stones should pass between the evening of day 2
until day 4 and the liver will be strengthened.

Many programs are available to cleanse the liver and gall


bladder. Feel free to try different programs such as those at
http://www.thefirstresortaz.com or http://www.drclark.net.

F. FASTING

There are many benefits to fasting, but the primary reason is to


help the body and mind cleanse itself of toxins. The
misconception about fasting is that one eats absolutely nothing.
This is not completely true. Here are a few recipies, and
remember, drinking a gallon of water a day is highly
recommended!

1. The Master Cleanse or Lemonade Diet by Stanley Burroughs.

http://www.bc1.com/vitagem/Master_Cleanser.htm
The site describes the fast, how to do it, and the benefits.

2. Drink only distilled water. With this method, you will need to
rest a lot and supervision is suggested. The body will effectively
rid itself of any toxins and you will feel it. 10-21 days is enough.

3. Aid the body in its fasting and cleansing by giving yourself


enemas or receiving a series of colonics. Colemas are an option
too and they are self-administered. An internal salt water bath
can also help. Take 2 level teaspoons of sea salt (sea salt only)
dissolved in 1 quart of warm water...Make sure you are near a
bathroom all day long if you choose to do the internal salt water
bath. It has a laxative effect. The idea during fasting is to
eliminate the toxins that are loosened up as quickly as possible.
4. Raw Juice Fast as described by Drs. Jackson and Teague in
their book, The Handbook of Alternatives to Chemical Medicine.
Drs. Jackson and Teague also recommend this raw juice diet for
any growths in the body, malignant or benign. This is just one
possibility of a raw juice fast.

Day 1: 6 ounces spinach, 10 ounces carrot


Day 2: 2 ounces parsley, 3 ounces spinach, 4 ounces celery,
7 ounces carrot
Day 3: 3 ounces beet, 3 ounces cucumber, 10 ounces carrot
Day 4: 2 ounces coconut, 3 ounces beet, 11 ounces carrot
Day 5: 1 pint (16 ounces) spinach
Day 6: 2 ounces parsley, 5 ounces celery, 9 ounces carrot
Day 7: 4 ounces parsley, 12 ounces carrot 4
Day 8: repeat Day 1

The combination of vegetable juices will provide the body with


the nutrients it needs to revitalize its immune system and
"starve" the fibroid. In addition to drinking raw juices, one slice
of sourdough bread a day is complementary to the effects the
juices have on the body. If hunger pangs develop only eat raw
vegetables or raw fruit. Do not mix fruit and vegetables in one
meal. A meal of raw fruit at lunch followed by a meal of raw
vegetables at dinner is advisable. In addition to drinking raw
juices, drink a gallon of water a day. The water will keep you
hydrated and aid the juices with their cleansing properties.

5. Ending a fast is just as important as starting one. The key is


to be conscious about ending the fast and the foods you choose
to eat. This is just one idea of ending a fast,

DAY 1: The first day after the fast, begin with watered down
freshly squeezed orange juice. Drink as much water and orange
juice as desired.
DAY 2: Continue with the orange juice and add vegetable broth.
DAY 3: A meal of raw fruit at lunch followed by a meal of raw
vegetables, like a salad, for dinner.
DAY 4: More solid foods may be eaten from this day forward,
but do not overeat. And, since your system has been cleansed,
now is the best time to pay attention to your body's reactions to
the different foods you ingest. Remember to listen to your body.

G. EXERCISE

Most paths to healthy living also include a certain level of


exericse. In the case of fibroids, an increase in aerobic activity
is recommended by Dr. Northrup, Dr. Weil, Dr. Weed, and Drs.
Thrash.

H. DEAL WITH EMOTIONAL SPIRITUAL ASPECTS OF YOUR


LIFE

Dr. Northrup and Dr. Weed believe that today's women place
demands on themselves that are overwhelming. The body will
force you to slow down and reflect on your life choices by
manifesting fibroids or other physical maladies if you are not
mindful of yourself and your needs. A variety of energy work
and emotional, mental and spiritual healing techniques are
available to release stagnation on those planes and restore
health.

1. Visualization: In a quiet moment, picture the fibroid.


Imagine it decreasing in size and ask it for its purpose. Do not
scold it or feel negative toward it. It is there to deliver a
message. Give it a name, for you are about to give birth to an
idea, an emotion, or a memory that has long been supressed.

Here is an exercise: Sit or recline comfortably. Focus on your


breath, imagine you are breathing out of your uterus and
vagina breathing out stagnant energy. Pause for a moment,
then breathe into your vagina and into your uterus bringing in
vital healing energy. Breathe out. Continue this cycle for 10
minutes.

2. Meditation: Sit or recline comfortably. Close your eyes and


let all thoughts fly in and out of your mind. Do not dwell on one
event. Concentrate on your breathing. Feel the balance in your
body. Put every part of your body in total relaxation starting at
the toes, or at the head and work all the way up or down.
Practice being silent for 10-30 minutes once a day.

3. Qigong (chee gong): This is a series of movements


incorporated with breathing to increase circulation and energy
to the vital systems of your body, similar to tai chi. Visit the
National Qigong Association website at http://www.nqa.org
to read more about their exercises and how to implement them.

4. Biofeedback
http://www.biofeedback.net/
The number one site for biofeedback information.

5. Therapy
Many forms of therapy are available.
http://www.clearpathway.net
Redirecting Self - Therapy (RST) as described in paper
Biology of Emotions: Self Help for Anxiety and Depression.
RST is my favorite and the one I use.
http://www.ieata.org/
Website for the International Expressive Arts Therapy
Association.

I. ALTERNATIVE THERAPIES

How do you find alternative practitioners? This is what I suggest


to my correspondents. Check with family, friends and
colleagues; local alternative practitioners; local health food
stores and their bulletin boards; support groups; professional
associations; alternative medicine schools and colleges; referral
services and advertisements. Referral services are advertised
over the radio, on TV, in magazines and in the yellow pages.
Local and alternative tabloids provide ads too. Sometimes I do a
search for the particular field. You might want to do that.

Another suggestion, is to go to (or the version in your country)


http://www.uswestdex.com
and type in the key field and call the places one by one! Good
luck.

1. Moxa: Ask someone to burn moxa over the area of the


fibroid while you envision heat releasing the message or excess
energy in your uterus. Do this 4-6 times a week for 6 weeks.
Think, "What is locked up in this fibroid?" "What can I give birth
to?" These visualizations will help to release the purpose of the
fibroid. Visit the website, http://www.moxage.com
to learn more about this oriental healing art.

2. Acupuncture: Eastern medicine/philosophy believes that


there are meridians of energy connected to organs and systems
of the body. The procedure is relatively painless; tiny and thin
acupuncture needles are inserted at specific points along these
meridians in order to restore proper energy flow. Acupuncture
sessions may help shrink fibroids.

3. Energy modalities: Reiki, cranio-sacral, and polarity work


can help to disperse dammed up energy anywhere in the body.
Stories stored in our cells may be released with these therapies.
Be open to the messages and mysteries of your body and its
symptoms. Be eager to listen and slow to judge. What you learn
may have the capacity to save your life.

Put yourself first, create a sacred space within you and around
you. Start with techniques you intuitively feel most attracted to.
This article gives you a variety of alternatives from which to
choose and incorporate in your daily life. In your journey to
vibrant womanhood, you may begin to see yourself with new
and loving eyes and understand yourself with a compassionate
heart and mind.

(Part 2 continues with Robin's Story and Footnotes.)

Sheila Shea 2001 All Rights Reserved


Robin Leebardt 2001 All Rights Reserved

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