Uterine Fibroids
Uterine Myoma, Leioma, Fibroma, Fibromyoma, Hysteromyoma|
‘The immediate cause, is a thick earthy humor, as natural melancholy, when a thick humor is gathered in the womb, there is scirrhus without inflammation aforegoing; this is usual in melancholy women, and such as are not cleansed by their terms, or have the Pica or Green sickness, and are fifty years old’ (Culpeper’s Directory for Midwives) |
Uterine Fibroids are common, affecting around 20% of all menstruating women, being most common between the age of 35 and menopause. Often there is aggravation in the years before cessation of menstruation, followed by decline in symptoms and growth after menopause.
Cause
Pathophysiology is usually Damp/Melancholy with Qi and Blood Stasis. It may be caused after infection or chronic inflammation, Trauma or irritation. Retention of Menstruation was traditionally regarded to be a contributing factor.
In modern understanding, Hormones are recognised to have a major role, and emotions also have a pivotal role, these being the origin of Qi stagnation.
Fibroid growths are stimulated by Estrogen, but are also very sensitive to Progesterone. Another important factor is a hormone-like growth factor called bFGF which interacts with Estrogen and Progesterone to allow fibroids to grow. It becomes most active just after ovulation. It has long been recognised that Scirrhus (fibroid) tumors can occur as a result of chronic inflammation.
Symptoms
Small Fibroids usually have no symptoms. The most common presenting symptom is heavy menstrual bleeding which is seen in medium-to-large growths (over 2–3cm).
In larger tumors, a hard, painless mass may be palpated. Some women, even in advanced cases, may have no symptoms.
Treatment
Treatment aims to resolve Damp or Melancholy, move Qi and Blood and resolve Tumors.
Herbal medicine may help resolve small to medium growths (less than 3cm), and may help stop growth or reduce the size of larger growths.
Purging is generally indicated unless weak, then Bloodletting is often used.
See also
Tumors
Polcystic Ovary Syndrome
|
Western Tradition | Chinese Classification |
|
Simples |
Simples |
|
Rue Dodder Fenugreek Bitter Almond Rhubarb Zedoary Bdellium Agaric Black Nightshade |
Agnus Castus Fumitory Pennyroyal Saffron (Safflower) Madder Turmeric Myrrh Turpeth Pill Millipedes |
Citrus Qing Pi Costus Mu Xiang Paeonia Mu Dan Pi Zedoary (E Zhu) Turmeric (Jiang Huang) Peach kernel (Tao Ren) Tripterygium Lei Gong teng |
Citrus Zhi Ke Cyperus Xiang Fu Poria Fu Ling Sparganium San Leng Scutellaria Ban Zhi Lian Safflower Hong Hua Eupolyphaga Tu Bie Chong |
|
Prepared Arum root Cyclamen root Pill Millipedes |
Arisaema Tian Nan Xing Tripterygium Lei Gong teng |
Sample Combinations
1. Broom with Rue
2. Figs and Fenugreek are boiled in Barley broth.
3. Rhubarb, Madder, Bitter Almond, Saffron
4. Decoct Paul’s Betony with Agrimony, Fumitory and Dodder, and take with Confectio Hamech
5. Madder with Round Birthwort, Agaric, Cinnamon (as in Pills of Madder)
6. Madder with Round Birthwort, Savin, Cretan Dittany, Myrrh (as in Powder of Myrrh)
7. Myrrh with Lacca, Saffron, Costus, Madder, Licorice, Black Pepper, Rhubarb
8. Bauhinia with Myrrh, Turmeric, Saraca (Ayurveda)
9. Frankincense, Asparagus racemosus, Rose, Safflower (Ayurveda)
10. Costus, Cyperus rotundus, Madder, Agaric, Saffron
11. Citrus Zhi Ke, Citrus Qing Pi, Costus, Cyperus rotundus, Fennel, Clove (as in Xiao Leng Wan from TCM)
12. Citrus Chen Pi, Costus, Zedoary, Cyperus rotundus, Pinellia Ban Xia, Poria Fu Ling, Ginger, Atractylodes Bai Zhu, Licorice (as in Kaiyu Erchen Tang)
13. Zedoary, Sparganium, Dang Gui, Persica Tao Ren, Cyperus rotundus, Prunella Xia Ku Cao, Dipsacus Xu Duan, Laminaria (as in Gong Zheng Tang from An Illustrated Guide to Antineoplastic Chinese Herbal Medicine, 1990)
14. Black Cohosh, Blue Cohosh, Agnus Castus, Dioscorea villosa, Dandelion
15. Fomentation, White Lily with Marshmallow, Violet, Mugwort, Linseed and Fenugreek
16. Boil Oregano in wine, strain and mix with Olive oil, apply linen cloths and apply warm over the Uterus.
Special Formula
|
1. GUI ZHI FU LING WAN Cinnamon twig Gui Zhi Poria Fu Ling Peach kernel (Tao Ren) Paeonia Bai Shao Paeonia Mu Dan Pi This formula was sown to relieve excess Bleeding and Dysmenorrhea in 90% of patients, and reduced Uterine Fibroid size in approximately 60% of cases. (see here) 2. SAN LENG E ZHU TANG Sparganium San Leng 9 grams Curcuma E Zhu 9 grams “When both of these herbs are used together in the treatment of UF, the uterine mass was found to be decreased significantly with a significantly lowered progesterone and estradiol level”. (see here) 3. LI CHONG TANG Astragalus Huang Qi 9 grams Codonopsis Dang Shen 6 grams Atractylodes Bai Zhu 6 grams Dioscorea Shan Yao 15 grams Trichosanthes root 12 grams Anemarrhena Zhi Mu 12 grams Sparganium San Leng 9 grams Curcuma E Zhu 9 grams Chicken Gizzard Ji Nei Jin 9 grams 4. A FORMULA OF DR. SHEN: Dang Gui 6 grams Salvia Dan Shen 6 grams Corydalis Yan Hu Suo 9 grams Rehmannia Shu Di 6 grams Mugwort (Ai Ye) 3 grams Zedoary (E Zhu) 2.4 grams Paeonia Bai Shao 6 grams Dodder seed (Tu Si Zi) 9 grams Ligustrum Nu Zhen Zi 9 grams Decoct. (The Formulas of Dr. John H.F. Shen) 5. PILLS FOR UTERINE FIBROID Soft-Shelled Turtle Shell (Bie Jia) 30 grams Vinegar-fried Rhubarb 15 grams Amber 5 grams 6. DECOCTION Hedyotis Bai Hua She She Cao Scutellaria Ban Zhi Lian Cremastra Shan Ci Gu Curcuma Yu Jin Salvia Dan Shen Angelica Dang Gui Ligusticum Chuan Xiong Paeonia Bai Shao Licorice (Gan Cao) Many practitioners treat the condition with different formulas during different times of the cycle: Here is one example: a. During Menstruation: Codonopsis Dang Shen Atractylodes Bai Zhu Astragalus Huang Qi Polygonum He Shou Wu Oyster shell (Mu Li) Leonurus Yi Mu Cao Litchi seed Li Zhi He Madder (Qian Cao) b. During the non-menstruation period: Atractylodes Bai Zhu Oyster shell (Mu Li) Turtle shell (Bie Jia) Litchi seed Li Zhi He Fritillaria Zhe Bei Mu Sparganium San Leng Zedoary (E Zhu) Citrus Qing Pi |
AYURVEDIC TREATMENT A combination of Three formulas has been successfully used to treat Uterine Fibroids in Ayurveda: (see here) KANCHANAR GUGGULU Bdellium (Guggulu) Bauhinia (Kanchanar) Triphala (3 Fruits) Trikatu (3 pungents) Crataeva (Varuna) Cardamon (Ela) Cinnamon (Tvak) Indian leaf (Tamalpatra) 500mg twice daily. SHIGRU GUGGULU Bdellium (Guggulu) Moringa (Shigru) Salvadora (Pilu) Cinnabar (Ras Sindur) 500mg twice daily. HARIDRA KAND Turmeric (Haridra) Triphala (3 Fruits) Trikatu (3 Pungents) Turbith (Nishoth) Cyperus (Nagarmotha) Picrorrhiza (Kutki) Plumbago (Chitraka) Cardamon (Ela) Cinnamon (Tvak) Cumin (Jirak) Coriander (Dhanyaka) Trachyospermum (Ajamoda) Sugar Iron Bhasma Mica Bhasma (Abhrak) 3 grams twice daily. |
Research:
1. Herbal preparations for uterine fibroids (Review)2. Chinese herbal medicine Guizhi Fuling Formula for treatment of uterine fibroids: a systematic review of randomised clinical trials.
3. Pharmacotherapeutic effects of kuei-chih-fu-ling-wan (keishi-bukuryo-gan) on human uterine myomas.
4. Effect of Unani treatment in Sala’ al-Rahim (Leiomyomata): A case report
5. Evidence-Based Management of Uterine Fibroids With Botanical Drugs-A Review
6. Prescription patterns of Chinese herbal products for patients with uterine fibroid in Taiwan: A nationwide population-based study.
7. Ayurvedic intervention in the management of uterine fibroids: A Case series
8. Acupuncture for uterine fibroids.