Uterine fibroids are a common health concern among a major population of women. Uterine fibroids are benign, noncancerous tumors that originate within the uterus. They are also called fibroid tumors, leiomyomas, or myomas.

They are made of the same muscle tissues as the uterus, though they tend to be hardened. This is possible because uterine fibroids contain higher levels of estrogen than the surrounding uterine tissues. Some uterine fibroids may be so small that they can’t be felt even during an internal examination; some may be large enough to make a prominent bulge in your stomach.

The uterus is the perfect location for fibroids to thrive. Firstly, the purpose of the uterus is to hold the fetus. This means it has the perfect environment for a mass of cells to reproduce and cause hardened growth.

Secondly, there is enough space for multiple fibroids to grow undetected. Apart from these factors, hormonal fluctuations, the thick endometrial walls, and a good supply of menstrual blood, all together form a hospitable environment for the fibroids to develop and flourish.

• The genetic construction in some women makes them more susceptible to fibroids than others. Thankfully, genetic research shows that these constructions can be altered and thereby the condition can be overcome.
• An unwholesome diet usually causes hormonal imbalances, which, in turn, disturb the removal of toxic waste from the body. Lack of nutrition usually lowers the body’s defenses and therefore makes one vulnerable to fibroids.
• When the immune system is weak, the body is unable to tackle problems of toxic accumulation and hormonal imbalance. Prolonged exposure to toxins, through our food, our water, and our air, leads to a toxic build-up in the body. This makes the body more vulnerable to fibroids.
• Insulin resistance is a stage where the cells in one’s body are less responsive to the insulin hormone thus resulting in abnormal blood sugar. These fluctuations in blood sugar levels lead to uterine fibroids.

• This is the most common kind of fibroid. It develops on the outer walls of the uterus and tends to grow bigger and more painful during menstruation.

• This kind of fibroid can be found very deep inside the uterus. Often, the only solution for relief from this type is surgery. It causes excessive bleeding (often leading to hemorrhage) and can cause a lot of pain.

• The intramural fibroid grows exactly on the walls of the uterus. It displays the characteristics and symptoms of both subserous and submucosal fibroids.

• These fibroids are attached to the uterine walls by a stalk-like growth referred to as the peduncle. They don’t usually display any symptoms but can be felt during internal examinations.

• The genetic construction in certain women makes them predisposed to abnormal metabolic cell activity. Women suffering from dysfunctional metabolisms are therefore more susceptible to conditions like uterine fibroids than others. Fortunately, such genetic predisposition can be changed. Genetic research shows that genetic constructions can be altered and influenced to one’s advantage. By taking control of the internal and external environments that affect your body, you can reform your actual genetic tendencies and thereby overcome the disease.

• A healthy, complete diet is essential for a fit and active life. This is especially vital for women, as the slightest negligence can greatly affect the body’s internal balance. Thus, a low intake of fruits and vegetables and an excessive intake of refined carbohydrates and toxic foods create problems like hormonal imbalance, lowered immunity, and poor digestion. Under such conditions, uterine fibroids can develop more easily.

• Poor diet, inadequate rest, stress, toxic accumulation, and excessive use of medications- all contribute to lowering the immunity of the body. This makes the body highly vulnerable to the condition as the body cannot work towards balancing the hormones or eliminating the toxic waste within the body.

• In our daily life, we are constantly exposed to toxins- in the food we eat, the water we drink, or even the air we breathe. This leads to the accretion of toxins in our blood, lymph, kidneys, and colon. These toxins then cause ovary damage, infertility, and dysfunctional hormones. Some environmental toxins can even lower one’s progesterone levels. All of these factors greatly increase the body’s susceptibility and make one prone to uterine fibroids.

• When the cells in one’s body are less responsive toward the insulin hormone, insulin resistance is caused. This negatively impacts the insulin-dependent mechanisms in the body. To counter the impassivity of the cells, the pancreas starts producing more and more insulin. Chronically high levels of insulin in the body cause the production of male hormones like testosterone and thus stimulate the development of uterine fibroids.

• Uterine fibroids have been known to thrive on hormones like estrogen and progesterone. Fibroids contain higher levels of estrogen than their surroundings. During pregnancy and menstruation, estrogen levels are at their highest. This is usually the time when the fibroid condition is at its worst. A lot of women have discovered that upon reaching menopause, the fibroids shrink, or sometimes, even disappear.

• This is the most obvious sign to show the presence of fibroids in your uterus. Conspicuous fibroids in the uterus tend to cause uterine congestion. This leads to blockage of normal menstrual flow, which in turn causes the blood to flow heavily when released. Fibroids can also cause prolonged bleeding, bleeding in between menstrual cycles, heavy clotting, and spotting. The bleeding can even be extremely painful. If excessive and prolonged bleeding remains unchecked, it can cause anemia.

• One in every three women affected with fibroids claims to feel pain associated with their condition. Since fibroids are foreign to your body, the uterus will often try to expel them from within. This causes excruciating cramps. Again, if a fibroid happens to degenerate because it couldn’t get enough blood, the uterus painfully reacts to the dead cells. Many times, the stalk-like growth, with which the fibroid attaches itself to the uterus, might twist, causing severe pain in and around the pelvic region. Fibroids even cause pain during sexual intercourse. In some cases, the fibroids are so large that they start to press against the muscles of the lower back region causing pain in the back and in the legs.

• As fibroids grow in size, they tend to put pressure on the uterus and the abdomen. Large fibroids also put pressure on the urinary bladder as a result of which one feels the urge to urinate frequently. This is a very bothersome uterine fibroid symptom. To make matters worse, many times, there’s a possibility of the fibroids pressing the uterus against the pelvic bones. This leads to a drastic decline in the flow of urine and subsequently causes serious kidney problems.

• As fibroids grow bigger in size and increase in number, they begin to obstruct the sperm from reaching the egg by compressing the fallopian tube. In a case where fertilization does manage to occur, the inflammation in the uterus is so extreme that the fertilized egg is unable to plant itself safely. Due to an increase in estrogen and progesterone levels in the body during pregnancy, there’s a high chance of the fibroids developing further and causing severe discomfort and pain.

• Very often, the emotional or mental symptoms are completely ignored while only the physical symptoms are paid attention to. The hormonal imbalances, the painful cramps, and the prolonged periods of menstruation very often cause stress, depression, and “mood swings”. If you feel frequent emotional upheavals, do not underestimate them as they may very well be signaling the presence of fibroids.

• Using herbal treatment for your fibroids helps in balancing hormonal activity and strengthening the liver, thereby reducing estrogen levels in the uterus. Herbs also help in dealing with difficulties like heavy bleeding and excruciating cramps. Herbs like Vitex, help in lowering estrogen levels, while herbs like dandelion root and milk thistle, help in improving liver function. Other herbs like nettle and yellow dock work towards detoxification of the body and help to regulate the heavy bleeding caused due to fibroids.

• This is possibly the most fundamental treatment among all the natural remedies for uterine fibroids. A diet rich in saturated fats will cause your liver to be dysfunctional and subsequently increase estrogen levels and cause hormonal imbalances. A recommended diet would be low in fat and high in fiber. Therefore, foods like oats, millet and brown rice, fish, nuts, fruits, vegetables, and soy are advisable. It is safe to avoid dairy products in general. The key factors to ensure are that firstly, your diet is mainly alkaline-forming to balance the acidic content in your body and secondly, the food you eat does not overwork your digestive system.

• Aromatherapy uses essential oils to increase circulation in and around the pelvic region. This helps in relaxing the uterine muscles and subsequently reduces abdominal cramps. The essential oils of ginger rose and marjoram is greatly beneficial for relaxing the body, stimulating circulation, and balancing hormones. These essential oils may also be used in therapies like abdominal compresses.

• Stress has become a part and parcel of our daily lives. For women, stress can prove to be a catalyst for uterine fibroids. Stress increases blood pressure and causes hormone levels to be erratic, thus aggravating the growth of uterine fibroids. Meditation can go a long way in relaxing the body and calming the mind. It also helps you to deal better with the complications that fibroids entail. While meditating, it is important to inhale and exhale slowly through your nostrils only.

• Exercises like aerobic dancing, brisk walking, cycling, and running help to reduce stress and blood pressure. Exercises also help in stimulating healthy blood circulation and relieving muscle tension. This greatly relieves sufferers from abdominal pain associated with menstruation and fibroids. It is advisable to avoid participating in sports like basketball and tennis as they tend to increase stress levels and, thus, enhance the growth of fibroids.

• Holistic treatments examine your body as a whole and heal the condition using a multi-dimensional approach safely and naturally.
• Holistic treatments aim at building a strong immune system, and also enhance your mental and spiritual strength, to equip your body to cure itself of the disease.
• By combining a healthy diet with exercise and meditation, you can strengthen your mind and body, eliminate the existing fibroids and permanently prevent further fibroids from developing.
• Holistic treatments take into account all the contributing factors of uterine fibroids and help not only remove the existing fibroids but also permanently prevent the development of fibroids in the future.
• With holistic treatments, your body will be able to rejuvenate itself from within and restore itself to a state of health and well-being.
• Holistic treatment is aimed at treating your body as a whole and attacking the root of the condition, instead of only taking into account the affected part of your body.
• For instance, a proper diet combined with suitable exercise and intake of medicinal herbs strengthens the body’s immunity and mental and emotional stamina, rectifying problems of stress, toxic accumulation, and other factors that stimulate the growth of fibroids.