MILAGRO PARA LOS FIBROMAS AMANDA LETO PDF GRATIS

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Fibroids Miracle™
A Unique Step By Step Holistic System Guaranteed To
Eliminate & Prevent Uterine fibroids Naturally
Giving You Lasting Fibroids Freedom
By Amanda Leto
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Disclaimer
While all attempts have been made to verify information provided in this
publication, neither the Author nor the Publisher assumes any responsibility
for errors, omissions or contrary interpretations of the subject matter herein.
Any perceived slights of specific persons, peoples or organizations are
unintentional. The Author neither makes nor attempts to make any diagnosis
or cure or prevent any disease.
This publication is an informational product based on my own experience and
research, has not been evaluated by either the FDA or the medical profession
and is not aimed to replace any advice you may receive from your medical
practitioner. The Author and Publisher assume no responsibility or liability
whatsoever on the behalf of any purchaser or reader of these materials. The
author is not a doctor, nor does she claim to be. Please consult your primary
care physician before beginning any program of nutrition, exercise, or remedy.
By consulting your primary care physician, you will have a better opportunity
to understand and address your particular symptoms and situation in the most
effective ways possible.
As always, before applying any treatment or attempting anything mentioned in
this book, or if you are in doubt, you should consult your physician and use
your best judgment. If you fail to do so, you are acting at your own risk. You,
the buyer or reader of this book, alone assume all risk for anything you may
learn from this book. FibroidsMiracle.com, Higher Ways Publishing INC, the
publisher and Amanda Leto are not liable or responsible for any increase in
severity of your uterine fibroids or for any health problem you may encounter
should you give up medical treatment.
By choosing to use the information made available on the Fibroids Miracle
website and in this book, you agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless
Higher Ways Publishing Inc. and FibroidsMiracle.com from all claims (whether
valid or invalid), suits, judgment, proceedings, losses, damages, costs and
expenses, of any nature whatsoever (including reasonable attorney's fees) for
which Higher Ways Publishing Inc. and FibroidsMiracle.com may become
liable resulting from the use or misuse of any products sold through the
FibroidsMiracle.com website.
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Table of Contents
Chapter 1 – Introduction.................................................................... 8
Welcome ..................................................................................... 8
Ten Facts about the Fibroids Miracle™ System ........................... 11
How to Get the Most from the Book............................................ 15
Get Rid Of Uterine fibroids Holistically ...................................... 19
Chapter 2 – All About Uterine fibroids ............................................ 21
Section One – The Truth About Uterine fibroids ............................ 21
What Are Uterine fibroids ? ....................................................... 21
What Role Does the Uterus Play in Fibroids? .............................. 22
The Real Cause of Uterine fibroids and their related symptoms .. 24
How Do Your Hormones and Menstrual Cycle Affect Fibroid
Growth? .................................................................................... 31
Can Your Emotions Affect Fibroid Growth? ................................ 33
What Is the Cancer/Fibroid Connection? .................................... 34
Who’s At Risk for Fibroids? ........................................................ 36
Types of Uterine fibroids ........................................................... 38
Signs And Symptoms ................................................................. 41
Section Two – Holistic Medicine Vs. Conventional Medicine In The
Treatment Of Uterine fibroids ....................................................... 46
Natural Medicine vs. Conventional Medicine (The Crucial
Differences)............................................................................... 46
Conventional Treatments For Uterine Fibroids .......................... 47
What Drug Treatment Options Are Available for Treating
Fibroids? ................................................................................... 48
What Medical Therapies Are Available to Fibroid Sufferers? ....... 51
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What Surgical Options Are Available for Treating Fibroids? ........ 54
The Holistic Medicine Way......................................................... 59
Chapter 3 – Managing The Symptoms of Uterine fibroids ............. 61
Clear Steps To Manage The Symptoms of Fibroids ...................... 61
Chapter 4 – The Fibroids Miracle™ Quick Results Mini-Program... 70
Introduction to the Fibroids Miracle™ Quick Results Mini-
Program .................................................................................... 70
The Fibroids Miracle™ Quick Results Mini-Program ................... 71
Chapter 5 – The Holistic Fibroids Miracle™ System ....................... 72
Introduction To The Holistic Fibroids Miracle™ System .............. 72
Section One – The 3 Step Fibroids Miracle ™ System ...................... 76
Step 1: The Uterine fibroid Control Diet (Six Principles) ............. 76
Basic Elements Of A Healthy Uterine fibroids Diet ...................... 77
Dietary Principle #1 –Uterine fibroid Sinners ............................. 79
Dietary Principle #2 – Uterine fibroids Friendly Foods and
Healing Foods............................................................................ 88
Dietary Principle #3 - Alkaline Acid Balance............................... 99
Dietary Principle #4 – Raw Food .............................................. 101
Dietary Principle #5 – Estrogens and Phytoestrogens .............. 105
Dietary Principle #6 – Food Allergens ...................................... 108
Dietary Principle #7 – Optimizing Digestion ............................. 113
Step 2: Enhancing Immunity and Uterine fibroid
Supplementation ..................................................................... 117
The Immune System ................................................................ 117
Immune Supporters And Suppressors ...................................... 118
Diet And Immune Function ...................................................... 118
Lifestyle, Mood, Stress And Immune Function .......................... 119
Boosting Thymus Gland Function ............................................ 119
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Uterine Fibroid And Immune Function Supplementation.......... 121
Step 3: Internal Cleansing And Liver Detoxification .................. 140
Three-Day Juice Cleanse .......................................................... 149
Getting Rid Of Parasites – One-Week Program ......................... 167
Liver Detoxification ................................................................. 168
Getting Rid Of Environmental Toxins ....................................... 170
Eradicating Candida Yeast Infection ......................................... 172
Simple Home Test To Discover the Severity Of Your Candida.... 175
Anti-Candida Supplements ...................................................... 178
Replenishing And Re-Colonizing The Friendly Bacteria ............ 181
Section Two – During The Program – Stress Control, Sleep
Optimization And Exercise .......................................................... 185
Stress And Uterine fibroids ...................................................... 185
The Wonders of Meditation And Correct Breathing .................. 189
The Importance Of Laughter .................................................... 197
Exercise And The Uterine fibroid Connection ........................... 199
The Exciting World of Photography ......................................... 216
Stress Control Through Mind Techniques ................................ 217
Sleep Optimization Plan ........................................................... 223
Section Three – How to Prevent Uterine fibroids and Maintain A
Fibroids-Free Environment ........................................................ 226
Conclusion ......................................................................................228
Appendix 1 – Complementary Treatments For Uterine fibroids .229
Aromatherapy ......................................................................... 229
Lymph Drainage Massage ........................................................ 230
Digestive Massage ................................................................... 230
Acupuncture............................................................................ 231
Homeopathy............................................................................ 232
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Appendix 2 – Uterine fibroids Detoxification Diet .......................234
What Is Detoxing? ................................................................... 234
Symptoms While Detoxing ....................................................... 235
Daily Guidelines During Uterine fibroids Detox ....................... 235
What To Eat During Anti- Uterine fibroids Detox ..................... 236
What to Avoid During Anti- Uterine fibroids Detox .................. 236
Suggested Two-Day Uterine fibroids Detox .............................. 237
Appendix 3 – The Ayurveda Detoxification Program...................240
The Ayurveda Detoxification Diet ............................................ 241
Ayurveda Detoxification Herbs ................................................ 245
The Ayurveda Detoxification Lifestyle And Meditation ............. 246
Appendix 4 – Liver And Gallbladder Flush ...................................247
Introduction ............................................................................ 247
One-Day Liver and Gallbladder Flushing .................................. 253
Conclusion .............................................................................. 254
What to Do After Each Liver Flush ........................................... 255
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Chapter 1 – Introduction
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Welcome
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Dear Uterine fibroids Sufferer,
In the next 12 months, more than one million women in the United States
alone will be diagnosed with uterine fibroids. Many of those women will be left
with more questions than answers to their condition once this diagnosis is
made. That will leave them looking beyond their doctor’s office for answers –
and help. If you have picked up this book to find out more about your
condition and what you can do about it then, Kudos. It is about time women
became more assertive in their health care decisions.
Within this book you will learn more about fibroids than you ever thought
possible; plus you will be exposed to a variety of treatment methods including
dozens of noninvasive treatments that will not only relieve your suffering, but
cure your fibroids altogether. But first, it is important to understand what
uterine fibroids are and how you got them.
Regardless of your age, whether you have severe symptoms and enlarged
uterine fibroids or just a mild case, and regardless of how your condition
manifests itself, the methods contained within the Fibroids Miracle™ System
are the only practical answer. These methods are the only way that you will
completely rid yourself of all types of uterine fibroids and in all levels of
severity, as many other women have.
Like you I suffered from severe fibroids symptoms and was diagnosed with
large uterine fibroids , and just like you I tried without success just about all
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the conventional medicines and over-the-counter products that deal mostly
with the symptoms - and often aggravate the root cause. And just like you,
something kept me searching, believing that there must be a permanent cure
for uterine fibroids, not just temporary relief.
It’s imperative that you understand that your uterine fibroids didn’t just
happen. There was a cause, and if you follow the right path eliminating the
root cause, you can be rid of these conditions forever. In fact, there is a
natural, safe, cheap and highly effective path to reverse uterine fibroids and
their related symptoms.
This book contains that path.
The information you will discover in this book is the result of 12 years of
searching, trial-and-error and experimentation. It’s the result of trying just
about everything, keeping what worked and discarding what didn’t.
The “uterine fibroids puzzle” was pieced together from the information I
learned from countless naturopaths, authors and healers, and from working
with and interviewing many alternative practitioners and nutritionists.
I assure you that you made the right decision when you ordered the Fibroids
Miracle™ package. Regardless of what Western medicine followers may have
told you, uterine fibroids can be cured – naturally and permanently.
In this book I’m going to share the Fibroids Miracle™ System, the only system
based on 12 years of research that will help you cure your uterine fibroids for
good! I’ll explain exactly what uterine fibroids are, the symptoms of uterine
fibroids , primary and secondary factors that cause uterine fibroids and the
conventional vs. natural holistic approach to curing uterine fibroids . Most
importantly, I will go over the exact steps you should take to cure your uterine
fibroids permanently, not just alleviate the symptoms, and how to prevent their
recurrence.
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By educating yourself about uterine fibroids, you open the door to a lifetime of
improved well being and better health without the pain, annoyance, frustration
and costs associated with living with and treating your condition.
My only aim in writing this book was to help you reach your goal – to eliminate
your uterine fibroids permanently and clear up all your confusion about the
steps you are required to take to achieve that goal. If this book helps you
succeed in eliminating your uterine fibroids, then this book is a success with or
without the accolades.
By following the Fibroids Miracle™ System, the vicious and destructive cycle
of drugs, creams, over-the-counter products and futile costs is stopped. Now
is the time for you to exercise your natural right to open the door to a uterine
fibroid-free life.
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Ten Facts about the Fibroids Miracle™ System
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Before we get into the heart of the program, let me share with you the ten
reasons as to why this system might just be the most powerful uterine fibroids
system ever developed.
Fibroids Miracle™ provides you with a tested step-by-step plan
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to success.
It’s a fact that no other uterine fibroids system will provide you with the exact
steps you need to follow in order to be free from uterine fibroids. Most uterine
fibroids programs will merely give you vague guidelines of what needs to be
done. With the Fibroids Miracle™ System, you get all the specifics. You are
told exactly what to do, exactly how to do it and exactly when to do it and why.
Fibroids Miracle™ was written by a genuine uterine fibroids
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sufferer.
This program was not written by some science geek who never had uterine
fibroids in her life. Instead, it was written with the blood and sweat of a real
person who suffered from this condition for years, and it’s the result of
thousands of dollars spent on trial and error and more than 14 years of
extensive research.
Fibroids Miracle™ is based on real world results.
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This system is based on real world results, not textbooks or classroom
lectures. Thousands of uterine fibroids sufferers, including the author herself,
have already cured themselves completely using the same principles
contained in this program.
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Fibroids Miracle™ is truthful and unbiased.
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I’ve devoted the last 14 years of my life to helping uterine fibroids sufferers
win the war against deceptive advertising, false claims and other marketing
scams in the Uterine fibroids treatment industry. The Fibroids Miracle™
program is straightforward, providing you with the facts on how to eliminate
uterine fibroids with honesty and integrity. I have never been involved with any
health or supplement magazine, and I am not affiliated with any of them.
Fibroids Miracle™ is not just about alleviating the symptoms; it’s
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about your health and inner balance.
Reversing uterine fibroids and their related symptoms permanently can never
be achieved as long as your body is in a state of imbalance. Uterine fibroids
are not a problem with your uterus or reproduction system, no matter what
your doctor tells you. It’s about taking responsibility for your body and about
restoring it to a state of balance where no disease can exist, not only uterine
fibroids.
Fibroids Miracle™ is not just a special nutrition program.
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It merges nutrition with a comprehensive cleansing program. It shows you
how to rebuild your organs of elimination and supplies dietary,
supplementation, mental and lifestyle plans aimed at restoring your body back
to balance. In short, it’s the perfect holistic uterine fibroids solution.
Fibroids Miracle™ doesn’t confuse alleviating uterine fibroids
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symptoms with an uterine fibroids cure.
Relieving the pain and other symptoms caused by your uterine fibroids and
fixing the root cause of your uterine fibroids are completely different things.
Yes, treating the symptoms of fibroids is obligatory if you have uterine fibroids
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simply because it can be a painful and debilitating condition. Fibroids
Miracle™ handles all the symptoms of uterine fibroids using a unique relief
treatment that works for almost all types of uterine fibroids. However, in order
to permanently cure uterine fibroids, you must neutralize the “uterine fibroids
environment” (more on that later). The Fibroids Miracle™ System ensures that
this uterine fibroids environment ceases to exist in your system.
Fibroids Miracle™ is not a temporary quick fix.
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It offers a permanent solution and one that you can maintain as a lifestyle.
The whole concept of curing uterine fibroids by masking the uterine fibroids
symptoms is flawed. When you say that you’re going to treat your uterine
fibroids , the implication is that it’s temporary and that at some point (when
your uterine fibroids symptoms are temporarily gone and you feel some relief)
you will continue with your bad nutritional and destructive lifestyle habits. The
truth is that the only way you’ll ever get rid of your uterine fibroids
permanently is to adopt new habits and keep them. It may feel a bit
uncomfortable in the beginning, but it will soon become entrenched into your
daily routine and become easy, natural and highly rewarding.
Fibroids Miracle™ is simple.
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With the information overload provided by the Internet, it’s only natural that
you’ll feel overwhelmed with conflicting theories and mind-boggling
disinformation. My goal in creating this program was to clear up the confusion
and make the process as simple as possible. The simpler the strategies are,
the easier you will apply them, and the greater your results will be.
Fibroids Miracle™ offers 24-hour FREE e-mail counseling.
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Fibroids Miracle™ is the only uterine fibroids program that comes with this
exclusive 24-hour quality counseling by a certified nutritionist. I challenge you
to find similar offers on the Net. The Fibroids Miracle™ program is the perfect
solution for uterine fibroids , but the real value of the program comes from the
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personal guidance and support that I offer my customers. I am devoted to
your success, and I will do anything within my power and knowledge to help
you eliminate your uterine fibroids in the least amount of time, with the least
amount of trouble, in a way that is designed to suit your individual needs and
personal limitations. Most of my customers who chose to take advantage of
this exclusive offer are in constant daily correspondence with me. It takes time
and energy to answer all those e-mails on a daily basis. That is why I chose to
provide this service only to people who bought the program. If you ordered the
Fibroids Miracle™, I urge you to use this service too. I would love to hear from
you.
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How to Get the Most from the Book
This book offers a comprehensive natural approach to the treatment of uterine
fibroids and their related symptoms. It is aimed at you, my fellow uterine
fibroids sufferer. If you are fed up with conventional treatments and their
unpleasant side effects and are willing to try a natural, long-term and practical
way to get rid of uterine fibroids, you have come to the right place.
This book is aimed at women with all types of uterine fibroids with all levels of
severity. It is aimed at women who wish to eliminate the cause of Uterine
fibroids and their related symptoms rather than deal with the symptoms. It is
aimed at women who wish to reclaim control over their inner systems and
health and thus dramatically improve their overall health, the appearance of
their skin and to look and feel younger and more vibrant.
This book will take you on a voyage that leads to uterine fibroids freedom
through a holistic approach by treating the body as a whole and having it
cleansed and re-balanced from the inside, thus neutralizing the environment
that encourages Uterine fibroids and their related symptoms .
I truly believe this book will change your life. If you are reading these lines,
you are truly blessed beyond belief.
By following the Fibroids Miracle™ System to the letter, you will not only
eliminate all symptoms related uterine fibroids, but you will also feel younger,
healthier and more vibrant. You will be able to overcome many illnesses and
dysfunctions you may have had before the treatment such as constipation and
obesity. You will achieve all that without the horrible side effects. The Fibroids
Miracle™ System eliminates the root factors leading to uterine fibroids , thus
achieving real long-term success.
As mentioned earlier, treating Uterine fibroids and their related symptoms is
not a short process. It requires persistence and patience. Results may only
become apparent after 6 or even 8 weeks. Moreover, each woman is unique
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in the way she adapts and reacts to the treatments. Results may vary among
different people with different types and levels of uterine fibroids severity and
sensitivity to certain foods. Keep in mind that it takes time for the body to heal
itself and some level of maintenance to keep things under control.
Persistence and belief are vital if you wish to achieve success in eliminating
your Uterine fibroids and their related symptoms . You must understand that
following each step alone will only yield short-term results. The combination of
all the steps in the Fibroids Miracle™ System is the only key to lasting uterine
fibroids freedom.
This book is divided into 5 chapters and 4 appendices.
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Chapter 2 is the general section of the book aimed at building a foundation of
knowledge regarding uterine fibroids and the holistic approach. This is where I
reveal the true nature of Uterine fibroids and their related symptoms , the true
causes of uterine fibroids , types of uterine fibroids , common symptoms,
complications of fibroids, the pros and cons of conventional uterine fibroids
medications and the crucial differences between conventional and holistic
medicine.
Chapter 3 discusses the most effective ways to diagnose uterine fibroids and
their related symptoms.
Chapter 4 introduces The Quick Results Mini-Program. It is designed
especially for busy folks that don’t have much time on their hands but wish to
see results ASAP, and for people with very mild cases of Uterine fibroids and
their related symptoms . It’s not a quick fix approach, but it’s practical and
extremely easy to follow.
Chapter 5 – The complete step-by-step holistic solution to uterine fibroids –
the Fibroids Miracle™ System. This chapter reveals the general blueprint of
the program as well as the specifics of each step of the Fibroids Miracle™
System outlined in a chronological manner with all the nitty-gritty details of
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why, when and how to successfully accomplish each individual step. It also
outlines the exact principles you need to follow to prevent the reoccurrence of
uterine fibroids and maintain a fibroids-free environment.
Appendix 1 outlines several complimentary treatments for Uterine fibroids and
their related symptoms .
Appendix 2 offers an example of a 2-day detox diet – a short preliminary
internal cleansing protocol.
Appendix 3 provides vital information on how to conduct a moderate detox
program based on the Ayurveda.
Appendix 4 shows exactly how to maintain liver function – an important part of
the uterine fibroids basic and maintenance plans.
The Fibroids Miracle™ System book also contains lots of theoretical as well
as practical information as a means to provide the reader with the clearest,
sharpest and most coherent picture of the disease and what needs to be done
to eliminate its symptoms. By doing so, you’ll become more “fibroids
educated,” more motivated and more focused on achieving your goal, which is
eliminating the factors leading to uterine fibroids formation and achieving
Uterine fibroids and their related symptoms freedom with all its positive
implications.
Be patient as you read the book for the first time. All the information in early
chapters will come together in the end. As you begin reading, you may feel
overwhelmed by the amount of information. Don’t be! The chapters were
written in that order for a reason. That is why I urge you to read the book in its
entirety first before you start implementing the plan. This way you’ll gain a
complete picture of things as they slowly fall into place and finally fit together
in the end. It will ensure you won’t get too confused (as to why you’re required
to do this or that and in a certain order) or miss essential information required
to successfully complete the plan and achieve your goals.
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Much has been done to keep this book as straightforward, simple and direct
as possible. Whenever I could, I kept words to a minimum, and I strived to use
conversational language and layman’s terms whenever I could to make
reading easier, fun and understandable. Also, the book contains many links to
other parts inside the book as well as to useful resources, so stay connected
to the Internet while reading.
It is important that you commit to taking action and set a deadline for your
goals if you wish to succeed. Without the will, a deadline and proper
motivation and dedication to eliminate your uterine fibroids , you’ll only
achieve poor or short-term results. It is advisable to adhere to the Fibroids
Miracle™ System as it was especially designed to put your uterine fibroids
and their related symptoms condition in the past.
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Get Rid Of Uterine fibroids Holistically
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You really can get rid of Uterine fibroids and their related symptoms –
naturally and holistically.
How?
•
By learning what a “Uterine fibroids and their related symptoms
environment” is
•
By learning exactly what conditions are needed for an uterine
fibroids
environment to exist and how to neutralize these
conditions so your uterine fibroids will vanish forever
•
By learning the connection between uterine fibroids
and inner
imbalance and how to quickly restore the body back to balance
•
By understanding that uterine fibroids are primarily a Western
problem and that there is in fact a tight connection between
Western diet, Western lifestyle and uterine fibroids in spite of what
modern medicine and the media want you to believe. Research
has clearly shown that non-Western societies where people don’t
eat Western food also don’t have uterine fibroids .
•
By learning the evident link between stressful lifestyle, inadequate
sleep, lack of physical activity and the aggravation of uterine
fibroids .
To get rid of uterine fibroids permanently, you should equip yourself with
information about toxic elimination, internal cleansing, hormonal balancing,
acid-alkaline balance, healthy diet, stress control, the yeast link, antibiotics,
probiotics and prebiotics.
The Fibroids Miracle™ book will provide you with all of the above invaluable
information. This is not just an informational book but rather a complete stepby-step system that will take you from where you are now to where you want
to be – to have permanent Uterine fibroids and their related symptoms
freedom.
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Everything you need to succeed is contained in these pages. Apply it!
Knowledge applied is extremely powerful, but unused knowledge is worthless.
Begin using this information immediately. The sooner you start, the quicker
you’ll see results as they apply to your uterine fibroids condition. So start
today!
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Chapter 2 – All About Uterine fibroids
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Section One – The Truth About Uterine
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fibroids
What Are Uterine fibroids ?
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Almost every woman has at least one small uterine fibroid in her uterus; yet
most never even know they are there. If fibroids are indeed so common, why
are they so feared? Mostly because they are misunderstood.
First, let’s look at what uterine fibroids are: they are benign tumors (or smooth
muscle masses) that grow inside the walls of the uterus. Fibroids are made of
the exact same type of muscle tissue that makes up the uterus, except that
fibroid muscle is hard, not soft. Keep in mind that while they are located in or
on the uterus, fibroids are not actually part of the uterus, but is its own
separate grouping of tissue that grows independently of other uterine tissue.
The most common type of tumor found in the body, no one knows for sure
why fibroids so commonly grow in the uterus. One theory is the fact that the
uterus is an organ whose purpose is to grow a fetus, making it the perfect
place for any mass of cells to reproduce.
Fibroids can be so small they cannot even be felt during an internal exam. Or
they can be so large that they seem to make the patient’s belly protrude
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unnaturally. The largest uterine fibroid ever recorded weighed over 140
pounds. The average is about the size of a golf ball.
Now, let’s look at what uterine fibroids are not: they are not cancerous tumors
and they cannot turn into cancer, even if they grow very large. Fibroids do not
spread. However, many women with fibroid tumors tend to have more than
one.
What Role Does the Uterus Play in Fibroids?
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Although fibroids can grow in any of the body’s muscle tissues, they tend to
like the uterus the most. Since this pear shaped organ is made in a way that
can stretch and grow to accommodate a thriving fetus, it makes a great place
for fibroids to grow undetected. Add to that the thick endometrial wall and a
good blood supply from a woman’s menses, not to mention the hormone
fluctuations that affect this area of the body and you can imagine why fibroids
settle here.
To better understand fibroids, it is important to fully understand the role of the
uterus, both within the woman’s body, and in the formation and growth of
these tumors. A small upside-down pear-shaped organ, the uterus is
generally fairly small (only about three inches long and weighing less than half
a pound), but has the ability to grow during pregnancy. Of course, this
environment also allows fibroids to grow quite easily.
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The endometrial is the inner wall (or lining) of the uterus, and is engulfed by
two layers of muscle called the myometrium and the serosa. It is within these
layers of uterine lining that fibroids first appear. Fibroids begin with one cell
that can quickly multiple, creating hard potato-like mass, which feels very
distinctive during an internal exam against the softness of the normal uterine
tissue.
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The Real Cause of Uterine fibroids and their related
symptoms
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The most fundamental truth regarding the vast majority of chronic health
conditions, including Uterine fibroids and their related symptoms , is that there
is no such thing as a single cause.
As with other health conditions, uterine fibroids is a condition that is triggered
by several primary and secondary factors and the relationship between them.
There are factors and co-factors that contribute to uterine fibroids and to the
development of uterine fibroids , and there are causative agents that
aggravate an already compromised Your condition.
There are also life situations, external factors and mental factors that directly
or indirectly form the environment in which the internal balance is disrupted.
These then manifest themselves as uterine fibroids and their related
symptoms.
Because every health problem is multidimensional, the solution must be
multidimensional, in order to eradicate the problem from the root. This is one
of the reasons why science and conventional medicine fail in treating most
western afflictions. Instead of treating the body as a unified whole, they tackle
the manifestation of the condition or the infected parts.
Some of us are more genetically prone to disease than others, but that is not
to say that if we have some tendency to develop a condition or a weakness of
some sort, there is nothing we can do. As I will later illustrate, we can partly
change our genetic structure and we can also solve other parts of the health
condition puzzle. We can make a difference, reverse our diseases and regain
our health and energy by making affirmative decisions to change our
lifestyles, dietary choices and thoughts that lead to poor health, toxic buildup,
and weak immune systems along with several other factors, which promote
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the majority of all common illnesses. Then we can gain control over our health
and inner terrain.
The primary factors that lead to Uterine fibroids and their related symptoms
are:
•
Genetic predisposition
•
Poor dietary choices
•
Weakened immune system
•
Accumulation
of
toxins
in
the
digestive
tract
(including
environmental toxins)
•
Insulin resistance and obesity
These five factors create the prefect internal environment for uterine fibroids ,
among various other symptoms.
Having hormonal imbalance (such as during menstruation), taking antibiotics,
prescription medications and steroids, stress and lack of sleep can also
contribute to the formation of uterine fibroids .
Now, let’s go into more detail about each of the primary and secondary factors
that contribute to uterine fibroids.
Genetic Predisposition
16B
Most research has shown that the genetic pattern of women with uterine
fibroids is somewhat different compared to women who don't have uterine
fibroids. It seems that the genes of women who have uterine fibroids make
them predisposed to abnormal metabolism and the dysfunctions of cell
activity. Researchers have found that many fibroid tumors contain alterations
in the genes that code for uterine muscle cells, which may make a woman
more susceptible to suffering with fibroids.
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However, the claim that women with uterine fibroids have a genetic tendency
that cannot be altered is nothing but a myth. While genes are a set of rules or
principles that determine your physical characteristics, along with the
tendency to develop or prevent diseases, your genes, similar to a blueprint,
can be altered.
Genetic research has shown that your genetic characteristics can be modified
and influenced by numerous choices and factors. From the moment of birth
until you die, your environment, inside and outside your body, can greatly
impact your genetic disposition.
By choosing to take control over your inner and outer environment (by
changing your diet, for example) you can strongly influence your genetic
tendencies and therefore help your body overcome disease.
Poor Dietary Choices
167B
A diet high in refined carbohydrates, processed and toxic foods and low in
fresh fruit and vegetables affects biochemical processes within the cells,
contributes to hormonal imbalance, worsens digestion and interferes with the
natural toxic elimination process.
Lack of good nutrition is another factor. Our bodies need to obtain about 40
essential vitamins, minerals and nutrients to enable the cells in our bodies to
fully function and remain healthy. These nutrients mostly come from our diet
since the body cannot produce them by itself. When we eat more processed
foods and fewer foods with high nutritional value, the immune system declines
and becomes less effective since nutrition is highly essential for healthy
immune functioning. With a weakened defense system, we make it easier for
Uterine fibroids and their related symptoms to develop.
Over-acidity in the digestive system, usually due to a diet high in acidic foods,
is another major factor. A state of over-acidity causes the blood to become
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sludgy and thick, creating the ideal environment for candida growth (more on
the acid-alkaline balance later).
The consumption of refined or processed foods spikes your blood sugar to
high levels. Insulin levels increase in order to control the sudden increase in
blood sugar. Too much insulin eventually makes the cells "insulin resistant.”
(more on the insulin- uterine fibroids connection later)
A healthy diet that consists of certain micronutrients (biotin, calcium,
chromium, magnesium, selenium) can help reduce insulin resistance. The
typical western diet is deficient in many of these micronutrients.
A family of substances called excitotoxins (MSG being one of them), along
with numerous other chemicals added to your food to "improve" the taste,
texture or appearance, can hinder and damage cell function and nerve cells.
This in turn can hinder your body’s ability to keep your hormones balanced.
(Nerve cells in the hypothalamus are also responsible for the stimulation or
suppression of hormone secretion).
Low doses of MSG injected into mice caused abnormally high levels of LH
(luteinizing hormone). Elevated levels of LH is one of the primary reproductive
problems that women with fibroids have.
Weakened Immune System Or Autoimmune Disorders
168B
When the immune system is weakened due to several factors such as
nutritional deficiency, high toxic buildup (heavy metals, chemicals, bacteria,
viruses, and parasites), stress, lack of sleep or the use of pharmaceutical
drugs such as antibiotics and steroids, the body becomes vulnerable to
virtually every type of sickness and disease. In this state the body cannot
defend itself and cannot control the process of toxic elimination and hormonal
balancing as it could if the immune system was at its peak performance.
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Autoimmune disease is another issue. This is an inflammatory condition
where your immune system mistakenly considers organs or cells as "foreign"
to your body and attacks them.
Hormone disorders and substances and microorganisms in your food and
physical environment can all influence your immune system.
A recent study in which 108 women with uterine fibroids participated found
that 40.7% had immune antibodies for autoimmunity versus only 14.8% for
women without any of these conditions.
Congested Toxins In The Bowels, Liver, Blood And Lymph And
169B
Exposure to Environmental Toxins
Our constant exposure to thousands of toxins on a daily basis through the
food that we eat, the air that we breathe, the drugs that we take and our poor
quality of our water supply all lead to toxic buildup in the blood, lymph, kidneys
and colon. This leads to short-term and long-term health conditions. Among
them are Uterine fibroids and their related symptoms.
You can take thousands of herbs, supplements and over-the-counter
preparations to relieve your fibroids symptoms and eliminate uterine fibroids ,
but without cleansing your internal system and your digestive tract in
particular, it will be like painting a rusty car, and you will never get rid of it.
The liver in particular is essential to maintaining blood sugar levels, recovering
your hormonal balance, improving your fertility and performing other functions
such as removing excess insulin from the blood stream. When excess insulin,
for example, is not removed, it remains high in the blood and may contribute
to insulin resistance. These functions are all responsible for keeping your
uterine fibroids symptoms under control and for eradicating and preventing the
formation of uterine fibroids .
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The optimal uterine fibroids diet and the cleaning protocols outlined in this
book were designed to ease the fat and toxic load on your liver, to provide
nutrients that the liver needs to do its work and to re-build liver and bile
function.
Once you have cleansed your internal system, your detoxification process and
your immune system will have vastly improved, and your liver’s ability to
release toxins, balance hormones and remove excess insulin from the blood
will be enhanced. You will feel more energetic and healthier, and your body
will be able to fight uterine fibroids symptoms and prevent uterine fibroids
more effectively.
Environmental toxins are other issues of great concern. These can disrupt
your hormonal activity by interfering with the production and metabolism of
hormones and by mimicking hormones. Environmental toxins can also lower
progesterone levels, damage your fertility, the ovulation process and the
health of your unborn child.
Chronic exposure to xenohormones (petro-chemically derived pesticides,
emulsifiers found in soap and cosmetics, plastics, regular meat), and manmade chemicals found in our food and environment, can cause hormone
dysfunction, ovary damage (damaged follicles which cause reduced
production of progesterone) and infertility problems. Exposure to solvents, the
most common type of xenohormones that are found in glue, dry cleaning
clothes, nail polish and paint can lead to an array of health problems
including: fatigue, anxiety, depression, brain swelling, fetus damage and
oxygen deprivation in the brain.
While there is no escape from chemical pollution, including xenohormones,
the uterine fibroids diet, the solvents exposure guidelines and detoxification
protocols outlined in the book will provide you with a diet that is as free as
possible from environmental chemicals that will disrupt your hormones and
damage your health. They will also remove chemical substances that are
already in your body and strengthen your toxin elimination organs.
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Insulin Resistance
170B
Studies show that at least 30% of women with uterine fibroids have insulin
resistance, Insulin resistance can manifest as acne, difficulty losing weight,
high blood pressure, elevated blood glucose and carbohydrate cravings.
When the cells in your body are less responsive to the insulin hormone, you
have insulin resistance, which damages the functionality of a myriad of insulindependent processes in your body (such as regulating the liver's production of
blood sugar and fat). When you are insulin resistant, your pancreas gland
produces extra insulin to counter the impaired related functions which in turn
causes "hyperinsulinemia," - an abnormally high level of insulin in the blood.
This leads to a vicious cycle where the excess insulin causes the cells to
become even more insulin resistant.
As your pancreas becomes exhausted from producing large higher amounts
of insulin, it starts producing less and less insulin, thus causing blood sugar
levels to go out of control.
With regard to uterine fibroids and hormonal imbalance, chronically high levels
of insulin stimulate androgen production, causing excessive production of
testosterone and other male hormones by reducing serum sex-hormone
binding globulin (SHBG), that worsen uterine fibroids symptoms.
While there is a genetic predisposition to develop insulin resistance, poor
nutrition, dietary habits and too much body fat can greatly contribute to insulin
resistance and thus worsen uterine fibroids symptoms and hinder the body’s
ability to eliminate uterine fibroids .
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How Do Your Hormones and Menstrual Cycle Affect
Fibroid Growth?
2B
While most doctors will admit that they do not know exactly what causes
fibroids, they do know this: a woman’s hormones can – and do –affect the rate
of growth of fibroids and may even be an underlying cause of their formation
in the first place.
Holistic practitioners often refer to the hormone web when explaining to
patients how their hormones may be affecting their fibroids. Unless every
aspect a woman’s hormonal system is working at peak capacity, problems
(such as fibroid tumors) may occur. Hormones that are blocked from getting to
the right cells, will settle somewhere else – maybe even the uterus – and can
induce those cells to begin reproducing unnaturally. That, they say, may be
one cause of fibroids.
Traditional medical practitioners, agree with some aspects of that theory. They
do admit that hormones play a part in the formation and growth of fibroids, but
blame instead an increase in estrogen and progesterone in the female body. It
has been cited by researchers that fibroid tumors grow more quickly when
high levels of these two hormones are found in the patient’s body. That may
explain why the two most common times to experience fibroid growth is during
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pregnancy and pre-menopause when estrogen and progesterone levels are at
their highest levels during a woman’s lifetime. It also would explain why a
woman who has suffered with large painful fibroids for years will suddenly see
a decrease in their size after menopause, when hormone levels spiral
downward.
Considering this link between hormone levels and fibroids, it is no wonder that
a woman’s menstrual cycle can affect the growth of these uterine tumors.
Many fibroid sufferers experience increased pain and other symptoms at
certain times of their menstrual cycles as hormones levels rise and increased
blood flow makes its way to the ovaries and uterus, which can help to feed a
growing tumor.
Although estrogen is often blamed for fibroids, it is important to understand
that during a woman’s menstrual cycle there are really three different types of
estrogen-like hormones that are released into the woman’s system, which can
in turn affect fibroid growth. They include:
1. Estradiol (E2):
Reaching peak production during a woman’s
reproductive years, estrodial is the most common form of estrogen
found in the female body.
2. Estrone: Most abundant during a woman’s menopausal years, estrone
is made when testosterone molecules are converted into it through fat
cells found throughout the body. Too much estrone in the body ahs
been linked to breast cancer and gallbladder disease in older women.
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3. Estriol:
33
The weakest of the estrogens, estriol is made in higher
quantities during pregnancy and has been linked in some studies to a
lowered risk of breast cancer in women who have higher levels of it in
their systems as they reach menopause.
Can Your Emotions Affect Fibroid Growth?
23B
The human mind can have a huge impact on the human body. The fact is that
our emotions can help us remain healthy and strong; but they can also set us
up for increased health problems – including fibroids.
The Limbic Brain System is a complicated system in the body which not only
oversees our emotions, but helps to control our hormones. When we are
scared or upset, the Limbic system tells other parts of the body, including the
pituitary gland, to release different hormones and chemicals to help us stay
safe. This affect is often referred to as the Fight or Flight response. While
designed to protect us, if we initiate the Fight or Flight Response too often, the
hormones that are earmarked for one purpose are redirected to another. This
can leave the parts of the body in need of those chemicals at a loss. And this
can cause problems. A female reproductive system that is starved from the
right amount of certain hormones at the right time may develop menstruation
problems, or it could signal uterine muscle cells to begin reproducing which
could create a fibroid tumor.
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What Is the Cancer/Fibroid Connection?
24B
Uterine fibroids are not cancerous; cannot become cancerous and do not
cause cancer, say most experts. That said, some doctors believe that any
type of fast growing abnormal cell growth (which of course is what causes a
fibroid to appear in the first place) is a precursor to cancer and may want to
take drastic measures to stop further growth, including recommending a
hysterectomy for those experiencing large fibroids.
Of course cancer can grow anywhere in the body, and it is important to be
absolutely certain that what your doctor thinks is a benign fibroid is just that
and nothing more serious, women need to be especially careful when making
the decision to have their uterus and ovaries removed to prevent a condition
that there is no evidence will appear because of fibroid growth.
Several in-depth studies in recent years have suggested that less than one
percent of all women who underwent a total hysterectomy due to the
possibility of cancer due to fibroids actually had cancer of the uterus. These
findings suggest that the thousands of hysterectomies being performed for
fibroids may be unnecessary; especially since there are other tests such as
MRI and biopsies which could tell the doctor whether a mass that appears to
be a fibroid is indeed a benign tumor or a cancerous one.
In the event a mass is found to be cancerous, it generally falls within one of
these four types of female reproductive system cancers:
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1. Cervical Cancer: Typically a very slow-growing cancer, cervical cancer
is most often detected in its pre-cancerous stage called cervical
dysplasia during a routine pap smear. Since dysplasia cells can take as
long as twenty years to become full-blown cancer, it is generally caught
in more than enough time to treat it successfully.
2. Endometrial Carcinoma: The least deadly of the female cancers,
endometrial carcinoma accounts for nearly 13 percent of cancers
among women. The moist common sign of this type of cancer is midcycle bleeding, especially in women over the age of 35. Those at
greatest risk of endometrial cancer include women who are: obese;
never had children; experience irregular periods; have higher than
normal levels of estrogen in their bodies; early onset of menstruation;
high blood pressure and diabetes.
3. Ovarian Cancer: A very deadly cancer, ovarian cancer is most insidious
for two reasons: there really is no way to routinely test for it; and since
the ovaries are buried deep within the abdominal cavity, changes in
them can be hard to detect early. Although there is a blood test that
can be performed to help detect changes that could indicate cancer,
fibroids can also cause C-125 levels to rise, making it a very unreliable
way to test to ovarian cancer. Although hysterectomies are often
performed to prevent ovarian cancer in high-risk women (and to help
treat it), even that may not be enough since single cancer cells often
leach form the ovaries, settling in the pelvis and bone where it can
continue to grow at a later date.
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4. Vaginal Cancer: A very rare cancer among women, those in the
highest risk group include women who were exposed to the synthetic
estrogen DES.
Who’s At Risk for Fibroids?
25B
Since the absolute cause of fibroids remains unknown it can be difficult to say
which women are at the highest risk for them. Still, statistics show that these
risk groups seem to get fibroids at a higher rate than others:
•
Women in their 50’s. As a matter of fact, 40% of women will get fibroids
by their 40th birthday; compared to 70-80% of pre-menopausal women
in their 50’s.
•
Women who started their periods at an earlier age.
•
African-American Women – they are twice as likely as white women to
develop fibroids.
•
Women who have never been pregnant. Women who have had at least
four children are 70-80% less likely to get fibroids.
•
Women who are overweight.
•
Women who have at least one female relative with fibroids.
•
Women with higher than normal levels of estrogen and/or progesterone
in their systems (this may include post-menopausal women who take
hormone supplements).
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•
37
Women who eat a lot of red meat. Some studies show that women who
eat a lot of red meat and very few vegetables are at a greater risk of
developing fibroid tumors in their uterus.
Lifestyle Factors That Contribute To Uterine fibroids And
17B
Dysfunctional Follicles
Stress invoked by either lack of sleep, emotional issues, anxiety or pressure in
your daily routine has been scientifically proven to contribute to uterine fibroid
formation as stress depresses your immune system, causes anovulatory
cycles and elevates blood sugar levels.
Taking birth control pills can shut down normal ovary function. A diet full of
xenobiotics can hinder metabolism and prescription drugs can also negatively
affect the menstrual cycle by impairing the functioning of the hypothalamus.
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Types of Uterine fibroids
26B
There are several different types of fibroids that can grow in a woman’s
uterus. Some cause more problems than others, depending on whether they
are found on or in the uterus, as well as their overall size. Before you can
begin to decide what type of treatment options to discuss with your doctor
regarding your fibroids, you must first learn what type you suffer from. Here
are the most common fibroid tumors most women have to deal with:
The Subserous Fibroid
8B
Subserous fibroids are the most common type of fibroid women
experience. They typically grow on the outer wall of the uterus and often
become bigger (and more painful) just prior to menstrual bleeding as the
blood supply top the fibroid increase. Because of the location and size of
this type of fibroid, they often make the uterus grow – sometimes as big as
a watermelon. This can cause other health issues, which we will discuss in
more detail later.
The Submusocal Fibroid
89B
Found deep within the uterus, this type of fibroid can be very difficult to treat
with anything but surgery. They cause severe bleeding (often to the point of
hemorrhage), and excruciating pain as the uterus actually tries to expel or
“deliver” the fibroid from its cavity.
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The Intramural Fibroid
90B
Growing on the actual uterine wall, this type of fibroid can cause symptoms
similar to the other two described, depending on the direction it which it is
growing.
The Pendunculated Fibroid
91B
One of the scariest of all fibroid tumors, the pendunculated fibroid is often
confused for an ovarian tumor during an ultrasound, which may cause the
patient to undergo unnecessary surgery. Often without symptoms, this type of
fibroid is most often felt during an internal exam.
In addition to these common uterine fibroids, are these other fibroid tumors
that are found within a woman’s reproductive system:
The Cervical Fibroid
92B
Not very common, cervical fibroids grow on the lower segment or entryway to
the uterus known as the cervix.
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The Broad Ligament Fibroid
93B
Much harder to treat, this type of fibroid grows on the ligaments supporting the
uterus.
The Intracavity Fibroid
94B
This type of fibroid most often protrudes into the endometrial cavity which can
inhibit pregnancy.
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Signs And Symptoms
27B
While one or two small fibroids will not cause a woman any problems at all,
having several of them – or larger ones –can cause a variety of painful
symptoms. Among the most common symptoms women with fibroids
experience are:
Bleeding
95B
One of the most common symptoms of fibroids is increased menstrual flow
and bleeding between periods. This is caused by several factors:
1. A blockage of normal menstrual flow by the fibroids, causing blood to
back up and seem heavier when finally released
2. Uterine congestion which causes a change in blood flow in and out of
the uterus
3. An increase in blood vessels which creates a greater amount of blood
being transferred through the uterus
In the event your menstrual cycle changes and you begin to experience longer
periods (longer than 5-7 days) an increase in flow or just seem to be bleeding
too much, then be sure to consult your doctor right away to check for fibroids.
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Pain
96B
Pain too is a big problem among fibroid sufferers. At least one in every three
women with fibroids reports some amount of pain associated with their
condition. Of course how much pain their fibroids cause depends a great deal
on where they are located and how large they are, not to mention the
woman’s own pain tolerance level. Fibroids found inside the uterus often
cause severe cramping as the uterus tries to squeeze out this foreign body. If
large enough, fibroids outside of the uterus can actually put pressure on other
organs in the body, thus causing pain and discomfort. In the event a fibroid
dies because it can not get enough blood, the accompanying chemical
reaction within the body to these dead cells can also cause excruciating pain,
as well as flulike symptoms which include fever and nausea.
Pressure
97B
As fibroid tumors grow, so does your uterus. This can cause abdominal
pressure that many women describe as being akin to feeling pregnant. Of
course the larger the fibroid, the more pressure it will expel on surrounding
organs.
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Bloating/Fullness
98B
Bigger fibroid tumors can actually begin to become apparent as your body
begins to change to accommodate it. For some women this may result in
abdominal bloating like you may have during your menstrual cycle, or it can
result in stomach protrusion similar to the early months of pregnancy. This
type of bloating can also give you a full feeling in the abdomen as the fibroid
takes up more internal room. While these two symptoms are not dangerous,
they can be quite uncomfortable.
Painful Intercourse
9B
Even though fibroids are not found in the vagina, they can put pressure on the
vaginal area, as well as the bladder and rectum, which can cause pain before,
during and after intercourse.
Urinary Problems
10B
While not the most physically painful problems associated with uterine
fibroids, urinary problems can be the most stressful. The pressure of large
fibroids on the bladder almost always causes an increase in urinary urgency,
and often results in some form of incontinence, which can be very distressing
to most women. However, this is not the worst urinary issues that can arise
from fibroids. If a fibroid compresses the ureters (those tiny tubes connecting
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the bladder and kidneys), against the bones of the pelvis, urine flow can be
inhibited which will eventually result in severe kidney damage.
Infertility/Pregnancy Problems
10B
It isn’t all that easy to get pregnant. As a matter of fact, many experts agree
that a healthy woman only has about a 20% chance of conceiving every
month in the best of circumstances. Now, throw in a few fibroid tumors which
can block a sperm’s way to that all-important egg; block the egg’s passage to
the uterus for implantation or cause so much inflammation in the uterus that
the fertilized egg is unable to implant safely at all. Now, let’s say that you do
manage to get pregnant despite of fibroids. Now you have some new
problems. Fibroids can also endanger a pregnancy (or at the very least make
it more uncomfortable) by:
1. Growing larger. Due to an increase in estrogen and progesterone
during pregnancy, some women experience an increase in fibroid size,
which can become very painful and uncomfortable as the pregnancy
progresses.
2. Causing Pre-Term Labor. Women with fibroids tend to deliver babies
prior to 38 weeks gestation 4-20% more often than women without
fibroids.
3. Causing More Birth Defects. Although it is rare, women with fibroids do
have a slightly higher risk of delivering a stillborn child or a baby with
birth defects than women without these uterine tumors.
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4. By Requiring C-Section Delivery More Often. Since fibroids can alter a
baby’s position for delivery, women with them have a 20-25% higher
chance of needing a cesarean section than those without uterine
tumors.
Depression
102B
While physical symptoms of fibroids are usually what sends a woman to her
doctor for help, sufferers should not underestimate the emotional toll fibroids
(and their symptoms) can have on your emotional well-being. The pain of
fibroids can exhaust a woman physically. Add to that the isolation of being
unable to work or socialize due to intense pain and bleeding during certain
times of the month, plus all of the other physical, mental and emotional
stressors associated with fibroids, and depression is a real concern. One of
the best ways many sufferers have found to deal with depression and anxiety
from fibroid ailments is to find a support group that can help you better
understand and cope with your condition.
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Section Two – Holistic Medicine Vs.
1B
Conventional Medicine In The Treatment Of
Uterine fibroids
Natural Medicine vs. Conventional Medicine (The
Crucial Differences)
28B
Conventional Medicine
172B
While natural medicine perceives the human body as a complete holistic
system unified with nature, conventional medicine treats the body as a group
of separate physical organs.
Conventional medicine has failed to acknowledge the sad truth that man,
along with all living creatures, will never be compatible with artificial
chemicals, no matter how identical these chemicals may look, feel and smell
compared to the natural varieties (e.g., an orange-flavored beverage vs. a
freshly squeezed orange).
Synthetic chemicals cannot truly or completely be absorbed by the body.
Because of their artificial form, synthetic chemicals of any kind are foreign to
the body. This is why these chemicals cannot enter your system without
creating some level of disruption.
While holistic medicine’s objective is mainly to restore the body back into a
state of inner balance, to increase optimal genetic function and to help the
body cleanse and heal itself, conventional medicine focuses its entire efforts
on “making the patient comfortable” and by calming the pain with drugs and
ointments, which function as patches to the symptoms of the disease.
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Conventional Treatments For Uterine Fibroids
29B
The most common treatment for uterine fibroids offered by most doctors is the
prescription of birth control pills to treat the symptoms that the woman patient
complains about. Other physicians, who are more discerning and will correctly
diagnose the array of symptoms as “polycystic ovary syndrome”, may include
special hormone-regulating drugs and anti-androgen treatments in addition to
birth control pills.
To treat the insulin resistance factor among PCOS women and women with
fibroids, most physicians will also offer an approved anti-diabetic drug called
Metformin. Metformin works by reducing the production of glucose by the liver
and by increasing the sensitivity of muscle cells to insulin, thus making the
insulin activity in the body more effective. This way, less insulin is required to
perform the same amount of metabolic work.
In short, Metformin helps to lower your insulin levels by assisting your body to
transport glucose using less insulin. Metformin may also help lowering
cholesterol, and improving energy levels.
However, the benefits of Metformin come with a price tag: a myriad of side
effects are associated with the intake of this drug. These include but are not
limited to: general malaise, fatigue, gastrointestinal disturbances, vomiting and
frequent bowel movements, or diarrhea, vitamin B12 malabsorption,
pregnancy complications, liver or kidney problems, hair loss and anemia.
As you can see the problem with conventional treatment is that the
medications used for treating fibroids have undesirable side effects and
uncertain long-term health consequences.
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Watchful Waiting
350B
The most common treatment offered for women who are in their childbearing
years is to be re-examined in one to three months while waiting and watching
to see if the uterine fibroid has changed in size or if some symptoms start to
manifest. Note that this treatment will be offered only if you have no
symptoms initially.
Birth Control Pills
351B
Birth control pills will typically be offered to women who frequently develop
cysts or if their cysts have failed to dissolve within the three months of
watchful waiting. The purpose of the pills is to prevent ovulation. Not only do
birth control pills fail to treat the root cause of uterine fibroids but the intake of
birth control pills can often worsen your uterine fibroid condition and carries an
array of side effects.
What Drug Treatment Options Are Available for
Treating Fibroids?
30B
While some women may shy away from taking ongoing drugs to help control
their fibroids; others would rather try medications for treatment than a more
invasive option like surgery. Regardless of where you stand on the drug
therapy issue, it is important to know what pharmaceutical options are
available to help you make the best treatment choices for yourself.
The most important thing to remember when considering using drugs to treat
your fibroid symptoms is that not every woman responds to medication and
some drugs can actually elicit new symptoms. Still, a large number of women
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find the relief they seek using a variety of pain relievers, hormones and oral
contraceptives.
Now, let’s take a closer look at each option to see if any may be of help to
you:
Non Steroidal Anti-Inflammatory Drugs (NSAIDS)
352B
Some of the best drugs used to relieve both the pain of fibroids and its heavy
bleeding are anti-inflammatories that do not contain steroids. Some, like
Tylenol, Motrin or Advil, can be purchased over-the-counter and used as
needed. Other, stronger medications like Ponstel or Naproxen, may work
better, but can only be obtained by a prescription.
These anti-inflammatories work by reducing the prostaglandin in the blood
which can cause the uterus to contract, thus causing cramps abdominal pain.
For best results they should be used throughout the entire menses, even if
your pain subsides.
Some of the side effects of using both over-the-counter and prescription
NSAIDS include gastrointestinal issues, high blood pressure, and kidney
issues.
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Oral Contraceptives
35B
Oral contraceptives can be used to reduce bleeding by 30-50% in most
women with fibroids. How? They work by introducing more female hormones
into the endometrial lining of the uterus which controls a woman’s menstrual
flow.
Some studies also indicate that the hormones found in oral contraceptives
help tor educe the size of fibroids; although there are other studies which
refute this claim. Still, many women report good results with this method of
treatment.
Progestins
354B
Using a synthetic form of progesterone such as Provera or Magace seem to
help fibroid patients better control excessive bleeding caused by the tumors.
Although not labeled specifically for use in treating fibroids, progestins do
seem to offer some relief for many patients.
Tranaxamic Acid
35B
A drug that actually keeps blood clots from dissolving, Tranaxmic Acid has
been studied for use in reducing fibroid bleeding and seems to offer some real
relief. It is not, however, commonly used among physicians and is still in the
research stages as a viable fibroid remedy.
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Intra-Uterine Devices (IUD)
356B
Although progestin releasing IUD’s are used quite successfully to treat fibroids
in other parts of the world, doctors in the U.S. hesitate in using this effective
treatment due to problems with IUD’s in the past. The good news is that
current research shows that 90% of fibroid patients who use a progestin
releasing IUD experience a decrease in heavy bleeding, with 68% reporting a
decrease in overall symptoms. Right now Merena is the only viable IUD
option available in the United States which offers the progestin necessary to
work for decreasing fibroid bleeding.
What Medical Therapies Are Available to Fibroid
Sufferers?
31B
In addition to the drug remedies mentioned above to ease fibroid symptoms,
there are a few medical therapies that can be used to actually shrink fibroid
tumors. They mostly rely on the introduction of hormones into the system in
order to battle the fibroids where they start: your cells. Here are a few wellknown as well as experimental therapy options to talk with your doctor about
when devising your own treatment plan:
Gonadotropins-Releasing Hormones (GnRH)
357B
Natural GnRH hormones in the ovaries help to release estrogen and
progesterone into the body in order to regulate the menstrual cycle. Artificial
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GnRH blocks this natural hormone from getting where it is supposed to, so
menses stops altogether. The problem with using this type of drug therapy is
that while it does wonders to shrink fibroids (as much as 50% in just 3
months), most women report a resurgence of fibroid symptoms within a few
months of discontinuing the treatment. Used as a way to stop bleeding while
an anemic woman has a chance to rebuild her blood supply and health, GnRH
therapy is only a short term solution for most.
Mifepristone RU-486
103B
Known most commonly as “the abortion pill,” RU-486 is a synthetic steroid
hormone that suppresses progesterone and glucocorticoids. Since fibroid
tumors depend on progesterone to grow, it makes sense that taking a drug
that suppresses progesterone in the body would work to shrink fibroid tissues.
Although initial findings look promising with this treatment, it is not regularly
given as a fibroid remedy due to many unknown factors associated with it.
Raloxifen
358B
Used to prevent and treat bone loss in post-menopausal women. This
selective estrogen receptor modulator (SERMs), has shown to be a promising
new fibroid therapy in many women who use it. IN one study, 83% of the
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women taking Raloxifen for bone loss also reported a decrease of up to 50%
in their fibroids. Unfortunately, the study conducted on post-menopausal
women. No one to date has begun studying its affects on fibroid tumors in premenopausal women.
Androgen Therapy
359B
Danazol is one type of androgen that is used to reduce estrogen levels in the
body and stop abnormally heavy bleeding, it is not however effective in
shrinking fibroids.
Gestrinone, another steroid has been sued successfully in Europe to actually
shrink the size of fibroids by about 40% in users. Although quit effective in
treating fibroids, Gestrinone does have some masculine side effects including
a deeper voice, hair growth, weight gain and fluid retention. That may be one
reason why this therapy option is not available in the United States.
Interferon
360B
Not specifically studied for use as a fibroid reducer, those using Interferon for
other purposes have, nonetheless, reported a big decrease in fibroid size
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while on the drug. Not only expensive, but also harboring some nasty side
effects, Interferon will not be readily available as a fibroid remedy until its
effects can be studied more closely.
What Surgical Options Are Available for Treating
Fibroids?
32B
Surgery has always been the most popular option among physicians for
treating uterine fibroids. Unfortunately, the most common procedure has, until
just recently, been a hysterectomy to get rid of fibroids and their painful
symptoms. Thankfully, there are a whole host of new surgical options
available to today’s fibroid sufferer. Here are a few your doctor may
recommend:
Myomectomy
361B
One of the best surgical options for healing fibroids is the Myomectomy. The
reason it is preferred by most women is because it enables the doctor to
remove the fibroid without removing the uterus. This is great news for a
woman who wants to preserve her reproductive ability, but still get rid of her
fibroids once and for all. Done by making a bikini cut in the lower abdomen,
the surgeon is able to remove the fibroids from the uterus during this 3-4 hour
procedure. Lest you think that it is not a serious procedure, let me stress that
any surgery is risky. There can be negative side effects to a Myomectomy
including infection and a recurrence in fibroids; although both are relatively
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slim. A very intricate surgery that requires a large knowledge base,
Mymoectomies should only be performed by surgeons who have been
specially trained in the procedure.
Hysterectomy
362B
For some women a hysterectomy is the only option to both relieve their
symptoms and save their life. Uncontrolled bleeding caused why growing
fibroids can indeed become life threatening if not taken care of and when
other medical options fail, the removal of the uterus and fibroids may be the
answer. Even the American Academy of Obstetrics and Gynecology admits
that hysterectomy is the only sure-fire “cure” for fibroids, freeing the patient of
them permanently.
Performed through an incision in the abdomen (or even through the vagina), a
hysterectomy requires the actual removal of the uterus, and sometimes the
ovaries as well. Although removing the ovaries can save you from the
possibility of ovarian cancer in the future, it does come with one nasty side
effect: instant menopause. Once the ovaries are removed from the body, a
woman experienced surgically-induced menopause and all the effects of this
syndrome.
In most cases, the cervix does not need to be removed in order to treat
fibroids. This is important since women who have their cervix removed during
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a hysterectomy can suffer from sexual dysfunction (including a lack of
sensation and orgasm), as well as incontinence following the procedure.
FACT: MORE THAN 500,000 HYSTERECTOMIES ARE PERFORMED
EVERY YEAR ON WOMEN TO GET RID OF FIBROIDS. NEARLY HALF OF
THOSE PROCEDURES ARE PERFORMED ON WOMEN UNDER THE AGE
OF 40.
A complicated surgery, hysterectomies should not be performed lightly. Death
has been reported in one in every 1000 women undergoing the procedure
(usually due to a blood clot embolism). Other side effects include infection,
sexual dysfunction, ongoing pelvic pain, weight gain, urinary issues and more.
Still, the vast majority of women who undergo the procedure to treat fibroids
that do not respond to less invasive treatments have been very happy with the
results.
Embolization
36B
One of the most promising techniques being used today to treat (and dare I
say cure) fibroids, Uterine Fibroid Embolization is one of the safest of the
invasive procedures available to women that works to cut off the blood supply
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to fibroids, thus shrinking their size. Since it permanently changes the course
of the blood to the fibroid, they cannot come back.
Here’s how it works: a catheter is inserted into the femoral artery via a small
incision. Using contrast dye and a special x-ray machine, the doctor is able to
clearly see the blood vessels he is maneuvering through. Next, he guides the
catheter tip to the place where the arteries branch off from the uterus. At this
point he sues the catheter to inject up to 1,500 milligrams of plastic particles
into the patient’s bloodstream. Gelatin-like sponge pellets may also be
inserted. This clogs the blood flow into the fibroid, which in essence kills it.
The result is shrinkage with an alleviation of symptoms.
Some of things that makes this procedure so successful is the fact that
fibroids need a constant blood supply to thrive and the uterus has other blood
supplies, so if the end artery is blocked it does not affect the uterus.
Although it is not as well-known as myomectomy or hysterectomy, the results
are clear: embolization works! More than 85% of the women who have
undergone the procedure report that their fibroids are gone.
Although any surgery comes with risks, Embolization seems to offer less risk
than hysterectomy. One studied reported that only 1 in 5,000 women died
from the procedure, compared to 1 in 1,000 with hysterectomies.
Researchers believe that about 1 in every 10 women experienced either pain
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or nausea following the Embolization procedure; but these symptoms are
transitory and go away in a few days. About five percent of women who
undergo the procedure will experience early menopause and/or ovarian
failure, which will negatively affect their fertility.
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The Holistic Medicine Way
3B
Natural medicine, or holistic medicine, yields to nature and its everlasting
laws. It is not preoccupied with diagnosis or cures simply because of the belief
that what causes a disease to exist in the human body is the body itself being
out of balance. The laws responsible for illness cannot exist in a healthy and
complete body. A good allegory to that perception is that darkness cannot
exist in the presence of light.
Holistic medicine perceives the body as a unified whole (body, mind and spirit)
and not by the sum of its organs. According to holistic medicine, everything
you absorb (attitudes, beliefs, chemicals or food) directly affects your system
as a whole in a negative or positive way.
For that reason, holistic medicine aims to avoid any intrusive approach to
healing but rather nourishes the approach of building a strong immune
system, increasing the body’s functionality and enhancing spiritual and mental
strength and stability.
Natural medicine yields to nature and believes in the individual obligation to
clear the body of any unnatural residues. A body that is cleansed of any
unnatural elements is more harmonized with nature and thus more
rejuvenated and vitalized. Unnatural elements can be anything from synthetic
unnatural foods, polluted air and water, inadequate exercise, accumulations of
toxins in your body and any extreme activity that does not yield to the laws of
nature.
A disease occurs when the body deteriorates because the body is in an
imbalanced state or experiencing disharmony due to excessive toxicity or
inadequate nutrition, or deficiency of force, a term referring to a lack of
nutritional energy or the ability of the body to handle disease and heal itself
using nutritional material. The symptoms of the disease can only mean that
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something is wrong and that the body is in a state of imbalance and danger.
Most illnesses occur when the body’s cleansing organs cannot remove all the
excessive amounts of toxins that get into the cell walls, bones, hormone
receptors, tissues and even cell surfaces. In most cases, the moment toxins
enter your system, the disease begins. When symptoms occur, it is often too
late as something has already been damaged.
Proponents of natural medicine believe that by allowing the body to conduct
its process of removing internal toxins, also known as detoxification, along
with restoring it to a state of balance with the right nutrition, more than 90% of
illnesses can be healed by the body itself.
Studies have clearly shown that calorie-restricted diets tend to normalize
hormones, induce ovulation, and enhance fertility while reducing other fibroids
related symptoms.
Moreover, improvements in diet, exercise and lifestyle, combined with
methods to detoxify the body, are essential methods for eliminating and
preventing uterine fibroids formation.
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