If you’re looking for non-conventional ways to treat fibroids, the first step is always to learn more about your body and why you have fibroids in the first place! Then, it is essential to commit to a cleansing alkaline diet protocol with the following herbs and foods for shrinking fibroids.
What are Fibroids and Why Do They Occur?
Uterine fibroids are benign tumors that vary in size and which grow on a woman’s uterus wall. They are pretty common, and it is estimated that approximately up to 80 percent of women develop fibroids by the time they’re 50 years old. The most common consensus about why fibroids develop in the first place is due to genetic propensity and high levels of estrogen (or acidity) in the body.
However, another catalyst also determines rapid fibroid growth – liver function. In fact, if the liver is overburdened by toxin elimination, emotions of anger and resentment, or has been made weaker by years of smoking, drinking, stress, and a high-fat diet, it will have less capacity to regulate hormones.
One of the liver’s main functions is to regulate and remove excess sex and endocrine hormones from the body. It also serves to regulate thyroid and adrenal hormones (which are pumped out during stress and the fight or flight response) and produces its own hormones for important biological functions. The liver keeps us “alive” by performing over 2,000 important obligations that are detoxifying, regulatory, protective, and regenerative.
From my own experience and knowledge, there is never one reason why the body goes haywire to function sub-optimally. There are always a few underlying causes that act on a genetic weakness to create a tangible problem down the line. Stress, trauma, or an emotional upheaval usually act as a trigger that can lower the body’s immunity and defense systems to bring about a certain condition.
The antidote is always to detoxify the body from inflammation and toxic waste so that it can self-heal, strengthen, and regenerate. Once the weaker areas of the body are cleaned and given support, they will function more effectively, and depending on the level of healing, the symptoms of the disease should reverse.
What Are The Most Common Fibroid Symptoms and What Are The Risk Factors for Developing Them?
According to a survey of 21,746 women, women with uterine fibroids usually have significantly:
- Heavier and prolonged bleeding symptoms during menstruation
- More bleeding between periods
- Higher frequency of periods
- Irregular periods
- More pain and pressure on the bladder
- Higher chronic pelvic pain
- More painful intercourse
In addition to genetic propensity, endocrine gland dysfunction, and lowered liver function, there are a few other factors that can increase a woman’s chance of developing fibroids.
The additional factors are:
- Age – Fibroids are more common in women in their 30s, and 40s, and in those going through menopause. After menopause, as estrogen levels decrease, fibroids tend to shrink significantly.
- Ethnicity – Women from certain ethnicities are more likely to be prone to fibroids. African-American women, for example, are more likely to develop them than Caucasian women. This could be due to many lifestyle and dietary factors.
- Weight – Being overweight increases a woman’s chance of developing fibroids up to two to three times that of a woman of average weight.
- Diet – Consumption of red meat and acid-forming foods like dairy is linked with a higher risk of fibroids.
The Role of Endocrine Glands and The Liver
Hormonal imbalance is a strong indicator of possible endocrine system dysfunction. The master gland that dictates all other glands is the pituitary. You can think of the pituitary gland as the chief strategist that directs all of the other glands to do their job properly. It secretes hormones that affect the thyroid, adrenal glands, ovaries and testes, liver, and mammary glands, and is responsible for ensuring women’s hormonal and reproductive health.
If the pituitary is weak, hormones like estrogen may circulate in the bloodstream longer, causing over-acidification of tissues of the breasts and the womb.
Besides producing neurotransmitters, adrenal glands also excrete estrogen and progesterone. These glands sit on top of the kidneys and if they don’t function properly due to stress, anxiety, diet, or over-stimulation (coffee and other substances), the levels of both hormones will be dysregulated. One way you can tell if you have low adrenal function is if you have low blood pressure.
Overall, adrenal glands are one of the most important glands in the body and have a key function in female and male reproductive health!
Similarly, the liver’s job is to detoxify and regulate – it is the alchemical factory of the body that filters the blood from toxins and hormones, processes fat, and stores essential vitamins and minerals. If it doesn’t function optimally, excess hormones are free to circulate in the body, affecting and overstimulating female reproductive organs.
Having a healthy liver is an essential precondition to having balanced hormones and reversing fibroids. Therefore, even if your endocrine glands are weaker, making hormones dysregulated, a healthy liver could make up for this by denaturing excessive hormones.
Although an alkaline diet will improve the function of both the glands and the liver, the strengthening of one system will inevitably improve the functioning of the other.
To help your liver thrive, consume a diet high in bitter greens, especially dandelion, arugula, and mustard greens! As for herbs that support their function, I found milk thistle to be one of the best.
In essence, tumors are simply pockets of acidic waste that are encapsulated by the body so that the toxicity doesn’t cause more harm to the system. They are simply the body’s wise mechanism of protecting itself, given that it has no other means to alkalize and detoxify without proper hydration and astringent chemistry (found in raw and organic fruits and vegetables).
With proper detoxification, light exercise (which promotes the circulation of the lymph system, or the body’s sewage system), and an alkaline diet, tumors can be naturally healed without any medication or surgery. It simply takes a bit of time to hydrate the body, strengthen organ and glandular function, and reverse the effects of acidosis. But with vigilance and commitment, you’ll be glad you did!
How to Treat Fibroids Naturally
- Use adaptogen herbs like Ashwagandha
- Stop using artificial fragrances and scents
- Nourish your vaginal health
- Go natural and chemical-free with your personal products
- Reduce estrogen overload in foods, chemicals (plastics and BPA)
- Eat liver-supporting foods – such as bitter greens – and herbs
- Eat endocrine system-supporting foods and herbs
- Consume hydrating and detoxifying fruits (such as red grapes, lemons, watermelon, kiwi, berries, and citrus)
- Eat foods that are low in fat and processed fats
- Lower protein intake
- Cut out sugar and salt from your diet
- Reduce or eliminate the intake of meat and dairy
- Engage in creative pursuits (the sacral/creative chakra corresponds to the reproductive organs)
- Practice self-love and your ability to manifest your desires in the world
The 6 Best Herbs for Fibroids and Uterine Health
Here are some of the top female reproductive system herbs, hormone regulators, and liver cleansers that will aid in your fibroid healing journey!
Red Raspberry Leaf
Known as the quintessential herb for female reproductive health, red raspberry is the best herb to take for pregnancy, as it helps prevent hemorrhaging and miscarriage and reduces labor pains. It is astringent and firms tissues, meaning it prompts the womb to detoxify and heal. This wonder herb is known to nourish the uterus lining, alleviate cramps, and reverse degeneration.
Dandelion
Since the side effects of hormonal imbalance occur because of weaker liver function, dandelion greens are the perfect remedy to clean the liver. Dandelion is known as a potent liver detoxifier, helping to remove excess estrogen from the body. By nourishing the liver, you can prevent and reverse the growth of fibroids.
Milk Thistle
This medicinal powerhouse is one of my favorite liver-cleansing herbs. It is known as “the” herb that treats liver and gallbladder disease and is ideal for lowering inflammation and promoting cell repair. By helping the liver detoxify, the body will be able to better deal with hormonal and cellular dysfunction and will have more strength to regenerate its weakest areas.
Chaste Tree Berry (or Chasteberry)
This “hormone balancer” is a wonderful addition to every woman’s medicinal cabinet and is known to balance out progesterone and estrogen levels in the body. Throughout history, it has been used to alleviate menstrual problems, promote fertility, and reduce the potential of developing breast cancer.
Astragalus
This kidney tonic is an adaptogen known to reduce estrogen dominance in the body and promote the healthy function of the liver, kidneys, lungs, and heart. Its ability to help regulate the body from stressors and fight inflammation makes it one of the best herbs for the immune system.
Shatavari
This Ayurvedic herb translates to the name “a woman with one thousand husbands” and is known to reverse fibroid growth and is widely used to heal the disorders of the female reproductive system. It is a hormone balancer that is known to support fertility, increase libido, and prevent miscarriages.
Dong Quai (Angelica or Female Ginseng)
This Chinese herb has long been used in Traditional Chinese Medicine as a reproductive tonic. It is widely used for regulating PMS and menstruation, decreasing pain from cramps, recovering from childbirth, pelvic pain, body detoxification, and circulation. It is known to regulate estrogen and aid in symptoms related to menopause.
The Best Detox Foods for Fibroids
These are some of the best foods for alkalizing the body, detoxing the liver, and promoting kidney function. Remember, in order to heal fibroids naturally, the acid-filled tumors have to be loosened and dissolved with alkaline chemistry. And the only foods that promote detoxification are organic fruits, herbs, greens, and veggies. Take a look at my comprehensive alkaline food list to better understand the power of an alkaline diet in healing chronic health issues.
- Bitter greens
- Red grapes
- Celery juice
- Cold-pressed fruit/greens juices
- Pomegranates
- Papaya
- Citrus/lemon
- Berries
- Ginger
- Parsley and Cilantro
Foods to Avoid for PCOS and Fibroids
- Sodas and carbonated beverages
- Caffeine
- Dairy
- Grains (especially those that contain gluten)
- Conventional cakes and pastries
- Complex protein
- Meat and eggs
- Processed foods
- Processed sugar and table salt
It is very surprising and disconcerting that there are many individuals on the internet universe who promote dairy and grains as the top foods for shrinking fibroids! However, these foods are not only known to create mucus and acids in the body, but dairy promotes congestion, lymphatic stagnation, and tumor formation.
Since fibroids arise due to constitutional weakness of the uterus, acids will always affect those areas of the body first. By refraining from eating acidifying foods on the list above, your body will have more energy to devote to healing its weakest parts.
Any pockets of acids or puss that the body wants to get rid of but can’t do so properly are characterized as tumors, fibroids, or cystic acne. And to heal all these conditions, the body must be given the proper chemical fuel, which it will convert to electrical energy that will regenerate cells and help the body in its self-healing process.
Indeed, the only foods that will help shrink fibroids and increase lymphatic system flow are foods that are chemically astringent, hydrating, and cleansing. And the best foods found in nature to do so are fruits – better yet, watery fruits!
Final Thoughts
Fibroids can be generalized as acidic waste in the womb that is protected by tissue (fiber tissue) so that they don’t cause further damage to the uterus. Its presence signals that either endocrine glands need support (to ensure hormonal regulation), the liver needs cleansing (so that it can regulate excess estrogen), that the body suffers from chronic inflammation, or that the uterus is genetically weak. Any one of those issues or a combination of those issues could play a role in the development of fibroids. These factors can be further exacerbated by age, diet, and lifestyle.
The most important thing to keep in mind when treating fibroids naturally is to hydrate the body with an alkaline diet. This will ensure that all the systems will be given greater net energy to function optimally, and in turn, have a greater capacity to heal and regenerate.
If this information was helpful, you can learn even more about natural body detoxification and healing by reading my new book, How to Detox Your Body Naturally and Safely! It will give you more insights into your body, the optimal vegan anti-inflammatory diet for healing, and the power of fruit and herbs in promoting cellular regeneration.