Part II : Acupuncture and the Treatment of Uterine Fibroids
Please join Dr. Jen Clemons for part 2 of 4 of our women's health
series. Dr. Clemons will b discussing the fundamentals of Chinese
medicine and how uterine fibroids are diagnosed in eastern medicine.
She will also explain the different diagnosing terms used in chinese
medicine related to the condition of fibroids. Lastly she will review
treatment options with acupuncture and other chinese healing
modalities.
$5 May 5th 6:30pm @ The Herb Shoppe
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Dr. J.J. Pursell ND, LAc., Certified Herbalist
Owner
The Herb Shoppe
2410 E. Burnside
Portland, OR 97214
503-234-7801
Hours: Mondays 10-5
Tuesdays-Saturday 10-6
Sundays 12-5
When I was a child I had a very positive experience with Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine. I can't wait to learn about how it could possibly help with the Treatment of Uterine Fibroids!
Monday, May 5, 2008
Part II : Acupuncture and the Treatment of Uterine Fibroids
Wednesday, April 9, 2008
The Herb Shoppe Hosts Lectures On Fibriods
Meet with other local women who have Uterine Fibroids. Learn more about uterine fibroids, treatment options, and connect with others who also have this disease. Beginning Monday April 28th - 4 consecutive Mondays At 6:30 PM. A $5 donation per lecture per person. Meetings to be held at The Herb Shoppe 2410 E. Burnside, Portland, OR 97214 Phone Number 503-234-7801.
> April 28th - Dr. J.J. Pursell - Physiology, Questions, Botanical Medicine and Fibroids and discussion of line-up
> May 5th - Dr. Jen Clemons - Acupuncture and Chinese Medicine Perspective
> May 12th - Dr. Sarah Wylie - Mayan Abdominal Massage and Fibroids
>May 19th - Dr. Heather Krebsbach - Nutrition and Supplementation for Fibroids.
Monday, April 7, 2008
Spring Term Lectures at The Herb Shoppe
The tulips are up and spring is official here. And so is thebeginning of our Wednesday night lectures for the spring term. Belowis the schedule - but I'll be sure to email out weekly reminders as towhat is coming up.Look forward to upcoming weekend workshops - Urban Plants Walks andfree acupuncture Saturdays.Here's to health and the wisdom of the plant medicine.
April 9th - Allergies! - dr. Amanda Anderson
April 16th - Naturopathic Forum -
April 23rd - Herbs for Fertility - dr. Molly O'Neil
May 7th - Blending Herbal Teas - dr. Jen Clemons
May 21st - Elderberry School of Botanical Medicine Presents
June 4th - Cooking with Medicines From Your Backyard - Felicia Ferruzza
June 18th - Digestion, Heartburn and Ulcers - dr. Brian Vaitkus
Lecturs begin at 6:15 - Wednesdays - Open to all
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Dr. J.J. Pursell ND, LAc., Certified Herbalist
OwnerThe Herb Shoppe
2410 E. Burnside
Portland, OR 97214
503-234-7801
Hours: Mondays 10-5
Tuesdays-Saturday 10-6
Sundays 12-5
Tuesday, April 1, 2008
IF YOU SUFFER ENDOMETRIOSIS......
Then Endo Resolved is a great site to find advice, information, support, motivation, encouragement, and hope.
I love this site. It stuffed full of helpful information and links to other great sites. It has articles on the treatments of endometriosis including alternative treatments.
Is Diet Effecting Your Fertility?
I was wondering if diet had any effect on fertility and found some informative articles:
Diet And Lifestyle Changes May Help Prevent Infertility From Ovulatory Disorders ScienceDaily (2007-11-04) -- Women who followed a combination of five or more lifestyle factors, including changing specific aspects of their diets, experienced more than 80 percent less relative risk of infertility due to ovulatory disorders compared to women who engaged in none of the factors, according to an article in Obstetrics & Gynecology. ... > read full article
Fat, Carbs and the Science of Conception Newsweek (2007-12-10 issue) -- In a groundbreaking new book, Harvard researchers look at the role of diet, exercise and weight control in fertility. Guarantee: you will be surprised.
Trying to conceive? Time for a fertility diet
According to my doctors even with the fibriods you can still get pregnant, however you may not be able to carry full term. I don't think I'm fertile because of my inflamed fallopian tubes. I am working on dealing with the fact that because of my age and health problems I may never give birth to a baby. I am going to see a fertility specialist but I got to mentally prepare for the worst case, so that I don't break down like I did with the fibriod diagnosis.Sphere: Related Content
Monday, March 31, 2008
Does Vitalzym Work?
Shrinking Fibroids Naturally: Vitalzym
I was thinking about taking expensive enzymes to treat my fibriods. However they were to expensive and I had concerns about their efficacy. The two that I was thinking about taking are Vitalzym and Nepriol. They both claim that they have Serrapeptase the most powerful proteolytic (protein eating) enzyme. According to the Vitalzym page, Serrapeptase is an enzyme that is produced in the intestines of silk worms to break down cocoon walls. Besides reducing inflammation, one of Serrapeptase's most profound benefits is reduction of pain, due to its ability to block the release of pain-inducing amines from inflamed tissues. One of the venders for Vitalzym has a message board.
According to Natural Products Industry Insider Vitalzym is being sued. Read the following excerpt.
Marlyn Decision Underscores Need for Support in Advertising:
“A new enzyme product utilizing “a 21st century systemic enzyme”, “produced with enterically-coated enzymes”, developed by “leading enzyme researchers”, vegetarian safe, without any “animal derivatives”, “just as safe” as the largest selling enzyme product in the United States but works “[three] times faster with much smaller doses”, and is “anti-inflammatory, anti-fibrotic, [an] immune system modulator, blood cleanser, circulatory system unclogger and connective tissue strengthener, lowers cholesterol and greatly speeds healing”. The product is endorsed by a Ph.D. and doctor who “has utilized systemic enzymes in his practice for the past 15 years.” With that background, why did a federal jury in Phoenix award Marlyn Nutraceuticals Inc., dba Naturally Vitamins, $5.3 million in its claims against World Nutrition and its product Vitalzym? Because none of the claims World Nutrition was making were true.”
If had money to burn I still might try one of these products. However I’ve been feeling great with the treatment I’ve been on so I’ll bench Vitalzym and Nepriol for a while.
I want to add that I take whole Foods "Wholezyme". It contains a similar list of the enzymes/ingredients that Vitalzym has except Serrapeptase, Amla, Rutin and some of the other ingredients. Vitalzym ingredients: "Proprietary blend contains: Protease, serrapeptase, papain, bromelain, amylase, lipase, rutin and amla. For a full description of these ingredients, see the Ingredients page. Other ingredients: Cellulose, maltodextrin, silicon dioxide, magnesium stearate, riboflavin, and chlorophyllin"
I found some sites that sell Serrapeptase supplements. It may be worth a try to add Serrapeptase to my regimen.
http://www.vitadigest.com/serrapeptase.html?gclid=CKL3qNSuuJICFQm6PAodUDJlLQ
http://www.physicianformulas.com/store/Scripts/prodview.asp?idproduct=93&name=Serrapeptase
These supplements are much less expensive than Vitalzym or Nepriol, however I am not sure yet if they are cost effective due to the amount of pills you have to take. Based on the Vitalzym Suggested Use when in the activation phase you take up to 15 pills a day.
Sphere: Related ContentTuesday, March 25, 2008
National Uterine Fibroids Foundation
Here are some websites and blogs with resources and information about healthy living and for people with fibroids and endometriosis.
National Uterine Fibroids Foundation http://www.nuff.org/
Center For Uterine Fibroids http://www.fibroids.net/
http://www.fibroids.net/resources.html
Medline Plus http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/uterinefibroids.html
Obgyn.net http://www.obgyn.net/fibroid-resource-center/
Meet Up http://uterinefibroids.meetup.com/
You Are What you Eat http://parentunderground.wordpress.com/
Yahoo Groups http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/uterinefibroids/
CCHS ua library
http://cchs-dl.slis.ua.edu/patientinfo/gynecology/uterinedisorders/fibroids.htm
Sex Lies and Uterine Fibroids http://www.uterinefibroids.com/
Shrinking Fibroids Naturally http://shrinkingfibroids.blogspot.com/
Mind Mart http://mind-mart.com/
The Fit Shack - Weight Loss Food Addiction Motivation Mind-Body Connection Healthy Diet http://www.thefitshack.com
Naturopathic Medicine Blog: Case Studies & Tips http://www.healthegoods.com/blog.html
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Monday, March 24, 2008
Glamour Magazine: Find a better birth control
Found an article on birth control in a recent copy of Glamour magazine. It covers Barrier Methods, Hormonal Methods, and Long-Term Methods of birth control with reviews from women who use them.
I have not used hormonal methods of birth control for several years. Not using the pill may have made me more susceptible to developing uterine fibriods. Read: Risk Factors for Uterine Fibroids Same as Those For Endometrial Cancer, New Pill Study Finds. After my diagnosis of uterine fibriods I was put on the pill in the hopes that it would stop the bleeding. I asked and was told the the pill would not effect the size of my fibriods. I was on the pill for about six months and not only did the bleeding not stop it got worse. Also I could feel and see (as my abdomen area started to expand, like I was pregnant) my fibriods getting bigger! I have been off the pill for about 3 months now, doing my regimen, and I've seen marked improvement. I am not advocating any particular method. By not using hormonal birth control I am doing what I think is best for my body right now.
Here is another article on Birth Control Pills and Uterine Fibroids. It has a better list of hormanal birth control side effects however in regards to the pill promoting the growth of existing uterine fibriods it says this:
Birth control pills, also called oral contraceptives, control the body's estrogen and progesterone levels (progestin is a synthetic form of the body's progesterone). Even though estrogen and progestin have a role in uterine fibroid growth, birth control pills do not affect the size of fibroids. However, birth control pill use improves heavy menstrual bleeding, which can be caused by uterine fibroids.Sphere: Related Content
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Todays Top 6 Articles on Uterine Fibriods
On March 19, 2008, I did a Google News search and here are the top 6 articles:
- Embolization a Nonsurgical Way to Treat Fibroids
- SIR: Fibroid Embolization Remains Option If Ultrasound Fails
- Fibroids more severe for African-American women
- Heavy periods, extreme pain
- Uterine fibroids and pregnancy
- Repros' Proellex(R) Safety Data Presented At The 13th World Congress of Gynecological Endocrinology
Embolization a Nonsurgical Way to Treat Fibroids
Here is an article published on March 18, 2008 regarding Uterine Artery Embolization, as a nonsurgical way to treat uterine fibriods.
During 2007 the only treatment my doctors mentioned for my fibriods was a Hysterectomy. Luckily my mother mentioned UFE. I did an internet search and found that in Portland, Oregon the Oregon Health & Science University was conducting UFE. Unfortunately in December 2007 after an appointment with the OHSU Interventional Radiologist, I was told that I was not a good candidate for their program. Shortly after receiving this information I decide to attempt to shrink my fibriods with holistic treatments in the hope that I could become a good candidate for UFE.
Check out this except from the article:
"But Lipman suspected that -- despite the procedure's efficacy -- many women aren't being made aware of UAE. In his study, the Emory researcher interviewed 105 women being seen at an Atlanta-area fibroid practice to assess whether or not they had been told by their gynecologists that uterine artery embolization was an option. Lipman pointed out that gynecologists don't perform UAE, interventional radiologists do. So, if women were not informed about the procedure by their gynecologist, Lipman asked how they learned about UAE.
He found that only 33 percent of the women were given uterine artery embolization as an option, and most of these patients were referred from a single health-care organization -- one that requires doctors to present all options. The most common way that the remaining women found out about uterine artery embolization was eitherfrom radio advertisements or the Internet"
Not to bash doctors, but we can not rely only on doctors to give us information. When it comes to our health, we need all the facts and information we can get so that we can make an informed decision. That is why I created this blog and that is why you should pass the information on to your friends and family. Sphere: Related Content
Monday, March 17, 2008
Spring Detox Week!
Hello Everyone!Spring is here! Can you feel it all around you? Well - now is the perfect time to not only clean house - but clean your internal house -your body! Spring is the time of the liver - and by utilizing the spring energy momentum - this week is designated spring detox week here at The Herb Shoppe. Wednesday night free lecture - Spring detox - we will talk about Detox tea and the many herbs that support and nourish our bodies elimination organs as well as the herbs that stimulate the process. Wednesday night - 6:15 Saturday - March 22nd - 9am -11am - a two hour class dedicated to herbal detox. Learn about types of detox and fasting and which is best for you. $30 Please call to register. Happy Spring and be well!
Dr. J.J. Pursell ND, LAc., Certified Herbalist
Owner
The Herb Shoppe2410 E. Burnside
Portland, OR 97214503-234-7801
Hours: Mondays 10-5
Tuesdays-Saturday 10-6
Sundays 12-5
Estrogen dominance is it real?
I stumbled across this site Cure Zone, Educating Instead of Medicating while looking up info on Hormones in our foods. It seems to be a collection of blogs, articles and forums. There is some stuff there that I think is quack, but there is also some good information. I found these articles on Estrogen Dominance and on MILK - The hidden toxins that I thought was interesting.
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