Feeling Good & Not So Crazy!!

It’s been about 35 days since I first wondered into the Herb Shoppe and met JJ. Since beginning my regimen, the almost constant bleeding (menorrhagia) has stopped. I’ve lost about 10 pounds. My color came back. My abdomen is no longer tight, bloated and distended. When I press on my abdomen area I can no longer feel the hard spots which I assumed were my fibroids. My face, hands and feet are no longer bloated. My teenage acne that turned in to adult acne just went away. I have treated my acne with everything from retinal, to tetracycline, to Acutane. None of which worked as well and with out negative side effects. I have more energy and can now exercise. My insatiable hunger has gone away and I eat much less and much more healthier. My cravings are manageable so it is easier for me to make healthy food choices. I am not depressed, I feel happier and more like myself. I sleep well. I am no longer constipated and I don’t have to pee every ten minutes.

When I first went into the Herb Shoppe I was on day 4 of my menstrual cycle, which means I was on the placebo/sugar pills of my birth control pack. I did not start the pill again so effectively I stopped taking the pill without any problems. My period started exactly on the 28th day of my menstrual cycle. My period was totally manageable with no large blood clots. The bleeding was nowhere close to what it was. The cramps were milder and were manageable with my cramp relief tincture. The Castor Oil Packs feel great anytime but were especially comforting when I was cramping. I take that as a good indication that my hormones are balancing out.

I feel great so far. I still want to incorporate systemic enzyme therapy into my regimen. I am doing research now and will post what I find out. I also still want to try acupuncture and message. I was thinking about Reflexology by the Mayan Message sounds interesting. One of the things that I should be doing but have not yet is Alternating Sitz Baths. According to Herbal Healing Secrets:

"Sitz bathes help to move blood into the pelvic area, which improves circulation and relives the stagnation that contributes to the development of uterine fibroids."

I haven’t because of time and space to do it. Well see maybe down the road, after my next ultra sound in a few months.

I don't feel crazy anymore for taking this holistic approach.

Sphere: Related Content

My Regimen: So Far So Good

On Thursday January, 10, 2008 I had a cup of shepherds purse tea with two droppers of the cramp relief tincture. I understand that it could be placebo affect, however my menorrhagia has cut down dramatically. Also I have not had cramps since I started taking the cramp relief tincture. Later the same night I did my first Castor oil pack. Not sure if it did/does anything but the heat on my abdomen felt really good and soothing. Also I took 3 droppers of the insomnia tincture in heated almond milk (yum) and had a really good nights sleep. (no waking up to change pads, or from cramps, and for some strange reason I did not wake up to use the restroom. One of the fibriods is pressed up against my bladder and usually I am going to restroom several times a night.)

I started drinking the fibroid tea, taking milk thistle, DIM and Calcium D-Glucarate on Friday January 11, 2008. I don’t know if the tea is having any effect on the fibroids yet. In a few months I am going to have another MRI or ultrasound to see if they have shrunk or reduced in number. (At my last MRI I had at least 10.) However, I look and feel much better. My face, hands, feet, and abdomen are no longer bloated and I am not as pale and sickly looking. I did have a bit of a headache Friday night, but when I woke up Saturday it was gone.

I have modified my diet and eliminated things that I think have hormones added, like milk, dairy, sugar, saturated/hydrogenated fats and red meat. (Holistic Protocol For Uterine Fibroids) However I am sure it will be modified even more by the naturopath.

I am thinking about going to an Acupuncturist and Reflexologist. Any suggestions?

Sphere: Related Content

My Regimen

*Note: I see JJ Tuesday January 15th, 2007, for a full consultation, so my holistic regimen may change. If it does I will update this post.

My Uterine Fibriod Tea consist of the following herbs:
Dandelion Root (helps decongest the liver, detox)
Yellow Dock Root (detox)
Ginger Root
Licorice Root
Vitex (Chaste) Berries (normalize estrogen levels by stimulating progesterone production)
Nettle (Rich in Iron helps in relieving Anemia)
Red Clover Leaves
Red Raspberry Leaves
Wild Yam
Burdock

JJ Worked out the actual amounts and I think I ended up with 10 ounces of tea. To make the tea I use 4 tablespoons per quart. I drink 1 quart a day. I put in parentheses what the book Herbal Healing Secrets for Women says about the herb. From what I’ve read the herbs in this tea are helpful in detoxifying, and balancing my hormones.

Shepard’s Purse: For the uterine bleeding (Menorrhagia) I drink 1 cup of tea a day made with 1 tablespoon of Shepard’s Purse.

The Herbal Healing Secrets book had formulas for cramp relief and insomnia relief, both of which I was having problems with. I take these as needed. I put a few droppers full of the cramp relief in what I am drinking. I put a 2-3 droppers full of the insomnia relief in heated almond milk. Yummy!! JJ says I can use Hazelnut milk too. I love Hazelnuts!!

Cramp Relief Formula:
1 ounce Cramp Bark Extract (relax muscle spasm)
½ ounce Valerian or Hops Extract
½ ounce White Willow Bark Extract
¼ ounce Ginger Root Extract

Insomnia Relief Formula:
1 ounce Valerian Root Extract
½ ounce Hops Extract
½ ounce Passionflower Extract

JJ recommended some Milk Thistle Powder. According to my Herbal Healing book, the Silymarin in Milk thistle protects the liver, helps stimulate the growth of healthy new liver cells and improves it’s the ability to detoxify estrogen. Sorry JJ but that powder taste NASTY!! I purchased GAIA Herbs Milk Thistle Seed caplets. I take 2-3 a day.

I also take Premier Science’s Indoplex (DIM). It says it “Supports healthy breast, uterine, cervical and prostate tissue*” Also Premier Science’s Calcium D-Glucarate. It says it “ Enhances detoxification and promotes estrogen metabolism to support cellular health”

At night I do a Castor Oil Pack.

I will use Natual Progesterone cream 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon twice a day on days 12 to 26 of my menstruation Cycle. (First day of Menstruation is day 1. See Natural Progesterone Cream article)

I still take my Repliva a prescription Iron supplement. Right now I need it.

Sphere: Related Content

The Herb Shoppe

On Thursday January 10, 2008, I went to The Herb Shoppe to get the herbs to make the uterine fibroid tea suggested in Herbal Healing Secrets For Women (page 57). While there I met J.J. the owner and a naturopath. Wow, I was impressed! JJ had all the herbs I needed and then some. As a naturopath JJ was well versed on what I need to address the other symptoms associated with uterine fibroids like Menorrhagia (excessive uterine bleeding). JJ had her own fibroid tea recipe and she combined the two recipes to make my tea. The aforementioned book also had recipes for tinctures to help with cramps and sleep, and JJ mixed these up for me too! JJ had a few recommendations. She suggested Shepherds Purse for the Menorrhagia, and Source Natural’s Natural Progesterone Cream. When I left JJ's herb shop, for the first time in months I felt in control of my life. Like maybe I had options. I can’t be certain but I may have had a small smile on my face.

Sphere: Related Content