Usually developing in the uterus, fibroids are noncancerous tumors that are often benign; nonetheless, they can hinder or jeopardize pregnancy, make sex painful, or cause cramping. Western medical science has no definite conclusion whether or not acupuncture can help resolve fibroids. But based on the findings of TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), acupuncture can address the energy blockage that shows up in the form of the tumor. A lot of patients have used acupuncture to cure pain related to the fibroid if not use it as an outright cure for the condition. Talk to your primary health care provider before considering a new form of treatment.
Western Medicine and Fibroids
Fibroid symptoms that typically manifest include a pain during intercourse, irregular or heavy menstruation, increased urination, constipation, cramping between periods, or a fullness sensation in the stomach. Patients with uterine fibroids that manifest no serious symptoms should observe their condition by regularly looking for initial signs of cancerous growth or changes in fibroid size. The cause of fibroid development is still a mystery to Western medicine although medical researchers suspect that their growth is linked to estrogen production. In the United States, about 20% of women of child-bearing age have developed fibroids at some point in their lives.
TCM and Fibroids
Often used in combination with Chinese herbal medicine, acupuncture a treatment that can decrease the size and incidence of fibroids. Based on TCM theory, the likely causes of fibroids include different forms of imbalance in organ function and vital energy, qi stagnation, spleen qi deficiency, and deficiency in yin. While the type of treatment differs from patient to patient, the acupuncturist usually utilizes the acupoints that are associated with the uterus and blood stasis.
Scientific Studies
Acupuncture’s effectiveness in the treatment of fibroids has been given very little recognition by Western medicine scientists. The NIH (National Institutes of Health) considers acupuncture more as a complementary form of treatment to Western medicine and an effective treatment to alleviate pain. A study conducted at the Bethune International Peace Hospital in 1995 tested acupuncture’s efficacy in treating malignant mammary tumors in mice. The study proved that acupuncture was indeed able to reduce the tumors. There were a minimum of seven studies that have already been done to test the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating cancerous conditions in Cleveland. Four of these studies have shown certain direct and indirect benefits that acupuncture can give in the treatment of cancer.
Alleviation of Pain
For those who want to adhere to a “wait and see” approach or stick to a western medical treatment for their fibroid condition, acupuncture can still be considered as an adjunctive treatment to, at least, allay any discomfort caused by the fibroid. Some physicians recommend acupuncture for the relief of fibroid pain, more so when it is used alongside herbal medicine and other TCM modalities like moxibustion.