Here's another scary news story, about the chemicals in non-stick pans hurting fertility.
It's speculated that the impact on fertility is from affecting the levels of female sex hormones.
The last thing that we fibroid shrinkers need is anything that affects our hormones! All non-stick pans I own are going in the back of the closet right now!
Thursday, January 29, 2009
mercury in high fructose corn syrup!
Just read this scary story about high fructose corn syrup being another possible source of mercury in our diets.
For the fibroid shrinking diet it's best to avoid the kind of processed food that contain high fructose corn syrup anyway, but this is another reason!
For the fibroid shrinking diet it's best to avoid the kind of processed food that contain high fructose corn syrup anyway, but this is another reason!
Tuesday, January 27, 2009
new Chinese herb formula
My acupuncturist gave me a new formula today. This is a pre-ovulation formula.
It has Gui Shao, which was the base for my last pre-ovulation formula, plus the following:
Han Lian Cao. This page mentions that it helps tone the spleen and uterus.
Nu Zhen Zi.
Sheng Di. This is Rehmannia, which has been in other formulas I have taken.
Based on this, sounds like my yin is getting some help!
In looking up these herbs, found this page which mentions the Han Lian Cao, Nu Zhen Zi and Sheng Di all as part of a treatment protocol used for fibroids.
This formula is similar to the one listed on this page, which gives some interesting discussion of blood stasis and fibroids.
It has Gui Shao, which was the base for my last pre-ovulation formula, plus the following:
Han Lian Cao. This page mentions that it helps tone the spleen and uterus.
Nu Zhen Zi.
Sheng Di. This is Rehmannia, which has been in other formulas I have taken.
Based on this, sounds like my yin is getting some help!
In looking up these herbs, found this page which mentions the Han Lian Cao, Nu Zhen Zi and Sheng Di all as part of a treatment protocol used for fibroids.
This formula is similar to the one listed on this page, which gives some interesting discussion of blood stasis and fibroids.
Monday, January 26, 2009
if you are using reverse osmosis filtered water
Pure water free from all the yukky stuff that could be in tap water is part of my fibroid-shrinking plan. I recently got a reverse osmosis water filter system
, after hearing that it makes the purest water. And it certainly is yummy!
However, my acupuncturist just warned me that in addition to taking all the bad things out of the water, the filter also takes out the beneficial minerals. So you need to add them back with mineral drops. If you don't your system will become depleted of minerals, which is certainly counter-productive. So I just ordered some of these mineral drops
, they are natural and from the Great Salt Lake in Utah.
, after hearing that it makes the purest water. And it certainly is yummy!However, my acupuncturist just warned me that in addition to taking all the bad things out of the water, the filter also takes out the beneficial minerals. So you need to add them back with mineral drops. If you don't your system will become depleted of minerals, which is certainly counter-productive. So I just ordered some of these mineral drops
, they are natural and from the Great Salt Lake in Utah. fibroids and fertility drugs
Unfortunately my last cycle was not successful for getting pregnant. So now my gyn wants to use ovarian stimulation, which makes more eggs to increase your chances each cycle.
Most gyn's use a drug for Clomid for this. I've heard all sorts of terrible things about Clomid, and one of the women on the uterine fibroid list-serv I'm on mentioned that her fibroids grew a lot when she took it.
However, my gyn uses something called Letrozole. I am supposed to start taking it today, and I am doing a bit of Google research on it. It seems the advantage of Letrozole is that it doesn't stay in your system as long as Clomid, and thus doesn't have the same problem of thinning your endometrial lining or cervical mucus like Clomid does.
I found this page with lots of detail about Letrozole. Evidently it's an aromatase inhibitor. I recall some recent discussion on the fibroid list-serv with one woman mentioning how they had used natural aromatase inhibitors to work on shrinking their fibroids, but I didn't look into that carefully as I thought it might impact my fertility. And this page (http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/18/8/1598) talks about how Letrozole has been successfully used to shrink fibroids. And this page (www.obgyn.net/fibroid-resource-center/?page=forum/FIBROIDS.0901/0039) shows the study. In this study the subjects took Letrozole for 12 weeks, much longer than the 5 days I will be taking it, but still this is very interesting and makes me feel better about it.
This page (http://www.annieappleseedproject.org/arindom.html) has detailed information on aromatase inhibitors, both natural and synthetic, and how they might effect estrogen, estrogen dominance, and fibroids.
Most gyn's use a drug for Clomid for this. I've heard all sorts of terrible things about Clomid, and one of the women on the uterine fibroid list-serv I'm on mentioned that her fibroids grew a lot when she took it.
However, my gyn uses something called Letrozole. I am supposed to start taking it today, and I am doing a bit of Google research on it. It seems the advantage of Letrozole is that it doesn't stay in your system as long as Clomid, and thus doesn't have the same problem of thinning your endometrial lining or cervical mucus like Clomid does.
I found this page with lots of detail about Letrozole. Evidently it's an aromatase inhibitor. I recall some recent discussion on the fibroid list-serv with one woman mentioning how they had used natural aromatase inhibitors to work on shrinking their fibroids, but I didn't look into that carefully as I thought it might impact my fertility. And this page (http://humrep.oxfordjournals.org/cgi/content/full/18/8/1598) talks about how Letrozole has been successfully used to shrink fibroids. And this page (www.obgyn.net/fibroid-resource-center/?page=forum/FIBROIDS.0901/0039) shows the study. In this study the subjects took Letrozole for 12 weeks, much longer than the 5 days I will be taking it, but still this is very interesting and makes me feel better about it.
This page (http://www.annieappleseedproject.org/arindom.html) has detailed information on aromatase inhibitors, both natural and synthetic, and how they might effect estrogen, estrogen dominance, and fibroids.
Friday, January 23, 2009
Bollywood Booty workout CD
Looking for some variety in my fitness routine, and perhaps a bit inspired by Slumdog Millionaire, picked up the Bollywood Booty
fitness CD.
As I suspected, there is a lot of moving of the hips in this! Many of the moves are similar to belly dancing, but different enough to keep it interesting. The music is fun too.
As mentioned previously in this blog, many people believe that getting the pelvic blood circulation going is helpful for preventing and shrinking fibroids. Whether it's belly dance, hula dance, hula hooping, or Bollywood dance, it doesn't matter what it is just get those hips moving, girl!
This CD is worth adding to your fibroid-busting fitness collection.
fitness CD.As I suspected, there is a lot of moving of the hips in this! Many of the moves are similar to belly dancing, but different enough to keep it interesting. The music is fun too.
As mentioned previously in this blog, many people believe that getting the pelvic blood circulation going is helpful for preventing and shrinking fibroids. Whether it's belly dance, hula dance, hula hooping, or Bollywood dance, it doesn't matter what it is just get those hips moving, girl!
This CD is worth adding to your fibroid-busting fitness collection.
homeopathy for fibroids
Poking around on the internet, found this interesting page on homeopathic treatment for fibroids.
My acupuncturist gave me another homeopathic remedy yesterday, Sulphur, which is one of the ones used in this case study.
Sulphur is also mentioned on this page about homeopathic treatment of fibroids.
If you want to do homeopathy, important to see a qualified person -- the stuff is too strong to experiment with on your own...
My acupuncturist gave me another homeopathic remedy yesterday, Sulphur, which is one of the ones used in this case study.
Sulphur is also mentioned on this page about homeopathic treatment of fibroids.
If you want to do homeopathy, important to see a qualified person -- the stuff is too strong to experiment with on your own...
Thursday, January 22, 2009
chakra balancing progress report
Got a retest from my acupuncturist today, looking at my energy levels using that special aura-photographing instrument she has.
My energy level had really filled in and balanced out, I think that the regular yoga practice has had a big effect. That big gaping energy hole at my abdomen is now filled in nicely, as well as the other big gap at the top of my head. Big improvement.
My chakra chart looks much better too, rather than all over the place the balls are now closer to lined-up at the center, although still needs work. Particularly lovely is my heart chakra, which is nice and big and now almost perfectly centered. I think this is in part due to the chanting practice I have been doing from the book Spirit Babies: How to Communicate with the Child You're Meant to Have
, which centers on the heart chakra.
My second chakra (the one most related to fibroids and fertility) is still a problem, it's slightly bigger than before but it's even more off center than it had been! (The crown chakra also got more off center). I plan to keep up my yoga practice and also I just ordered The 7 Healing Chakras Workbook: Exercises and Meditations for Unlocking Your Body's Energy Centers
to give me some more ideas...
My energy level had really filled in and balanced out, I think that the regular yoga practice has had a big effect. That big gaping energy hole at my abdomen is now filled in nicely, as well as the other big gap at the top of my head. Big improvement.
My chakra chart looks much better too, rather than all over the place the balls are now closer to lined-up at the center, although still needs work. Particularly lovely is my heart chakra, which is nice and big and now almost perfectly centered. I think this is in part due to the chanting practice I have been doing from the book Spirit Babies: How to Communicate with the Child You're Meant to Have
, which centers on the heart chakra.My second chakra (the one most related to fibroids and fertility) is still a problem, it's slightly bigger than before but it's even more off center than it had been! (The crown chakra also got more off center). I plan to keep up my yoga practice and also I just ordered The 7 Healing Chakras Workbook: Exercises and Meditations for Unlocking Your Body's Energy Centers
to give me some more ideas...
germinated brown rice
I have written before about germinated brown rice, how it's so yummy and also good for you.
I just used up the stock I had last ordered from DHC, and decided to see if I could find a source that has organic germinated brown rice. Although it seems to be available in Singapore and Taiwan, couldn't locate anyone selling it in the U.S.
However, did find another place to get non-organic germinated brown rice that is a bit cheaper than DHC, called Sol Grains. Their site also has a great page with a collection of resources explaining why this is such a beneficial food. (Nothing about fibroids but mentions diabetes and Altzheimers.)
I just used up the stock I had last ordered from DHC, and decided to see if I could find a source that has organic germinated brown rice. Although it seems to be available in Singapore and Taiwan, couldn't locate anyone selling it in the U.S.
However, did find another place to get non-organic germinated brown rice that is a bit cheaper than DHC, called Sol Grains. Their site also has a great page with a collection of resources explaining why this is such a beneficial food. (Nothing about fibroids but mentions diabetes and Altzheimers.)
Wednesday, January 21, 2009
Detox Diva
While looking for something else, happened across this webpage for the Detox Diva in San Francisco. Sounds like she has a great program!
I've done a lot of detoxing already, and have enough appointments with my acupuncture, hypnotherapy, BodyTalk etc. so don't think I will do this, but it sounded so good thought I would show it to everyone.
Detoxing body and mind should be helpful for fibroids!
I've done a lot of detoxing already, and have enough appointments with my acupuncture, hypnotherapy, BodyTalk etc. so don't think I will do this, but it sounded so good thought I would show it to everyone.
Detoxing body and mind should be helpful for fibroids!
Sunday, January 18, 2009
Fibroid Discussion Forum
As another resource in addition to the National Uterine Fibroid Foundation's listserv, a new fibroid discussion forum has been started just recently by someone in Australia: http://fibroids.proboards.com/index.cgi
another study on Chinese herbs and fibroids
This one shows good results for a different formula than the traditional Cinnamon and Poria that I have mentioned elsewhere. The different formula is San Jie Xiao Liu Dang, see the page I linked to in order to see the components.
These comments about this study from the same page are interesting:
Many Chinese and Western practitioners of Chinese medicine routinely attempt to treat any and all uterine myomas with Zhang Zhong-jing’s Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan (Cinnamon Twig & Poria Pills) based on the assumption that all uterine myomas are a species of concretion and conglomeration associated with blood stasis. However, in clinical practice, not all uterine myomas correspond to the traditional Chinese diagnosis of concretions and conglomerations, nor due all patients with uterine myomas present clinical signs and symptoms of blood stasis. While the Chinese authors of this study have stuck with the common contemporary Chinese wisdom that all uterine myomas are associated with some element of blood stasis, they have, nevertheless, recognized that many patients with uterine myomas also present signs and symptoms of spleen vacuity, liver depression, phlegm, and damp heat, and that the main clinical symptom of uterine myomas is often menorrhagia. Therefore, they have composed a formula that fortifies the spleen and supplements the qi, rectifies the qi and transforms phlegm, clears and eliminates dampness and heat, and stops bleeding as well as quickens the blood and scatters nodulation. I believe that it is because this formula treats more of the disease mechanisms and actual patterns presented by patients with uterine myomas that it achieved a better effect than Gui Zhi Fu Lin Wan in the above study.
These comments about this study from the same page are interesting:
Many Chinese and Western practitioners of Chinese medicine routinely attempt to treat any and all uterine myomas with Zhang Zhong-jing’s Gui Zhi Fu Ling Wan (Cinnamon Twig & Poria Pills) based on the assumption that all uterine myomas are a species of concretion and conglomeration associated with blood stasis. However, in clinical practice, not all uterine myomas correspond to the traditional Chinese diagnosis of concretions and conglomerations, nor due all patients with uterine myomas present clinical signs and symptoms of blood stasis. While the Chinese authors of this study have stuck with the common contemporary Chinese wisdom that all uterine myomas are associated with some element of blood stasis, they have, nevertheless, recognized that many patients with uterine myomas also present signs and symptoms of spleen vacuity, liver depression, phlegm, and damp heat, and that the main clinical symptom of uterine myomas is often menorrhagia. Therefore, they have composed a formula that fortifies the spleen and supplements the qi, rectifies the qi and transforms phlegm, clears and eliminates dampness and heat, and stops bleeding as well as quickens the blood and scatters nodulation. I believe that it is because this formula treats more of the disease mechanisms and actual patterns presented by patients with uterine myomas that it achieved a better effect than Gui Zhi Fu Lin Wan in the above study.
Friday, January 16, 2009
warm food does not have to be heavy -- making a hotpot
Chinese medicine advises fibroid sufferers to not eat cold food, as that energetically serves to chill the uterus and hurt circulation in that area. And indeed at this time of year, warming food is in order! However, a lot of warm food is rather heavy, and as much as I like bean stews and soups filled with root vegetables, sometimes I want something lighter.
For this reason, I have started to serve an Asian-style hotpot once every week or two. It's a nice social kind of meal and my husband seems to enjoy it. It's warm and soothing without weighing you down, and it can be made chock full of fibroid-fighting ingredients. Here's my recipe:
Fibroid- Fighting Hotpot
This meal should be prepared at the table. A large fondue pot works well -- I have this one
and it's perfect.
Squeeze one lemon for each person who will be eating. Put the juice of each lemon in a small bowl, add a few dashes of Thai fish sauce and put at each place setting. This will be used for dipping the cooked protein and veggies.
Fill the fondue pot 2/3 full of water. Add the following:
1. 1 lemon half, post-squeezing, cut into small shreds
2. a handful of goji berries
3. a few dried shiitake mushrooms
4. two handfuls of wood ear mushrooms(purported to help shrink fibroids, plus they are crunchy and yummy)
5. 1 piece of kelp
6. 1 slice of ginger
7. A dash of fish sauce
If you are TTC and are post-ovulation, omit the wood ear mushrooms, kelp, and ginger.
Choose a protein, such as calmari or shrimp, or lean turkey, chicken, pork, beef or tofu. Only the calamari or shrimp work strictly on the fibroid-shrinking diet, although sometimes I cheat and with this dish you can limit the meat consumption to a small amount. Pile the amount you will need on a plate and put on the table. Note: at Whole Foods they sell very nice raw calamari tubes in the fish department; be careful not to overcook them.
Choose one or more vegetables from this list:
1. Napa cabbage
2. Baby bok choy
3. Daikon radish
4. carrot
5. spinach
6. watercress
7. green onion or Welsh onion (Negi)
8. green peapods
9. Mizuna
10. Chrysanthemum leaves (Shungiku)
The last two one would need to get at an Asian market. Chop as needed and arrange attractively on a plate.
Sit down in front of the boiling broth and put in a bit of the protein and a bit of the meat. Let them cook, and fish each goodie out as soon as it's done, dip it into the lemon juice fish sauce mixture, and eat. Each person should have an empty bowl in which to rest things just taken out of the broth before dipping, or after dipping.
When all the goodies have been cooked and eaten, throw some rice noodles
in the pot and cook them, then ladle the resulting noodle soup into the bowls, add the rest of the lemon juice fish sauce mixture, and eat.
The above recipe is my own creation. I got inspired when reading about Japanese nabe (hotpots) in The Hip Chick's Guide to Macrobiotics: A Philosophy for Achieving a Radiant Mind and a Fabulous Body
, which is an excellent book.
Why not experiment and make up your own?
For this reason, I have started to serve an Asian-style hotpot once every week or two. It's a nice social kind of meal and my husband seems to enjoy it. It's warm and soothing without weighing you down, and it can be made chock full of fibroid-fighting ingredients. Here's my recipe:
Fibroid- Fighting Hotpot
This meal should be prepared at the table. A large fondue pot works well -- I have this one
and it's perfect.
Squeeze one lemon for each person who will be eating. Put the juice of each lemon in a small bowl, add a few dashes of Thai fish sauce
and put at each place setting. This will be used for dipping the cooked protein and veggies.Fill the fondue pot 2/3 full of water. Add the following:
1. 1 lemon half, post-squeezing, cut into small shreds
2. a handful of goji berries
3. a few dried shiitake mushrooms
4. two handfuls of wood ear mushrooms
(purported to help shrink fibroids, plus they are crunchy and yummy)5. 1 piece of kelp
6. 1 slice of ginger
7. A dash of fish sauce
If you are TTC and are post-ovulation, omit the wood ear mushrooms, kelp, and ginger.
Choose a protein, such as calmari or shrimp, or lean turkey, chicken, pork, beef or tofu. Only the calamari or shrimp work strictly on the fibroid-shrinking diet, although sometimes I cheat and with this dish you can limit the meat consumption to a small amount. Pile the amount you will need on a plate and put on the table. Note: at Whole Foods they sell very nice raw calamari tubes in the fish department; be careful not to overcook them.
Choose one or more vegetables from this list:
1. Napa cabbage
2. Baby bok choy
3. Daikon radish
4. carrot
5. spinach
6. watercress
7. green onion or Welsh onion (Negi)
8. green peapods
9. Mizuna
10. Chrysanthemum leaves (Shungiku)
The last two one would need to get at an Asian market. Chop as needed and arrange attractively on a plate.
Sit down in front of the boiling broth and put in a bit of the protein and a bit of the meat. Let them cook, and fish each goodie out as soon as it's done, dip it into the lemon juice fish sauce mixture, and eat. Each person should have an empty bowl in which to rest things just taken out of the broth before dipping, or after dipping.
When all the goodies have been cooked and eaten, throw some rice noodles
in the pot and cook them, then ladle the resulting noodle soup into the bowls, add the rest of the lemon juice fish sauce mixture, and eat.The above recipe is my own creation. I got inspired when reading about Japanese nabe (hotpots) in The Hip Chick's Guide to Macrobiotics: A Philosophy for Achieving a Radiant Mind and a Fabulous Body
, which is an excellent book.Why not experiment and make up your own?
hypnotherapy
Read a fascinating book last week, The Mind-Body Fertility Connection: The True Pathway to Conception
.
From the publisher's description of the book: "This book dissects the feelings, beliefs and old emotional injuries which often create subconscious obstacles that can disrupt an otherwise healthy functioning reproductive system." This aspect of the book resonated for me as talking about the kinds of issues that I think are behind my fibroids -- which despite my efforts I must not have fully addressed because the fibroids are still there. The book also talked very accurately about some of the stress I have been feeling about the whole fertility process (all the doctor visits and pills, ultrasounds, IUIs, etc.)
The book was written by a hypnotherapist, and basically made it sound like hypnotherapy is a very efficient way to unearth and deal with these kinds of emotional issues. Also mentioned that even though one has dealt with an issue with the conscious mind, the subconscious mind may still have hangups about it.
Reading all this made me think, I have got to try hypnotherapy! As readers of this blog know, I am all for trying anything that I think will be helpful. So I typed in "fertility hypnotherapy" and my location into google and up popped someone who specialized in just this, who had both a nice site and rave reviews on Yelp. (Note: before going to any alternative practitioner or doctor for that matter, be sure to look them up on Yelp!) There's also this list of fertility hypnosis practitioners on the web, but it's not complete -- the person I am working with is not included.
The therapist had a lovely manner and we had a good rapport. But I am not sure how helpful it was, mainly because I didn't really get hypnotized I think. (I have never been hypnotized before but this didn't quite feel like I thought it would). She said that I was at a shallow level of the alpha waves (the next level down from being alert) and that this was typical the first time as the conscious mind is curious about what is happening.
This time she mainly was checking in with my thoughts about my uterus, and we worked on setting up the concept of a Fertility Assistant inside me who would work to help with fertility issues. (She joins the imagery I created a year ago of my Liver, the Janitor of my body who has been working on cleaning up and getting rid of the fibroid mess. I imagined the Fertility Assistant arriving on the scene and thanking the Janitor for getting things into good order, and that now it was her turn. But I think I was pretty much all conscious for this, I certainly remember all of it and also remember thinking "I am awake.")
I want to make sure I have given this a chance, so I am going to go back one more time in 2 weeks, with the goal of working on any blocks that I might have. I'll see how it goes and if I think it is helping or not. At this point the jury is still out.
I am focusing on fertility right now,which includes both getting rid of my fibroids and other stuff, but if one were only working on getting rid of fibroids I am thinking that one of these fertility hypnotherapy people could still potentially be helpful. Might be worth a try if you are adventurous.
At the beginning of my session, she used a technique called EFT, the basics of which are available on the web for free here. This technique involves a combination of tapping and affirmations, and I think it would be helpful for anyone dealing with fibroids. There are some interesting stories on the site about how this technique has been used for post-traumatic stress disorder and other pretty dire problems.
If you are curious about hypnosis for fertility, in addition to the book mentioned at the beginning of this post you might want to check out It's Conceivable: Hypnosis for Fertility
, which my practitioner gave me today.
Poking around, it also seems that do-it-yourself downloads are available too. I doubt these would be as effective as an in-person session, but might be worth experimenting with.
1. Getting Pregnant: Hypnotherapy for Fertility and Conception
2. Natural Fertility Hypnosis Increase Your Chances To Get Pregnant
3. Fertility Hypnosis
I would stay away from this one however. I was so anxious to try the hypnosis that as soon as I read the book I looked on google and found this and bought it. But the sound quality was so poor and the British accent so distracting that I did not find it relaxing, much less hypnotic.
This book excerpt talks specifically about hypnosis for fibroids.
Finally, found this hypnosis CD focusing on fibroids: Fibroid Healing
by Steven Gurgevich.
Last but not least, as a bonus for anyone who has read all of this very long post, I am on day 22 of my cycle, and on days 19 to am of 21 I had what appeared to be implantation bleeding. So please cross your fingers for me, this may be the cycle that works!
.From the publisher's description of the book: "This book dissects the feelings, beliefs and old emotional injuries which often create subconscious obstacles that can disrupt an otherwise healthy functioning reproductive system." This aspect of the book resonated for me as talking about the kinds of issues that I think are behind my fibroids -- which despite my efforts I must not have fully addressed because the fibroids are still there. The book also talked very accurately about some of the stress I have been feeling about the whole fertility process (all the doctor visits and pills, ultrasounds, IUIs, etc.)
The book was written by a hypnotherapist, and basically made it sound like hypnotherapy is a very efficient way to unearth and deal with these kinds of emotional issues. Also mentioned that even though one has dealt with an issue with the conscious mind, the subconscious mind may still have hangups about it.
Reading all this made me think, I have got to try hypnotherapy! As readers of this blog know, I am all for trying anything that I think will be helpful. So I typed in "fertility hypnotherapy" and my location into google and up popped someone who specialized in just this, who had both a nice site and rave reviews on Yelp. (Note: before going to any alternative practitioner or doctor for that matter, be sure to look them up on Yelp!) There's also this list of fertility hypnosis practitioners on the web, but it's not complete -- the person I am working with is not included.
The therapist had a lovely manner and we had a good rapport. But I am not sure how helpful it was, mainly because I didn't really get hypnotized I think. (I have never been hypnotized before but this didn't quite feel like I thought it would). She said that I was at a shallow level of the alpha waves (the next level down from being alert) and that this was typical the first time as the conscious mind is curious about what is happening.
This time she mainly was checking in with my thoughts about my uterus, and we worked on setting up the concept of a Fertility Assistant inside me who would work to help with fertility issues. (She joins the imagery I created a year ago of my Liver, the Janitor of my body who has been working on cleaning up and getting rid of the fibroid mess. I imagined the Fertility Assistant arriving on the scene and thanking the Janitor for getting things into good order, and that now it was her turn. But I think I was pretty much all conscious for this, I certainly remember all of it and also remember thinking "I am awake.")
I want to make sure I have given this a chance, so I am going to go back one more time in 2 weeks, with the goal of working on any blocks that I might have. I'll see how it goes and if I think it is helping or not. At this point the jury is still out.
I am focusing on fertility right now,which includes both getting rid of my fibroids and other stuff, but if one were only working on getting rid of fibroids I am thinking that one of these fertility hypnotherapy people could still potentially be helpful. Might be worth a try if you are adventurous.
At the beginning of my session, she used a technique called EFT, the basics of which are available on the web for free here. This technique involves a combination of tapping and affirmations, and I think it would be helpful for anyone dealing with fibroids. There are some interesting stories on the site about how this technique has been used for post-traumatic stress disorder and other pretty dire problems.
If you are curious about hypnosis for fertility, in addition to the book mentioned at the beginning of this post you might want to check out It's Conceivable: Hypnosis for Fertility
, which my practitioner gave me today.Poking around, it also seems that do-it-yourself downloads are available too. I doubt these would be as effective as an in-person session, but might be worth experimenting with.
1. Getting Pregnant: Hypnotherapy for Fertility and Conception
2. Natural Fertility Hypnosis Increase Your Chances To Get Pregnant
3. Fertility Hypnosis
I would stay away from this one however. I was so anxious to try the hypnosis that as soon as I read the book I looked on google and found this and bought it. But the sound quality was so poor and the British accent so distracting that I did not find it relaxing, much less hypnotic.
This book excerpt talks specifically about hypnosis for fibroids.
Finally, found this hypnosis CD focusing on fibroids: Fibroid Healing
by Steven Gurgevich.Last but not least, as a bonus for anyone who has read all of this very long post, I am on day 22 of my cycle, and on days 19 to am of 21 I had what appeared to be implantation bleeding. So please cross your fingers for me, this may be the cycle that works!
mercury in fish
Today on our local NPR station heard this story about the dangers of mercury in fish. Very helpful if you would like to educate yourself on this topic.
Two quibbles with the story however:
1. They did not mention http://www.seafoodwatch.org/, which is a handy way to find out which fish are safe and which are not.
2. Chelation was mentioned as the alternative health practitioner's way to get mercury out of the body, and was called dangerous because it takes it out through the kidneys. However, there are other alternative health ways to get rid of mercury. Because of a family history of kidney disease I did not want to do chelation, so in my case I did a combination of homeopathics, supplements including molybdenum and chlorophyll, steam baths and saunas, detox baths
, seaweed baths
, and detox foot baths, and detox foot patches. Took me a year but it worked!
One of the people interviewed was Jane Hightower, author of Diagnosis: Mercury: Money, Politics, and Poison
. This looks like a fascinating book if you are interested in learning more about this subject.
Two quibbles with the story however:
1. They did not mention http://www.seafoodwatch.org/, which is a handy way to find out which fish are safe and which are not.
2. Chelation was mentioned as the alternative health practitioner's way to get mercury out of the body, and was called dangerous because it takes it out through the kidneys. However, there are other alternative health ways to get rid of mercury. Because of a family history of kidney disease I did not want to do chelation, so in my case I did a combination of homeopathics, supplements including molybdenum and chlorophyll
, steam baths and saunas, detox baths, seaweed baths, and detox foot baths, and detox foot patches. Took me a year but it worked!One of the people interviewed was Jane Hightower, author of Diagnosis: Mercury: Money, Politics, and Poison
. This looks like a fascinating book if you are interested in learning more about this subject.Thursday, January 15, 2009
Dio Deka -- in case you are ever in Los Gatos
Had a lovely meal last night at upscale Greek Taverna Dio Deka in Los Altos CA. Although there were lots of temptations, a fibroid friendly meal was quite possible. Loved the grilled octopus appetizer, they also had grilled calamari that I did not sample but that would have been a good fibroid-friendly choice too. For main dish got the Branzino (a small white-fleshed fish). The menu also included hormone-free lamb chops and organic chicken. And the horta (typical Greek sauteed greens dish) was the best I have ever had, it was made with broccolini.
If you are careful, eating out is indeed possible and enjoyable even with the restrictions of the fibroid-shrinking diet.
If you are careful, eating out is indeed possible and enjoyable even with the restrictions of the fibroid-shrinking diet.
Saturday, January 10, 2009
Self Care and Qi Gong for Women class
I'm too late for this class but I am thinking to go in for an abdominal massage with the instructor. Sounds like it would be helpful for fibroids!
new herbal remedy
New herbal remedy, and I'm quite excited about this one.
First ingredient is Yu Lin Zhu, which I have had previously, it's known as "fertility pearls."
Second is Zhi Mu. This page talks about it as a way to treat fibroids that are due to "yin deficiency and empty fire blazing" which is something we haven't tried to address before.
The third is Xiang Fu. This is to work more on my liver. This page also mentions that it's a de-stressor, sounds good to me!
While looking these up, I found info on these two formulas, Bluperum Entangled Qi Formula and Unlocking, which both purport to shrink fibroids. Also ran across this page which mentions another Chinese herbal formula for fibroids. Seems like Chinese medicine really has a lot in its toolkit!
First ingredient is Yu Lin Zhu, which I have had previously, it's known as "fertility pearls."
Second is Zhi Mu. This page talks about it as a way to treat fibroids that are due to "yin deficiency and empty fire blazing" which is something we haven't tried to address before.
The third is Xiang Fu. This is to work more on my liver. This page also mentions that it's a de-stressor, sounds good to me!
While looking these up, I found info on these two formulas, Bluperum Entangled Qi Formula and Unlocking, which both purport to shrink fibroids. Also ran across this page which mentions another Chinese herbal formula for fibroids. Seems like Chinese medicine really has a lot in its toolkit!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)