Fibroids are noncancerous tumors, often found in the uterus. While the fibroids themselves are benign, in some cases they may jeopardize or prevent pregnancy, cause cramping or make sex painful. Western science hasn't conclusively determined whether acupuncture reduces fibroids. However, according to Traditional Chinese Medicine, or TCM, acupuncture can resolve the blockage of energy that manifests in the tumor. Many individuals use the modality for related pain relief, if not for treating the fibroid, directly. Consult with your primary medical provider before seeking a new treatment.
Fibroids and Western Medicine
Typical fibroid symptoms include a sense of fullness in the abdomen, bleeding and cramping between periods, constipation, increased urination, heavy or irregular menstruation or pain during intercourse. If you have a uterine fibroid without any serious side effects, one possible response is to simply watch its development, regularly monitoring for changes in size or the first signs of cancerous growth. Western medicine cannot identify the cause of fibroid formation, though their growth appears linked to production of estrogen, according to MedlinePlus. Up to 20 percent of women of child-bearing age have fibroids at some point.
Fibroids and TCM
Acupuncture, applied in concert with TCM herbal remedies, can reduce the incidence or size of fibroids, according to Randine Lewis, a licensed acupuncturist and author of "The Infertility Cure, the Ancient Chinese Wellness Program for Getting Pregnant and Having Healthy Babies." According to TCM, potential causes include yin deficiency, spleen qi vacuity, qi stagnation, and various types of disharmony and imbalance in vital energy and organ function. While treatment will vary case by case, an acupuncturist may use those points connected with blood stasis and the uterus.
Scientific Trials
The effectiveness of acupuncture on fibroids has not received very much support through scientific investigation. Rather, The National Institutes of Health recommends acupuncture as a complementary treatment, in addition to western approaches, or as a means of pain relief. A 1995 study carried out at Bethune International Peace Hospital acupuncture found that acupuncture reduced malignant mammary tumors in mice. The National Cancer Institute reports that at least seven studies have used animals to study acupuncture's effects on cancerous conditions, four of which indicated some benefit from acupuncture as a direct or indirect form of anti-cancer therapy.
Pain Relief
If you wish to pursue western medical treatment or a "wait and see" approach to your fibroid, acupuncture may still serve as a complementary therapy, to reduce discomfort. The University of Maryland Medical Center recommends the modality for pain relief, especially when used in tandem with moxibustion, another technique using TCM priniciples, or herbalism.
References
- MedlinePlus; Uterine Fibroids; January 2011
- AcuFinder.com; Treatment of Endometriosis and Fibroids With Acupuncture; Randine Lewis
- "Zhongguo Zhong Xi Yi Jie He Za Zhi"; Effect of Acupuncture on Immunologic Function and Histopathology of Transplanted Mammary Cancer in Mice; L.J. Liu, et al.; October 1995
- National Cancer Institute; Acupuncture: Laboratory/Animal/Preclinical Studies; August 2011
- University of Maryland Medical Center; Menstrual Pain; December 2009
