Lipotropic factors
Lipotropic factors
such as choline and inositol
assist the liver. They help
mobilize fat in the liver as well
as assist the liver in detoxifying
the blood. The liver is
responsible for the breakdown of
hormones, like estrogen, in the
body. Because estrogen is
implicated as a possible cause
of fibroids, assisting its
breakdown by the liver may be
beneficial. [5]
Vitamin C
Vitamin C is useful
for the treatment of
menorrhagia, which often accompanies uterine fibroids.
Vitamin C has been shown to prevent
excessive bleeding by providing
stability to the capillaries and
arteries in the uterine endometrium. [6]
Bioflavonoids
Like Vitamin C,
bioflavonoids can be useful for
treating the main symptom of
fibroids, menorrhagia. They have
been found to improve capillary
stability and prevent excessive
bleeding. Bioflavonoids are also
believed to reduce the effect of
estrogen on fibroids by binding to
the same receptos on the cell
membrane of uterine smooth muscle
cells. [7]
Vitamin A
Vitamin A is
another nutrient useful
for excessive bleeding, commonly associated
with fibroids. In one
particular study, it was found
that vitamin A was deficient
in women with fibroids. Vitamin A
supplementation also resulted in
decreased bleeding in women with
fibroids, with the majority of
women having complete resolution
of their menorrhagia. [8]
Iron
The excessive
bleeding associated with fibroids
can lead to a deficiency of iron. Low iron can cause iron deficiency
anemia. The stores of iron can
also become depleted in the body.
Women with fibroids who have
anemia need to be treated with
oral iron supplementation. [9]
Botanical Medicine
Botanical medicine
may be useful for treating the
symptoms of fibroids. The most easily treated symptom, again, is excessive bleeding. Herbs
such as Capsella bursa-pastoris or
Shepard's Purse, and Achillea
millefolium or Yarrow, are well
known anti-hemorrhagic herbs that
can help decrease the bleeding. Vitex agnus-castus or Chaste Tree
Berry is also a useful herb. It
has been shown to increase
progesterone production and to possibly decrease the effect
of estrogen upon the growth of the
fibroid. [10]
These herbs can be taken
separately or together, in
synergistic combinations.
