Hello from Dalimchae Oriental Clinic.

Must you have surgery for uterine fibroids? Possibility of non-surgical treatment with herbal medicine

"I was told I have uterine fibroids. I thought it was fine because I had no symptoms, but they are growing and surgery is recommended. Do I really need surgery? Can herbal medicine cure it?" Many patients visit Dalimchae Oriental Clinic with concerns about surgery after a uterine fibroids diagnosis. Uterine fibroids are common, found in about 1 in 3 women of childbearing age, but are often neglected because they are frequently asymptomatic. However, leaving them untreated can cause them to grow larger, making surgery harder to avoid, or lead to severe menstrual pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, abnormal uterine bleeding, anemia, and even infertility.

💡 [Core Answer] Top 3 most common causes of uterine fibroids: ① Uterine blood circulation disorder (Stagnant blood): Waste products accumulate in the uterus and hinder circulation. ② Female hormone imbalance: Hypersensitivity of the uterine smooth muscle to estrogen promotes fibroid growth. ③ Stress and autonomic nervous system imbalance: Diminishes the body's regulatory capacity and affects fibroid growth. Dalimchae Oriental Clinic focuses on constitutional improvement treatment to help the uterus restore its own health and build a body where fibroids do not recur.

Uterine fibroids are benign tumors occurring in the uterine smooth muscle. While the exact cause has not been clearly elucidated, they are known to be largely influenced by the female hormone estrogen. In other words, female hormone imbalance can be an important factor in fibroid growth. In addition, Oriental medicine views 'stagnant blood' that impedes uterine blood circulation, as well as systemic immunity and autonomic nervous system imbalances caused by stress, as affecting the occurrence and growth of uterine fibroids. Uterine fibroids tend to shrink in size or stop growing after menopause. This demonstrates that uterine fibroids are a disease sensitive to hormones. However, you should not be reassured and neglect them just because there are no symptoms. They should be understood as a 'warning light' that an unfavorable environment is invisibly forming in the uterus, and should be actively managed.

Research results consistently showing that herbal medicine treatment for uterine fibroids is effective in improving symptoms and controlling fibroid size have been published. In particular, it is attracting attention as a non-surgical alternative for women who feel burdened by surgical treatment or suffer from infertility.

A study published in the January 2022 international academic journal 'Journal of Ethnopharmacology' showed that a herbal prescription called Guizhi Fuling Wan significantly improved uterine fibroids-related symptoms and was effective in reducing fibroid volume. In this randomized double-blind study, patients with symptomatic uterine fibroids took Guizhi Fuling Wan for 16 weeks, resulting in improved symptom severity and significantly reduced fibroid volume in both the low-dose and regular-dose groups (p<0.024). The researchers concluded that Guizhi Fuling Wan can be safely applied to women with uterine fibroids and helps alleviate symptoms and control fibroid size.

In addition, a systematic review and meta-analysis study published in 'Annals of Palliative Medicine' in August 2021 evaluated the effect of herbal prescriptions containing Ejiao or Velvet antler on uterine fibroid management. Analyzing a total of 9 randomized controlled trials (involving 844 participants), the group combining herbal medicine (containing Ejiao or Velvet antler) with mifepristone reduced uterine fibroid volume more effectively than the mifepristone-alone group (Standardized Mean Difference (SMD): 0.59, p<0.00001). Furthermore, the herbal medicine intake group showed significant advantages over the control group in improving fibroid-related symptoms (Relative Risk (RR): 1.24, p<0.00001). This study suggested that herbal medicine prescriptions are effective in reducing fibroid size and improving symptoms, and can also lower the incidence of side effects.

Based on these data, Dalimchae Oriental Clinic contributes to restoring patients' uterine health and improving their quality of life through constitutional improvement treatment that resolves the root causes of uterine fibroids and prevents recurrence.

For uterine fibroids, it is important not only to temporarily suppress symptoms, but also to achieve fundamental constitutional improvement so that the uterus regains its health by itself and fibroids do not redevelop. Dalimchae Oriental Clinic Songdo Branch treats uterine fibroids from this perspective.

Our body is like a car that continues to run ignoring warning lights and eventually breaks down. Uterine fibroids are also warning signals sent by the uterus, and simply removing the fibroids does not solve the problem. Dalimchae Oriental Clinic aims not to turn off the symptoms, but to build a body where they do not turn on again. To this end, we remove stagnant blood obstructing uterine circulation, regulate the unbalanced female hormone environment, and promote the stability of systemic immunity and the autonomic nervous system to create an optimal environment for the uterus to recover on its own. Through this constitutional improvement, we can suppress the growth of uterine fibroids and simultaneously improve various accompanying symptoms such as menstrual pain, heavy menstrual bleeding, and abnormal uterine bleeding.

Jiyoung (pseudonym), in her late 30s, was recently diagnosed with a 5cm uterine fibroid during a health checkup. Although she felt uncomfortable due to usually severe menstrual pain and heavy bleeding, she thought it was normal as people age and brushed it aside. However, actually hearing the words 'uterine fibroid' along with a recommendation for surgery caused great anxiety. Jiyoung still planned to have children, so she found hysterectomy and even myomectomy burdensome, and had deep concerns about possible recurrence.

While looking for non-surgical treatments instead of surgery, she visited Dalimchae Oriental Clinic, a Songdo uterine fibroids clinic. After a detailed consultation to understand Jiyoung's bodily condition and the causes of her uterine fibroids, herbal medicine treatment and acupuncture/moxibustion treatment for constitutional improvement were initiated. Initially half-believing, Jiyoung noticed her body gradually changing as she received consistent treatment. Her extreme menstrual pain decreased noticeably, and her menstrual volume returned to normal. Above all, the heavy discomfort in her lower abdomen disappeared, and she experienced an overall improvement in condition. When checked again after 6 months, the size of the fibroid had noticeably decreased, and there were no signs of new fibroid development. Jiyoung smiled brightly, saying, "I gained hope that uterine fibroids can be treated without surgery, and it feels like my whole body is becoming healthy, so I'm really satisfied."

If you check 3 or more of the following items, suspect uterine fibroids and consult with the medical staff at Dalimchae Oriental Clinic Songdo Branch.

• Menstrual amount has suddenly increased or the menstrual period has prolonged.
• Menstrual pain is getting progressively worse and painkillers are frequently taken.
• Abnormal bleeding occurs even outside of the menstrual period.
• Anemia symptoms (dizziness, easy fatigue) frequently appear.
• A lump-like sensation or pressure is felt in the lower abdomen.
• Frequent urination or discomfort in bowel movements.
• Persistent pain in the lower back or pelvis.
• Difficulty getting pregnant or history of miscarriage.

If 3 or more apply → Suspect uterine fibroids, consider oriental combination treatment. If 5 or more apply → Immediate hospital visit and precise diagnosis recommended.

Q. Can uterine fibroids heal naturally? A. Uterine fibroids are benign tumors, and as female hormones decrease after menopause, their size often shrinks or growth stops. However, it is rare for fibroids to disappear completely, and natural healing is difficult to expect if symptoms are severe or the size is large.

Q. How long does herbal medicine treatment for uterine fibroids take? A. Treatment duration varies depending on the size, location, symptom severity of the fibroid, and the patient's constitution. Generally, consistent treatment for 3 to 6 months or more is required, and it is important to check treatment progress through regular checkups.

Q. Can menstrual pain caused by uterine fibroids be treated with oriental medicine? A. Yes, menstrual pain caused by uterine fibroids can be effectively improved with oriental medicine treatment. Herbal medicine treatment removes stagnant blood in the uterus and promotes blood circulation to solve the root cause of pain and make the uterine environment healthy.

Q. Can uterine fibroids and infertility be treated together? A. Yes, since uterine fibroids are often the cause of infertility, treating them together is important. Oriental medicine treatment improves the uterine environment and activates ovarian function, helping to simultaneously manage uterine fibroids and infertility and increase the possibility of pregnancy.

Uterine fibroids are not a problem that can be resolved by enduring. You no longer need to ignore the signals your body has been sending for a long time. If you approach in the right direction, your body reacts faster than you think. Bring the symptoms you are experiencing right now as they are. Dalimchae Oriental Clinic will find the causes together.

The place where life blossoms. Herbal medicine is Dalimchae Oriental Clinic. Check symptoms similar to yours first through the Dalimchae Oriental Clinic homepage AI consultation!

This article is health information compiled together by Dalimchae medical staff based on frequently received questions in the consulting room. Medical Supervision | Women & Pregnancy Treatment Standards, Dalimchae Oriental Clinic Songdo Branch, Oriental Medical Doctor Oh Hyunmin (Uterine Fibroids Column)