Fibroids fall under the category of abdominal masses or "Zheng Jia" and are often accompanied by pain, distention, vaginal discharge or bleeding. Fibroids develop due to stagnation of qi (energy), blood and phlegm-dampness in the lower abdomen. This occurs over time due to a vacuity of qi, a disharmony of qi and blood or an invasion of wind-cold during menstruation or following childbirth. Repressing emotions such as anger and frustration, poor diet and lifestyle are also contributing factors. The treatment protocol would be to move qi, invigorate blood and transform phlegm-dampness.
Functions and Properties of Herbs
Herbs indicated to regulate (or move) qi are aromatic, acrid, bitter and sometimes warm in nature. They promote movement, disperse stagnation and stop pain.
In the case of stagnation of qi, the treatment would be to quicken the blood and move qi. Herbs such as mu xiang, zhi ke, qing pi and chuan lian zi from the regulate qi category would be utilized for their ability to break up stagnation and clumping, promote the flow of qi, and stop pain. Sang len and e zhu would be used to invigorate both qi and blood and break up accumulations.
Herbs that invigorate blood are acrid, bitter and warm and are particularly useful for pain, resolving masses and stasis of blood. Because of the interdependent relationship between qi and blood, when you invigorate blood it's useful to simultaneously promote the movement of qi for best results in resolving disease.
Tao ren is one of the primary herbs used to and dispel stasis and is often used in conjunction with yan hu suo, dang gui and chi shao for blood stasis induced menstrual disorders. Gui zhi more gently assists in removing stagnation by warming the blood vessels and regulating menses, especially in cases where there is cold in the lower jiao.
The last area to be addressed is phlegm-dampness. Herbs used here are acrid, warm, aromatic and dry. Cang zhu and ban xia are used to dry dampness and mobilize phlegm. Cang zhu and xiang fu used together alleviate pain due to qi stagnation. These herbs can be added to a common formula (er chen tang), which harmonizes the middle jiao and whose main function is to transform phlegm-dampness obstructing qi. The consideration here is when the spleen/stomach are functioning properly, phlegm-dampness will not have the opportunity to occur elsewhere in the body.
Herbs in raw form can be cooked with water over heat, saving the remaining liquid and taken twice a day; purchased as granules, dissolved in warm water and consumed as a tea, or taken in pill form. The pill form is considered less desirable as the effects are generally milder and slow acting.
Cautions and Recommendations
Caution should be exercised if pregnant, experiencing a dry cough, prolonged or excessive menstrual bleeding, qi or yin deficiency. Prolonged bleeding, pain and dark foul-smelling discharge are often signs of malignant growths.
Consulting a licensed practitioner of Chinese medicine is always recommended before using any medicinal herb.
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