Reader Questions
May 1, 1999
Reader Questions
Are there any effective alternative treatments for fibroids?
Response: None that have been documented in the medical literature. There are many unproven treatments popular for fibroids, including individualized traditional Chinese herbal mixtures, chiropractic, natural progesterone cream (see Alternative Therapies in Women’s Health, April 1999, pp. 33-36), and castor oil packs (warm castor oil on flannel applied to plastic-wrap protected abdomen).
In my clinical experience, women with symptomatic fibroids sometimes obtained temporary relief of symptoms with individualized Chinese herbal mixtures or chiropractic. Relief was often only temporary and was not accompanied by a reduction in the size of the fibroids. I have had several patients with symptomatic fibroids who tried every conceivable alternative treatment unsuccessfully for years. Surgery proved very successful as an "alternative" to alternative therapy.
Adriane Fugh-Berman, MD
Editor’s Note
The editor would like to thank the following people for their valuable input in preparing articles that appeared in the first six issues of Alternative Therapies in Women’s Health: Adrianne Bendich, PhD, John Herr, PhD, Gary Klinefelter, PhD, Ace Lipson, MD, James A. Olson, PhD, and Donald Waller, PhD.
Note to Readers
We invite you to submit product labels for review or questions about articles in or issues relevant to Alternative Therapies in Women's Health. Please send your questions or product labels (and any available promotional material) to: Alternative Therapies in Women's Health, c/o American Health Consultants, P.O. Box 740056, Atlanta, GA 30374. Or you may contact the staff via e-mail at [email protected] or [email protected]
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