Clinical
Manifestations
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- Benign growths of smooth muscle tissue in the uterine wall
- The fibroids frequently go unnoticed until they grow rapidly during a perimenopausal phase around age 41-45
- Most often, fibroids decline substantially with menopause
- Small uterine myomas are usually asymptomatic, but larger masses can cause excessive menstrual bleeding, and very large fibroids can contribute to miscarriage, abdominal pain, profuse bleeding (with resultant anemia) and other symptoms for which surgical removal of the fibroids is recommended
- Uterine myomas up to the size of a goose egg (about 6.5 cm) can be successfully treated with herbs to reduce the size to a comfortable level and, in many cases, to eliminate them
- Zheng: solid masses (concretions) with defined physical form and fixed location, accompanied by pain in a specific location. These patterns usually involve the blood
- Jia: masses without a distinct physical form (conglomerations), manifesting and dispersing without apparent pattern. Accompanying pain is not fixed in location. In these cases, pathological changes have taken place in the bowel organs. Hence, these patterns involve Qi.
- The most marked symptoms of abdominal masses are abdominal distention and pain
- Ju (Qi Masses):
Origin: Qi Stagnation, such as emotion-caused Liver Qi disorder or retention of food and phlegm due to overeating and a weak Spleen. External factors, such as Wind-Cold, can contribute.
Nature: Develops and enlarges with stress; may retreat with calmness. Pain, or mild aching, does not have a fixed site. Involves disorder of the Fu organs (e.g., gallbladder, stomach)
Manifestations:
Bloating and distention after eating
Swelling of the Liver and Spleen
Intestinal obstruction with constipation
Early stage fibroids (small uterine swellings)
- Ji (Blood Stasis Masses):
Origin: Develops from prolonged Ju, as Blood Stasis occurs secondary to Qi Stagnation. Exposure to Heat-toxins (e.g., viruses, poisonous substances) that are retained for a long time may contribute to transformation of Ju to Ji.
Nature: Develops over a long period, progressing from soft to hard mass, with fixed site of pain. Involves disorder of the Zang organs (e.g., Liver, Spleen), and with the pathologic influence gradually weakening the Normal Qi.
Manifestations:
Ovarian cysts
Uterine fibroids
Tumors of the cervix, uterus, bladder, colon, etc;
Advanced Liver cirrhosis and fibrosis
Endometriosis
Surgical adhesions
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