★★★★☆
I'm 48 years old, premenopausal and generally healthy. 6 weeks ago I went to planned parenthood (how I love planned parenthood! ) with a prolonged and unusual period of about 10 days duration, and they did an abdominal and vaginal ultrasound. They found a left sided simple cyst on my ovary and a right sided "complex" cyst of about the same size.
I immediately scoured the internet including this site for home remedies. Here's what I did:
*made a small pretty sign that reads "My body is perfectly healthy" and hung it on my wall to see each day. I encouraged myself to believe it, without being pushy. Practiced this affirmation in spoken form too.
*practiced metta or loving-kindness to myself and others. I sent out intentions for health/happiness/peace/ and safety for all sentient beings multiple times per day. practiced active stress reduction, tried to be quick to let go of anger or other stress inducing emotions. watched only happy movies and tried to minimize my addiction to the news (that was not terribly successful)
* opened my heart and body to receiving all prayer and good intentions from the universe and a few people who volunteered to keep me in their prayers (Of note, I am buddhist and I do metta practice but am not religious. My family is religious and I'm open to it all so long as it has wellbeing as its intention.)
*did guided imagery for healthy pelvis and shrinking ovaries. did this and the above whenever it occurred to me to do.
*received one reiki session from my friend who is a reiki master
*received acupuncture every other week
* abdominal massage at night with sesame oil infused with a few drops of frankincense, clary sage, lavender and rose
*basically launched a liver cleanse for two weeks: twice daily aloe vera juice (2 ounces); daily or at least multiple times weekly teas (dandelion -yum! ; milk thistle); lots of water throughout the day (tall 1/2 liter container infused with 1-2 oz apple cider vinegar/1 oz unsulfured blackstrap molasses/ and warming spices of cinnamon, turmeric, cayenne pepper, ginger)
*changed my diet to counter what I'm guessing is excess estrogen in my system (I was already gluten-free and factory-farm animal products-free): added soy-free, processed food-free, and went near-vegan. went up on greens, apples, rice, yams, garlic, onions, nuts, seeds flax, occasional fish. made a lot of fruit/veg smoothies and had a red juice from the health food store once or twice a week: beets, carrot, ginger, apple.
* avoided: daily, alcohol, caffeine and processed sweeteners. I also avoided xenoestrogens by avoiding plastic containers and makeup/hair products.
* I've been taking evening primrose oil 500mg three times per day, vitex (chaste berry) capsules three times per day, and a multivitamin for women over 40.
*after two weeks on a very limited diet as described (including over thanksgiving - my family was gratefully supportive, but it was tough! ), I added back farm-raised meats and eggs in limited amounts. I also added back occasional glass of wine and a 1/2 cup of morning joe if I needed it.
I followed up with a gynecologist about 2 and 1/2 weeks later who did an pelvic exam and checked my thyroid, both of which were largely unremarkable. He suggested that we followup in a month with a repeat ultrasound to see if they were shrinking on their own. That sounded great to me since I was eager to see if my comprehensive self-care program was working at all.
I have to say, that even though this may seem over the top and way too radical for many, I am enjoying these changes very much. I work from home and have no children so I have the leisure of being able to apply a fair amount of time and energy toward these practices, but honestly I think anyone could do these things fairly easily.
Today I had a follow-up ultrasound (6 weeks since the first one). The tech shared with me that my right "complex" cyst is now down to a small (1.5cm) simple cyst. So that one is going in the right direction and my fears about something more serious are abating. My left sided cyst is about the same size and remains "simple" in appearance.
I am taking this as nice progress! I haven't spoke to my doctor yet but hope to be in a watch and wait mode. I plan to keep up my new diet and regimen. I may add in castor oil packs, and will continue with reiki and acupuncture and metta.
I also may investigate iodine deficiency as I use sea salt on my food which is non iodized and I don't know if I am deficient or not.
I realize that it could be that my right one was hemorraghic and the cysts ruptured (I haven't had any pain though) and that's why that one is better; it could be that none of these practices have and any bearing on the resolving right cyst. I realize that. But I choose to believe that the little things we do matter a great deal to our bodies and that we have more power regarding our wellbeing than we are led to believe.
Thanks for your support on this forum and best wishes for health and happiness to you all!! Please send any comments or ideas my way if you care too. Happy New Year! May it feel very new. Hang in there!
