Just as there are environmental issues that may cause fibroids to find a comfy home in your uterus, there are also some “good” things out there that may have a positive effect on ridding these offending-buggers! EGCG, for one!!

The American Journal of Obstetrics and Gynecology recently published an article (authored by Dr. Al-Hendy and Dr. Zhang) which stated that an extract of green tea (EGCG) has the ability to kill human leiomyoma (fibroid) cells in tissue cultures and can eradicate fibroids in animal models. WOW… Impressive!!!

Working under the auspices of Meharry Medical College in Nashville, Tennessee, Dr. Zhang, Dr. Al-Hendy and a team of investigators injected 20 mice with fibroid cells. Ten of the mice were given epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) that was mixed into their water. Ten of the mice were given plain water. The mice were tracked for eight weeks after the treatment. ALL  ten of the mice that were given EGCG, had fibroids that grew smaller and weighed much less.  In this same study, one of the mice had a fibroid tumor that disappeared altogether! WOW!!

Also, in the test tube studies using mice fibroid cells, the cells treated with EGCG not only grew slower after 48-72 hours, but EGCG also prompted the complete death of the fibroid cells. WOW!! Here’s what these researchers said: “It is highly encouraging that, in our work, a relatively modest dose of EGCG that was delivered in drinking water was successful in inducing a dramatic and sustained reduction in fibroid tumor size up to eight weeks after treatment. EGCG, might be particularly useful for long-term use in women with low fibroid tumor burden to arrest progression and avoid the development of severe symptoms (that necessitate major surgery.”)  WOW!!

What is this EGCG, anyway??
EGCG is a polyphenol in GREEN TEA and is a compond in fruits and vegetables. It is not found in black tea or oolong tea, as these teas are fermented. The fermenting process kills and alters the EGCG, so that it is no longer part of  these dark teas at all. Only GREEN TEA contains EGCG. It works by blocking the estrogen receptors, which have been found to induce fibroid cell growth. Simple as that!

I am happily amazed that there is funding money that is allocated for more (human) studies involving the efficacy of EGCG in preventing/fighting fibroid cell growth.  Because EGCG can not be patented and, because there is no real money to be made from ”it,”  it certainly does my heart good to see “natural medicines” being studied in this manner. YES!!

Note: Researchers are recruiting participants for human trials (using EGCG) NOW!!
Note: The research will be conducted under the umbrella of the Meharry Clinical and Translational Research Center (MeTRC), which was awarded a $21.4 million grant to help accelerate the process of turning laboratory discoveries into actual CURES and TREATMENTS for human use!! YES!!

I, for one, am looking forward to a positive outcome with the use of EGCG to help fight estrogen-induced fibroid tumors. Something so pure and uncomplicated as drinking green tea everyday, as a means of preventing these horrible miscreants (FIBROIDS, forsooth!) from ever taking their hold in our uterus from the start, has me wishin’-'n-hopin’ that EGCG will “work!” In the mean time, that clear liquid that I usually down by the gallon (water,) will now have a lovely tinge of green!! Cheers!!