Uterine fibroids belong to the category of “obstruction in the abdomen” in Chinese medicine, which can be characterized by Qi stagnation and blood stasis, Qi deficiency and blood stasis, kidney deficiency and blood stasis, damp-heat stasis and phlegm-dampness stasis, etc. Bird’s nests should be used with caution in the case of damp-heat stasis and phlegm-dampness stasis.
Bird’s nest has the effect of nourishing yin and moistening dryness, benefiting qi and tonifying the middle, resolving phlegm and relieving cough, and is mainly used in the treatment of prolonged illness, phlegm and asthma, hemoptysis, vomiting of blood, regurgitation of stomach, spermatorrhea, frequent urination, etc. Note: Caution should be exercised for those who are damp-phlegm stagnant and with epiphenomenal evils (evils in the surface of the muscle).
Therefore, patients with uterine fibroids need to be cautious in taking bird’s nest if they are suffering from damp-heat stasis or phlegm-dampness stasis. Damp-heat stasis syndrome can be seen as accumulation of lumps in the lower abdomen, profuse yellowish discharge, pain in the abdomen during menstruation, heat, thirst, restlessness, constipation, yellowish-red urine, dark red tongue with petechiae or ecchymosis, yellowish-greasy moss and other symptoms.
Phlegm-dampness stagnation syndrome can be seen in the lower abdominal mass which is not firm when pressed, distended or full abdomen, obesity, chest and epigastric constriction, drowsiness of limbs, excessive amount of diarrhea, whitish and thick, dark tongue, petechiae or ecchymosis on the side, and whitish and greasy moss and other symptoms.
Uterine fibroid patients without phlegm-dampness in the body can take bird’s nest in moderation, but the drug should be viewed with common sense. In addition, the efficacy of single medicine is limited and cannot replace the therapeutic effect of proprietary Chinese medicines or tonics. If there is any discomfort and medication is needed, please go to the hospital and use the medication under the guidance of a doctor.