hopefulandhungry

As we await our appointment with our RE to see if we can start our IVF process in the next few months, I figure I might as well try some natural remedies to help alleviate inflammation and hopefully prevent my endometriomas from growing larger.  Unfortunately, I won’t know how effective these home remedies are until I have another ultrasound so that they can be measured again.  My MIL is very into natural health and recently gave me a bag with squares of cotton fabric and a bottle of Castor Oil.  The only thing that comes to mind when I think of Castor Oil is the movie Stand By Me (if you’ve seen it, I do not need to elaborate-thus ruining any thoughts of a delicious dinner).

I followed this website Castor Oil Therapy for Infertility, but I’m not doing the actual packs.  Instead, I’m rubbing a generous amount of the oil on my lower abdomen, applying the fabric (which I’ve used multiple times, so that it is somewhat soaked with the oil) and then placing a piece of plastic wrap over that to prevent my PJs from getting oily.  Then I’m placing a heated rice bag on top and leaving it on until it cools.  My cat has been finding the rice bag and plopping down on top.  (Thank goodness she only weights 6 lbs!)  I’ve only been using this method for a couple of weeks, it’s messy, but the heat on the lower abdomen does feel comforting.

The second natural remedy that I’ve been trying is a drink that was posted by another person on BabyCenter-Community-this is a great site for anyone who is thinking of conceiving, is currently pregnant, or has kids.  The reader posted a drink that is used often in the Dominican Republic to treat endometriosis.  The recipe calls for 1 small beet (steamed or roasted), a tablespoon of molasses and a cup of aloe vera juice.

 I started off using a raw beet and had a hard time drinking the woody pulp, but once I started using the steamed beets and blending for a long time in my Magic Bullet, it became easier to swallow.

It’s definitely not a yummy, creamsicle type smoothie, but the molasses makes it a little sweet and tolerable.  I’d much rather be eating a beet and goat cheese salad, but hopefully this drink will help my ovaries more than a salad.

What type of natural remedies have you tried?  Have they been successful?