The Golden Silence of Fibroids and Uterine Health in Asian Women.
I’m sharing these words, that are very personal to me, in the hopes that this information becomes common knowledge. I want to show that these unexpected situations can happen to the best of us — even someone like me that has been strong, healthy and constantly striving to be a better self while on a relentless hustle for most of my life. I had no symptoms and totally unaware of what was happening inside my own body. I hope telling my story, I will help you make better decisions for your nutrition, lifestyle and workloads, while providing some practical information to help you make better choices if ever faced with fibroid removal. If you are male and supporting a friend, sister, mother or wife through this process, I hope you are able to share these words with someone it may help.
I’m Masia, known on stage as Masia One. Coming up as a Hip Hop artist in Canada, I broke many stereotypes for Asian females in the music business. I’ve been blessed to work with my musical heroes from L.A. to Jamaica, and spent the greater half of my life touring, performing and living the most unlikely dream of an Asian girl in the entertainment industry, before returning to my place of birth, Singapore. I have had an ‘all or nothing’ mentality and built an image of myself as fearless, brave and outspoken with monikers of Warrior and Far East Empress. It’s funny the way the universe sometimes restores balance by teaching us hard earned lessons. Lessons that will remain with us for the rest of our lives.
Shortly after my birthday in April, a trip to a walk-in clinic to remedy mild food poisoning led to a discovery of what the doctor described as a fibroid equivalent to being 16 weeks pregnant. I had never even heard of a fibroid in all of my adult life, and started getting nervous when he suggested I needed to see a specialist immediately. I have been stuck in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Because this city is not my hometown, my resources were limited, so I googled Gynecology-Oncology looking for a 5 star rating. The doctor I arrived to was male and Chinese in his late 50s. He gave me an ultrasound and kept making tsk’ing noises while moving the wand over my lower abs muttering “Hmm…very concerning”. He pointed at a non-descript black and white screen of what looked like magnified alien spores and tried to show me the multiple fibroids in my uterus. He settled on the largest one and shook his head saying “This one is an ovarian cyst, much more concerning — possibly malignant.” He pulled out a memo pad with the female reproductive organs pre-printed to the page, and begun to vigorously diagram circular shapes all over the uterus, digging his ballpoint pen into the paper for emphasis. He scribbled the largest mass over the right ovary and said “This one is the cyst, a liquid and solid mass — not a good sign. Probably cancerous. Who knows how long this has been in you or if it has spread.” I asked him what the next steps were and he dramatically replied “CT scan, blood tests, the full works!” I left that doctor’s office shell-shocked and as soon as I saw my fiancé Robert in the waiting room I began to tear up and told him “I might have cancer.” He cried harder than me, which gave me some kind of strange comfort.
We searched for the best place to get the tests done, quickly realizing that the cost of a CT Scan in Malaysia ranged from 400RM ($100 USD) at a public hospital to 2500RM ($600 USD) at a private clinic. On the advice of my friend Mojo, I settled on UMSC, a university hospital that was semi-private and semi-public. After the alarming experience with the last doctor, I opted for a female specialist named Dr. Syeda Nureena Zaidi. I proceeded to do the blood work that checks for cancer markers, and they showed no signs of cancer being present or spreading. The CT Scan showed what looked like the silhouette of a giant pumpkin sized orb, pushing my other organs out of their place — yet there was no indication of malignancy. When I looked at Dr. Syeda, she had a calm and matter-a-fact demeanour, sharing that the CT Scan did show what appeared to be a very large cyst on my right ovary, and there was no way to know if it was indeed cancerous until the tumorous growth was removed then studied by a pathologist. This was her diagnosis:
- Suspected ovarian tumour 11 X 8 cm in size, with multiple uterine fibroids.
- From CT Scan results, advised to have a laparotomy, right salphingo-oopherectomy, omental biopsy and myomectomy as soon as possible to prevent progression of the disease.
- Recovery from this procedure can take up to 3 months depending on the outcome of the surgery and if additional treatment is required.
- Surgery date was set for May 25 (in 3 weeks) with a required deposit of 20,000RM ($4850USD) with money refunded once total costs are deducted.
Following my diagnosis with Dr Syeda, I dived into more research, seeking a third, fourth and fifth opinions. I consulted surgeons at reputable hospitals in Singapore, sending them the results of my CT Scan and blood work. I think it’s worthwhile to mention that both of these physicians are top surgeons who are male and over 70. I was not prepared to hear what I was told next.
Each surgeon expressed with grave concern that I very likely have a cancerous cyst, and the best thing for me to do was to remove my whole uterus with a hysterectomy. Keep in mind Dr Syeda’s diagnosis was more conservative; the removal of the right ovary and fallopian tube where the cyst grew, and assured me she would disturb as little of my body as possible. Now I was being told to get rid of all the tubes and the kitchen sink! The manner in which I was instructed to remove my womb was so cavalier, like taking out the trash or replacing a car part. As my fiancé stood by on one of the calls, the doctor asked him “So do you still want to have a baby?” (which struck me as odd since it was my body we were talking about.) He re-directed his comments to me saying, “If you were 20, then I would look into other options, but you’re not likely to ever have a baby — having multiple fibroids and this ovarian cyst.” It made me feel like the only use for my uterus was as a baby maker and beyond this, my womb was an expendable organ and, by extension my use as a woman also felt expendable. The next doctor had even colder bedside manner, confirming what the first had said “Hysterectomy! You need to remove the whole thing so you remove all risk.” I was warned that by not removing my whole uterus, I would risk a second surgery if the pathologist found malignant cells, thereby causing that the cancer to spread further in a weakened post surgical body. The doctors then advised me to start finding the support I would need going into chemotherapy as a means to address this alleged cancer. I was informed that in Singapore this surgical procedure starts at $30,000 SGD ($22,600 USD) and upwards of $100,000 SGD ($75,500 USD) if chemotherapy followed.
I sought alternative answers, confiding in a friend ADUM⁷, co-organizer of the Black Vegan Festival in Brooklyn, fellow artist and the homeboy that ends every conversation with ‘Love and Light Masia’. He bought me a cookbook called “The Fibroid Elimination Recipe Guide” from Chef Ahki, and challenged me to just try it out for 30 days. My fiance agreed to join me on this quest, and we cut meat and dairy from our diet and ate from the book’s very specific list of fruits and vegetables that aimed to decrease estrogen production. The book wasn’t perfect, with some recipes utilizing ingredients that did not appear on the recommended list, and so I actively researched deeper into food & herbs that create an alkaline environment in the body, and did not encourage the production of aromatase or estrogen. The logic is that cancer cannot live in an alkaline environment. I became highly motivated because after only 8 days on this plan, I could see very real changes in my body. I slimmed down considerably, my skin was brighter, my mind was clearer and my sleeps were much deeper. I couldn’t really tell if it was shrinking my fibroids, but I could see the good it was doing to my external body and that was inspiration enough. I loved that it had me cooking with foods and herbs I had never heard of like chayote, millet, butternut squash and burdock root. Culinary creations with so many colours became like painting to me, and I did it with a joyful and content spirit, which I feel brought extra healing to each meal. With renewed energy that the food brought me, I worked out more, and was supported by my friend Coach Elle with some personal training sessions.
I was also advised by ADUM⁷ to do some soul searching, taking personal inventory of stress, trauma or unresolved feelings that needed to be let go. It was humbling to think I was in perfect health, and meanwhile I’ve been hauling this giant moon rock in my body for who knows how long! Some friends shared with me that women tend to hold their emotions and pain in their wombs. I began to reflect on my life since moving back to SE Asia in the past 6 years. I knew that I had gained some weight that seemed impossible to shed with exercise, and eventually dismissed it as penance for my love of Char Kuey Teow, Chicken Rice and other delectable dishes signature to this region. I had also ran a Reggae events company called the Singapura Dubclub for the past 5 years, that had me consuming more alcohol, eating at irregular times and working very late hours as part of the business. The big move also had me transitioning from the strain of a long distance relationship (don’t try to date a Jamaican if you live in Singapore), into an even more toxic partnership that had me in a loop of stress, tears and constant frustration. The culture shock of being back in a country I left when I was 8 years old left me feeling alienated, rejected and misunderstood. I put in years in this new place to re-establish myself as a creative voice, which really made my health and wellness take a back seat.
With regards to trauma, on a 2019 tour, the headlining artist on tour sexually assaulted my friend and videographer on tour. I quickly learned societal attitudes toward such devastating situations was to keep things at an arm’s length with comments like “hope she’s ok now”, basically sweeping heinous acts under a carpet or advice not talk about issues with such ‘bad vibes’. From victim blaming online to invalidation from a Reggae industry I had put my whole heart into for many years of my life, I was deeply disappointed. With over a decade in male dominated Hip Hop and Reggae industry, the entire scenario had me rehashing my own experience with sexual harassment and a years fending off potential assaults — which I had never truly voiced to the public or dealt with. Thus, I began a morning meditation practice, dug deep into some personal reflections, read up on healing and nutrition, then reached out to friends that were spiritually connected in their divine feminine power (something I had scoffed at for years as some hippie mumbo jumbo, while asserting my honorary membership to the proverbial Boys Club.)
The surgery date loomed, and we consulted 2 more Malaysian doctors, that confirmed that the cyst should be removed. With the possibility of malignancy looming over my head, I didn’t want to take a chance. I emphasized to Dr Syeda that I wanted the minimal amount of disturbance to my body, and decided to proceed with the operation. I concluded that holistic methodologies work, but it would take time to reverse the negative cycle of bad habits toward healing. The irony was that the day I was admitted into the hospital ward, I was fitter, healthier and happier than I have been in 5 years. I put a request out on my social media for all my friends, family and fans to play their favorite Masia One song that day, and just to send me their good intentions whether in a prayer, a dance, a song or a quick whisper. I even did Qi Gong a couple hours before surgery to feel my body and energy, and busted out some dancehall moves in the hospital gown cause I knew it would be a while before I could ‘wine up the waistline’ again. They pushed me into the operating theatre at 4:20pm. I was given oxygen and anesthesia, I knew it was time to totally let go — and I was out.
I fell into a deep beautiful dream where I experienced past lifetimes, one after another with a meaningful lesson to be learned before each rebirth. I woke to many nurses around me speaking Malay with the occasional mention of “Fibroid?” “Yah! Fibroid!” My eyes darted around the room trying to find a clock. Two hours had passed, so I felt better assured that the procedure had been successful. I was awake upon returning to my hospital bed, and being carried to my fiancé waiting for me at my hospital room. To my fiancé’s surprise, I was wired after the surgery and driving him crazy with my chatter as he was exhausted from stress and worries while waiting for me to come out of this major operation. I was finally able to fall asleep to the frequencies of Mimi Page’s sound healing and Calm App sleep meditations on loop. I learned during this time that the environment you create around you matters, whether through sound, visuals or frequencies.
The next day, Dr. Syeda came to see me with a miracle on her lips, “So, as it turns out the cyst was not a cyst at all, but a fibroid. It’s unusual for a fibroid to be solid and liquid, but yours was disintegrating. The biggest one was very large, and we removed 12 in total.” As I processed the good news I realized this meant I would not have to wait 2 weeks to hear back from the pathologist report if I would go into chemo. Fibroids are benign tumorous growths. (Only 1 out of 1000 are cancerous.) Dr. Syeda smiled and said “Your ovaries are still in tact, and so are your fallopian tubes. None of your organs were removed.” It was the best outcome that could happen. I choose to believe this miracle happened because of all the people out there that sent me their love, prayers and well wishes that day. I also believe it was possible in part for the radical change in my diet, lifestyle and manifestation of good rather than stress. I am truly a blessed and guided soul.
The journey was not over yet as pain and discomfort set in more in the next few days from the gas trapped in the body after surgery. When lying down, rolling to the left or right side periodically helps. Not to mention, I have truly never appreciated a fart more in my life! Sporadic pains come with a vengeance, and felt what could only be described as “drive-by stabbings”. My fiancé and I also took walks twice a day up as the doctor warned me that this was necessary for “guts not to stick after surgery”. I shuffled down the hallways like a granny with a catheter in my hand (for further medicines to be administered), and a surgical drain (basically a tube draining excess blood from my left abdomen into a plastic bottle that I was told to “carry around like a handbag.” Walking was extremely hard, and the one month of pre-surgery meditation breath work helped A LOT to get through the pain of each step. The hospital food was a far cry from the nutritional meals I had been making at home, and this sparked my determination to leave as soon as possible. Besides, with no art on the walls, pills & needles all around and no music, I knew I had to heal in the space I had carefully prepared. The surgery was on Tuesday, and by Thursday I was home and on the mend with my Zen Dog.
I truly believe we are given miracles in life so that we may help others. So now, bed-ridden, I began vigorously reading up on uterus health, listening to podcasts, speaking to friends and women that reached out to me, cross referencing shared stories, and documenting my healing journey for what worked and what caused more inflammation.
I want to pre-cursor that what I am about to share with you is not coming from a medical professional. When I began asking questions, an auntie said to me “Who are you to question the medical profession?” I understand that we live in a society that highly reveres doctors and are often taught not to question such authority or respected figures, but I am a woman, with a uterus, and I have no financial gain from sharing this information. I care a lot and I want ladies to be equipped with enough information to make informed decisions about their own bodies and I encourage women facing such a crossroads in life to do your own research, personal mental health inventory and, once informed, to trust your intuition. I also hope me sharing this sparks more women, especially in Asia, to share their experiences so that we may find some answers collectively and offer more paths toward prevention and healing.
A MOVEMENT TOWARD FIBROID AWARENESS
As many as 80% of all women have uterine fibroids in the United States, and 1 in 4 end up with symptoms severe enough to require treatment, yet until I was diagnosed, I had never heard of this condition in my entire life. It is worth stating that after weeks of research I could not find any numbers in South East Asia reflecting the percentage of women with fibroids, yet I found many Singaporean women I spoke with had gone through something similar, or had a friend or family member that faced this decision.
Why are we as women not being educated about our bodies if the vast majority of us will face this condition? I wanted to know what causes fibroids, what prevents them, how many women are getting hysterectomies and what are alternative treatments to invasive surgeries.
- What causes fibroids? All the doctors and hospital websites I consulted present this as some sort of mystery, possibly genetic and perhaps tied to being overweight. I learned from my research that under 10% of all reproductive dysfunction is passed through genetics. Women who never had children are more likely to get them.
Rather my research indicated that a cocktail of poor nutrition and unbalanced lifestyle has much more to do with it. An overproduction of estrogen in the body which comes from consumption of meat & dairy (fried foods, soy products, undigested meat in the digestive tract), alcohol, as well as environmental pollutants called xenoestrogens that form an enzyme called aromatase, over a long time period is indicated as the key cause. Lifestyles that disrupt our complex hormonal web can also begin these tumorous growths, made up of the same smooth muscle cells that construct our uterus. Chronic stress, including ongoing psychological states of anger, fear and anxiety, or trauma including lost of a loved one, divorce, moving, or any dramatic changes, can affect the estrogen-progesterone balance. The mind-body connection goes deeper than most people can imagine, as emotions can trick our bodily functions into physical reactions. Stress is a chemical and your body believes every word you say.
- Online information: When I searched for answers online, Google pulled up only hospitals, doctors and surgical procedures, with no mention of holistic treatments or preventative measures. A browse of 6 websites from major hospitals in Singapore lists hysterectomy as the first treatment offered as diagnosis for fibroids, with laparoscopy and myomectomy listed closely below. I was able to pull up articles like “Plan to remove your Uterus?”, “Top 10 places to get a Hysterectomy” and “Best Doctor if you have uterine fibroids” which opened into some pretty terrifying diagrams and photographs. Clicking each link solidified my suspicion that a lot of money was being made from these procedures by hospitals. I kept thinking this is a procedure that can take between 1 to 2 hours and costs over $30,000 SGD (or 20,000RM in Malaysia). Then there were big pharmaceutical companies offering drugs that shrink fibroids. In the book “What Your Doctor May Not Tell You About Fibroids”, author Scott Goodwin shares a conversation with a gynecologist that considers fibroids an annuity. He claims that physicians receive relatively little for deliveries and routine visits, with the only significant payday in hysterectomy. As the old adage goes, “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it”…but there is something very broken about this system, that will also leave you broke.
The easily discovered information does not give a full scope on the possible approaches. Only when I looked into Reddit for personal stories shared, hashtags on Instagram that linked to Fibroid awareness accounts and searched published books, could I begin to find information that provided a fuller picture on something that affects the greater majority of women. I could not find any SE Asian based information beyond that provided by doctors and hospitals, and had to resort to interviewing Singaporean & Malaysian friends about their personal undocumented experiences. I should also note that with the scarcity of information, privilege will also come into play for the majority of women taking their doctor’s instructions at face value. With most of the research information available in English and found by digging up references made in obscure online publications, those with language barriers, limited education or even women without a personal computer may not be able to access a bigger picture of data to influence their decision.
- Hysterectomies: I could not find any statistics in Asia about how many women have fibroids, and how many have had hysterectomies as a diagnosis — only a quick mention that hysterectomies are one of the most common surgeries that Singaporean women go through. For a country that could give me the social media stats on all their TikTok influencers, I’m shocked there isn’t a single trace of statistics available on a procedure making most hospitals a lot of money. The registries for hysterectomies are, in fact all in Europe and North America. Most of the advice given from the available information suggests that post menopausal the uterus is a “non-functional organ”, and through my own experience speaking with Singaporean doctors that encouraged to kick the ol’ baby maker to the side.
The womb is sacred, and is a portal that brings new life into this world. I cannot think of anything that should be treated with more care and consideration. Beyond the childbearing years, studies suggest that the uterus secretes its own hormones that interact with the ovaries and perhaps other organs in the body. It also plays a role in regulating hormones such as DHEA (deficiencies can lead to mood swings, constant fatigue, sleep disturbances), and can affect adrenal and pancreatic functions. Studies show women with hysterectomies have 30% higher incidences of coronary heart disease. Does this really sound like a ‘non-functional’ organ? The uterus plays a role in orgasm and sexual response, and when removed has psychological effects including the feeling of being ‘less of a woman’. Coming to terms with no longer being able to bear a child also brings a sense of loss. Finally I want to make note that I do not have ill will toward the doctors that had advised me, neither am I questioning their competency. I am questioning what doctors are taught in school, and the medical system that produces the type of thinking where hysterectomies are assigned as a diagnosis to an issue much more complex than snipping off an organ. In a society that posts images of women having nothing less than glowing baby ovens and perfect emblems of motherhood, removal of the uterus can affect women on more than one level. It is the same society where a doctor would never tell a man with a benign growth in his left testicle to just “remove both balls” since that would ensure his health and safety. Removing a body part affects the overall ecology of the body, and should not be considered as a diagnosis unless it is life threatening.
HER-STORIES TOWARD A REMEDY
- Diet and nutrition: People have complex relationships with food, myself included. I have fond memories that only specific dishes can conjure and I am very emotionally tied to my cravings and restaurant choices. That said, my sentimental connection to food, does not supercede the results in my health I have been experiencing since switching to a vegan-alkaline diet. If one studies how refined sugars, preservatives, gluten, saturated oils, dairy and animal flesh effect not only the development of fibroids, but the overall impact on our body, it is undeniable that this is a key factor. Couple this with the simple fact that eating is something we do every single day. If we face a chronic disease, we have to consider what we practice and do, chronically. Your body always wants to heal and return to balance. Giving it the nutrients and fuel that it needs, and maintaining a healthy environment in your body for these processes to happen is a remedy that goes beyond popped pills, surgeries and quick fixes. Give yourself 6 days to slowly transition, and try changing your eating habits for 30 days and track your results.
A sample of my food intake and current schedule:
- 7–9am Breakfast : I eat a lemon (drinking the juice and eating the pulp), then a juice smoothie.
- 12–2pm Lunch: Largest meal of my day, prepped from a very specific list of vegetables and grains that promote hormone balance in the body and rich in nutrients for healing.
- 5–7pm Light meal: Right now I’m in a recovery phase of my surgery, so I’m eating fruit bowls for dinner. The more colours of fruit, the better.
- 10–11pm Sleep: I used to sleep around 4am, so this is a huge step for me. I get deeper sleeps and wake everyday actually feeling refreshed with my mind ready to go!
To get started check out:
Dr. Ansu Ampu & Dr. Amun Nub Got Fibroids? Fibroid Elimination Bible, Chef Ahki’s Fibroid Elimination Recipe Guide and Dr Sebi’s Alkaline Food List.
- Lifestyle choices: Limit chronic stress, eat and sleep at times that respect your body’s natural clock and take breaks. There really is a right time for everything! Your body has a natural Circadian Rhythm for taking in food, absorbing nutrients and expelling waste, and creating a routine that respects this natural flow, supports your health. For example eating past 8pm can impede the physical process of detoxification— where your body may need healing you have now diverted energy into digestion and breaking down food. Give yourself a chance to feed and repair cells, tissues, organs and systems.
Also consider the presence of xenoestrogens, in your everyday environment. These synthetic chemicals released into the environment as pollutants or bi-products of industrial processes, mimics estrogen in the body by binding to hormone receptors and blocking the processes of natural hormones. These environmental factors affect both the female and male reproductive system. What can you do?
DON’T
- Don’t drink from plastic bottles (use glass or BPA free plastics)
- Avoid canned foods, often lined with plastics.
- Don’t use teflon, common on non-stick pans.
- Remove plastic wrap from produce when you get home from the store (I love supermarkets that have begun wrapping the produce in paper or natural leaves here in Malaysia.)
- Avoiding areas where heavy pesticides are sprayed. How can we persuade our governments to stop spraying pesticides in our residential areas?
- Choose chlorine free alternatives for paper towels, coffee filters, menstrual pads (try not to use tampons.)
- Don’t smoke.
DO
- Buy organic, GMO free, in-season and locally produced food where possible. Peel the skin off all non organic produce.
- Eat lots of greens from the cabbage family including broccoli, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, bok choy. Flax seeds contain nutrients that eliminate harmful extrogen metabolites
- Drink filtered spring water and/or alkaline water.
- Use natural house cleaning products and go chemical free in your household.
- Be aware of what is in your skin care products, cosmetics and hair dyes — FDA approval does not mean xenoestrogens are not present. Your skin is your largest organ. (I literally haven’t used makeup or replaced my skin products with coconut & rosehip oil for a month and my skin feels so much better.)
- Reconnect with nature as xenoestrogens are more common in our urban areas. Enjoy clean air, take in the greenery through your eyes and nose and allow your mind to clear.
A great overall reference is Allan Washowski’s Healing Fibroids: A Doctor’s Guide to a Natural Cure.
- Mental health: Deep dive into your emotional past, grudges or buried traumas for what needs to be let go of. Many of the shared stories I heard reached a happy ending with time dedicated to mental unpacking, sometimes with the help of a therapist. For me, it took a lot of work and persistence because I always told myself that I’m ok, I hold no grudges and have no regrets. The person we sell to ourselves, and to the world is not necessarily who we are once we strip away the titles, accolades and roles; dig deep. Naturally music and art has always been an incredibly therapeutic way of releasing pent up frustration or anger for me. Stepping away from the music as a business during my recovery, allowed me to return to writing from a raw and vulnerable place, reminded me as to why I took this path in the first place. Who knows, a rap about fibroids on the horizon? lol.
Books that helped my journey:
You Can Heal Your Life by Louise Hay
A Radical Awakening by Shefali Tsabary
Women Who Run with Wolves by Clarissa Pinkola Estes
- Exercise: We know that exercise not only improves our overall health but also helps alleviate stress (which has been identified as a root cause of hormonal imbalance.) Qi Gong, the Chinese practice of “Life Energy Cultivation” is a practice that aligns the body, breath and mind to bring together health, meditation and martial arts. (ie: physiology meets psychology). Through harnessing the body’s natural electromagnetic energy fields, and focusing on the meridian points classified as Yin or Yang energy, Qi Gong revitalizes the body’s balance while releasing any blocked or dysfunctional pathways. Other exercises that are encouraged include movements that strengthen the pelvic floor muscles, yoga (to stretch, tone and oxygenate the body’s organs and glands), weight training (anaerobic exercise that uses fats for fuel, strengthens the muscles that support the uterus) and aerobic exercise whether walking, running, swimming or biking.
- Spiritual connection and meditation: Whatever your religion or belief, we tend to get so caught up in our day to day tasks we forget that which feeds our soul. I think a key lesson I learned from this time is that the mind is not what is running the machine of our body. We are a spirit (or consciousness), that tells the mind what to do. This important distinction reminds us that that body believes what the brain tells it, and we cannot simply be slaves to impulses or emotions ingrained in our minds, because these reactions ripple as physical responses by our body. The act of heartfelt prayer has shown to put our mind in a theta state, which is a very positive mind state where thoughts flow in a relaxed manner. With consistent practice, meditation sharpens mindfulness, helping us to recognize passing thoughts without letting them overwhelm us. I do think connection to something greater than ourselves, whether that means God, Universe or Gaia for you, brings us out of stressful states centered on the over importance of our microcosms, and shows us how things connect on a bigger scale.
- Holistic treatments: From Acupuncture to Ayurveda, I have read many remedies and healing that come from ancient wisdom and practices. I have found that the similarities of these processes all amount to release of stress and trauma, followed by detoxification of the body. I am currently engaging Dr Sairupa at Arum Medicine & Wellness Clinic in Toronto for consultations that bring together both Western Medicine and naturopathic practices that are non-invasive to the ecology of the body.
- Manifestation and affirmations: We have to be able to envision what better health and wellness looks like for ourselves — or better yet we need to be able to feel, smell, taste and experience what that would be like, even before getting there. This goes beyond positive thinking, and takes extreme discipline of the mind. As a child, I imagined everyday what it would be like to be on the mic rocking a stage for people, and I knew exactly how it would all go down — with full routines and songs prepared. With this same clarity, I approach my health and happiness, to manifest the person I am to become.
References:
Becoming Super Natural by Dr Joe Dispenza
On Purpose: Podcast with Jay Shetty
I don’t claim to have all the answers, but this is the best I can muster up from sharing my journey, beyond the fresh 4 1/2 inch scar running down my belly. Please feel free to leave comments, write to me, share your stories, and build on what little we have been told about uterus health, so that we can all learn more about ourselves, together. I absolutely believe the body always wants to heal, but is simply looking for the tools, nutrition and mental well-being to do so. As for me, I’ve cut alcohol, meat and dairy and I’m so grateful to be taking my first break in a decade to recover and really plan the life I want ahead. When I was a kid, all I ever wanted to be was a Hip Hop artist, and I achieved those dreams beyond my imagination. Today I am uncovering who I was before any titles and pseudonyms, peeling past layers of boss lady, hustler and entrepreneur, to allow myself the space to re-discover the powerful peace of what it means to simply be a woman.
@masiaone | masiaone.com
#FarEastEmpress #EmpressTribe
