by Paula M. Youmell, R.N.
Ablation is removal of material from the surface of an object by vaporization, chipping, or other erosive processes. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ablation). This definition alone, erosive processes??, would make me shudder and stop to think about what was being recommended for my body, my precious uterus.
“Stop your heavy period and restore your life” is NovaSure’s advertising hype for uterine ablation. Wow, my life needs restoring because I bleed? Really? Then, the opening paragraph on the NovaSure’s website is a scary patriarchal mindset, PMS as Wise Woman Susun Weed aptly calls it.
Heavy bleeding is a symptom that there is an imbalance in a woman’s body. Eroding the endometrium will not heal this imbalance. Correcting the imbalance will heal the heavy bleeding and prevent more complex female health problems down the road of life.
I am an RN and Holistic Health Educator and Healer. I worked in Maternal Child Nursing for 12 years before leaving to focus on Wise Women centered care; holistic health education and healing.
I first heard of this uterine ablation while sitting at my healing table working with a beautiful female soul. She told me she had this procedure 10 years prior, at age 32! I then gently said, “Wait, what? Please explain that to me again.” I was shocked to say the least but maintained my compassionate energy.
When I removed myself from standard medical care, I lost tract of new procedures created to “solve women’s issues.” Consequently, I am paying attention again, not to recommend the procedures, but to support women in healing and avoiding such procedures.
Not wanting to make her feel bad for her choice; I opened my ears, heart, and soul and listened to her story. I was amazed and frustrated at how she was convinced that burning away the inside of her uterus, the endometrium, was just the thing she needed to do to solve all her womanly problems.
I have since heard this story, many times over, and it breaks my heart. Red tents are needed in every community to remind women of the wisdom of their own body, to listen and hear what the symptoms of heavy bleeding are struggling to tell them.
My wish is to be able to support women in these situations. By sitting with them, listening to their “her-stories,” and helping them to unravel the causes of the menstrual symptoms. The body will heal when we remove the cause(s) of the health symptoms and nourish the body back to health with nourishing, Wise Woman supported, life giving choices. Lifestyle changes centered on whole food eating, whole health living, and herbs to nourish and heal the woman’s beautiful female organs and her entire body, every cell in her body, would be how I would create a Red Tent for every woman I am blessed to support on their healing paths.
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Bio: Paula M. Youmell is an RN, author, and Wise Woman Holistic Health Educator and Healer in Northern NY state. Find her at www.HandsOnHealthHH.com, www.WholeFoodHealer.com, and www.wisewomenredtent.com.