Ovarian Cancer, Tea, and An Ounce Of Prevention
Dr Christiane Northrup has some interesting insights into the
emotional and energetic issues associated with ovarian cancer.
Whilst it is impossible to generalize emotional and energetic
responses, she highlights the issue of rage in ovarian cancers.
She describes the ovaries as being 'female balls' which means
they relate to an active participation in the world in a way
that expresses our unique creative potential, as women, on an
individual basis.
She says: "...we as women must be open to the uniqueness of our
creations and their own energies and impulses, without trying to
force them into predetermined forms. Our ability to yield
to our creativity, to acknowledge that we cannot control it with
our intellects, is the key to understanding ovarian power."
(p187, Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom)
She relates the issue of rage as deriving from being in an
abusive relationship - not necessarily physically abusive,
though of course this could be the case. And it may not
necessarily be a personal or intimate relationship. It could be
with work, societal, or even spiritual. But it embodies a way of
relating and dealing with something or someone, where the woman
involved feels controlled by the situation and does not believe
in her ability to change it, or herself. It is a denial of her
innate power and self-sovereignty. A denial of a woman's innate
dignity, creativity, spirituality, and complexity.
Interestingly, Dr Northrup notes that ovarian cancer is linked
to a diet high in fat and dairy food. Dairy products in Oriental
medicine, are associated with the liver meridian. Meridians are
energy conduits, and though they have a specific anatomy, they
are not equated necessarily with the organs of the same name, as
understood in conventional western medicine. The emotion
associated with a liver meridian that is out of balance, is rage
and anger.
Oriental medicine believes that diseases start in our energetic
body first, and then progress to the physical body. And
certainly not all women who have a high fat and high dairy diet
develop ovarian cancer. Dr Northrup suggests that women take
care of their ovaries and uterus by reclaiming and expressing
whatever this deep creative energy is for them. She suggests
taking the time to do this daily.
A recent scientific study has also found that drinking two cups
or more of tea a day can reduce the risk of ovarian cancer by
46%. This study was done in Sweden over a 15 year period. Sweden
is a country where there is a higher risk of ovarian cancer, as
are other countries with a high dairy consumption (Denmark and
Switzerland).
References:
http://www.nutraingredients-usa.com/news/ng.asp?id=64537
Dr Christiane Northrup, Women's Bodies, Women's Wisdom (Piatkus,
1995)