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What Causes Breast Pain?

breast-pain

Ever feel a pain in your breast that made you wonder if something was wrong?  Our guest post is from Joyce Sobotta, Educator, Aromatherapist and Reflexologist, who has a lot to share about breast health. If you’re local, you can learn even more from Joyce at our Speaker Series on June 6th at 5:30 pm.

So What Exactly Does Cause Breast Pain?

Half of all women who go to doctors go because they have some kind of pain in their breasts. Breast pain that comes and goes is usually caused by excess hormonal stimulation of the breast from too much estrogen, excessive caffeine, or chronic stress.

According to Dr. Christiane Northrup, the link between breast pain and breast cancer is very low, less than 1%. Let’s explore the major reasons for breast pain and what we can do about it.

Fibrocystic Breast Tissue

Fibrocystic breast tissue is not a disease as someone you know may call it. Breasts are composed of fat and connective tissue and over time, the ratio changes to more connective tissue and become dense. Breasts lumps are very common in women in their forties, when their hormones are changing. Breast cysts are fluid filled and under local anesthetic can be aspirated by placing a needle in them. Not as much fun as a loving lymphatic breast self massage!

Not all lumps are cancer. Statistics say that 90% of breast lumps are benign. Thermography, or Digital Infrared Thermal Imaging (DITI) is a non invasive test of physiology. The benefit of DITI is that it offers earlier detection of breast abnormalities, than is possible with self exam, doctor exam, or mammography. It is especially appropriate for younger women who have dense breast tissue.

It takes years for a tumor to grow, so with the earliest possible indication of abnormality, intervention with self care can benefit tremendously. A thermography scan, when read by a medical professional, may indicate further clinical investigation is necessary. It may be wise to follow up with an ultrasound. The majority of the time it will show up as fibrocystic tissue or water filled cysts.

Inflammation!

The key here is to follow an inflammation -reducing diet: The higher the body fat, dietary fat, and insulin levels from too many refined carbohydrates, the higher the estrogen levels and the greater risk for breast cancer. 80% of women with cyclic breast pain have a good response to dietary change alone.

Plenty of soluble fiber in a diet from vegetable sources helps increase excretion of excess estrogen. Reduce sugar, high-refined carbohydrates, meat, and dairy products with added hormones, which all raise estrogen levels. It may be that your body cannot digest dairy that has been pasteurized. Pasteurization kills all the good enzymes and your body simply cannot absorb the nutrients from dairy products. Women who eat organic or raw dairy products seem to experience fewer problems.

Eliminate suspected foods such as dairy or caffeine for a trial period, 3-4 weeks. Notice any changes. Anti-inflammatory foods and omega 3 fatty acids, may decrease inflammation, and stop pain. Iodine decreases the ability of estrogen to adhere to estrogen receptors in the breast. Dr. Christiane Northrup mentions drugs such as antidepressants, some statins, and some cardiac pills may have side effects for some women and may cause breast pain.

Hormonal Changes

The most common type of breast pain occurs before your menstrual cycle and it is related to hormonal changes in your body from increased fluid retention which can cause pressure and tenderness. Check your hormone levels with a saliva test and learn how to correct imbalances of estrogen and other hormones which may cause breast pain or hot flashes. See your nutritionist or naturopath doctor who understands how whole food works for the body.

Emotional Stress!

Releasing various emotional stress, trauma, depression, anxiety and learned helplessness, will all help to balance your immune system. EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) may be a choice technique to learn, as it strips off layers of emotion and pain.

Is Your Bra the Problem?

Eighty five out of 100 women are wearing the wrong size bra, which is uncomfortable, unflattering, and unhealthy. Breasts change every two to five years, depending what is going on in our life cycle. An underwire bra cuts off the circulation of both blood and lymph fluid around the breast, chest wall and surrounding tissue. Restricting the lymph with an underwire or too tight bra may lead to serious congestion and disease.

Our lymphatic system’s primary purpose is to isolate infection and other cellular debris from the rest of the body and get rid of it. Lymphatic fluid has no pump and if restricted with toxins can cause swelling, pain, infections, headaches, fibrocystic breasts, fibromyalgia and other physical conditions.

Healthy Girls Breast Oil applied while doing the lymphatic breast massage is especially beneficial because the eight essential oils selected will help to nurture and protect natural breast health.

Take Care of Your Breasts!

Breasts want to hang around till death do we part so appreciate and care for them. Big or small, young or old there’s always time to give them a loving lymphatic breast self massage. Make healthy lifestyle changes to always have happy and healthy breasts.

About the Author:

Joyce Sobotta After learning the benefits of therapeutic essential oils in 2002, Joyce enjoyed creating healthy, effective blends for family and caregivers. Joyce was a presenter at the WI State Alzheimer’s Conference in 2003 and 2004 to show the success of effective use of essential oils for Alzheimer’s disease. Early in 2004, she completed a certification course from the National Association of Holistic Aromatherapy, and went on to an advanced course.

Joyce has always been passionate about learning more, doing research, and sharing what she has learned.  In 2006, she studied courses in herbalism, and completed the certification course in Reflexology through the International Institute of Reflexology.

In 2007, motivated by her sister’s struggle with breast cancer, and a request from a clinical thermographer to create a breast oil, Healthy Girls Breast Oil was born.  She added Love as a special ingredient, carefully filling the bottles with drops of essential oils.  Joyce said they reminded her of soldiers as she sent them off to customers who requested them.

Joyce Sobotta, educator 715-878-4474
Certified in Aromatherapy,
Certified Reflexologist
joyce@aromatherapynaturesway.com
www.aromatherapynaturesway.com
www.healthygirlsbreastoil.com

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