First, if you find a lump in your breast, don’t just assume it’s benign and get it checked out.

Here are some at-home things you can try to support yourself if this is something that you are dealing with. I’ll try to keep this as brief as possible and not overwhelm you with all the facts.

Lifestyle:

• Where loose-fitting bra’s
• Exercise: not excessive, but at least 20 minutes of movement like walking daily. This is important to move the lymphatic system, which helps keep cysts from forming.
• Lymphatic Yoga: https://lymphaticyoga.net/
• Reducing xenoestrogens in your environment: PDF Download. High estrogen can exasperate these conditions.
• Reducing Stress: Stress can exasperate Fibrocystic breasts. I posted a ton about managing stress last year, so check out the posts!
• Dry brushing: stimulates lymphatic flow.

Read more: Fibrocystic Breasts, Mastalgia and Mastitis Care

Diet:

• Eliminate caffeine. *Some people can get away with small amounts of tea or chocolate. Some cannot. Try a completely caffeine-free month and a month with some caffeine and compare the differences. Rate the pain/or occurrence.
• Eat growth hormone-free foods. Eating foods with growth hormones in it can exasperate the condition.
• Flax Seed: good quality. These can go rancid very easily. Keep flax seed whole in the freezer and crush when needed. These are anti-inflammatory. Aim for 25g a day. Add to a muffin. Or 500mg capsules 2x/day or 1-2 Tablespoons of Flaxseed oil daily (Romm, 2017)
• Increase daily fiber, *especially if you tend towards constipation (which is not having an easy bowel movement daily)
  • My favorite is to start with ½ cup of blueberries daily
  • And 1 pound of vegetables daily.

Supplements:

• Evening Primrose Oil/EPO: Rich in Omega-6, which is a helpful anti-inflammatory. 1000mg 3x/day (Romm, 2017)
• Vitamin E: 400-800IU daily (Romm, 2017)
• Vitamin B6: 50-100mg daily (Romm, 2017)
• B-complex: (careful to note the amount of B6 in it)
• Probiotic: Lactobacillus acidophilus to support digestive health
• A good multivitamin like Pure Encapsulations ONE

TOPICAL APPLICATIONS:

• Castor Oil placed on the breast with heat applied comforts many. I suggest this for the week prior to when you typically get your cyclical pain. 1 hour of castor oil packs with heat daily.
  • A tsp of Ginger powder mixed in with 1 Tbsp Castor Oil can help stimulate circulation also.
  • You can add the essential oils of Rose, Geranium, and Sandalwood to stimulate circulation. Romm (2019)
• Chickweed oil is helpful for reducing cysts of all kinds.
• Poke root oil is a fabulous lymphatic that supports this condition very well.
• Violet Oil is my favorite go-to oil for mastitis and works very well with fibrocystic breast as well.
• You can download my topical oil recipe card here.
• Iodine topically and or Wakame Seaweed strips applied can help with those concerned about getting cancer. (Apply at night so as not to stain clothing) Stansbury (2019). To use the Seaweed strips just pour some boiling water to just cover the strips and then let sit for a 10 minutes until cooled down and then you can lay the strips of seaweed on breasts.
• Progesterone Cream applied topically

Herbally, we want to consider herbs that support balancing hormones, liver, lymph, and digestion, and using mild diuretics. Basically, supporting the elimination pathways will help to support better health all around!

• Chaste Tree is a great hormone-balancing herb. Caution in those with a tendency towards depression. However, I’ve found if B6 and B12 consumption is taken with, there is less likely to suffer depression from Chaste Tree.
• Burdock Root is a great liver and digestive herb with its bitter and prebiotic properties. It is also a mild lymph mover.
• Dandelion Root is a great liver and digestive herb; if consumed with Dandelion Leaf, then you have the added benefit of its diuretic properties.
• Chickweed is a great lymphatic that is specific for supporting the body in riding cysts. It is also a soothing diuretic.
• Red Clover is helpful for removing excess estrogen in the body, supports the liver and is a great lymphatic.
• Cleavers is another great lymphatic and diuretic that is helpful for fibrocystic breasts.
• Calendula supports the digestive system and is a great lymphatic.
• Sarsaparilla tastes great in any tea and is a mild diuretic, anti-inflammatory, and lymphatic.
• Red Root Tincture is a powerful lymphatic mover but can be super drying, so I tend to combine it with moistening herbal teas like Marshmallow or add that to an infusion
• Herbal Infusions are my favorite way to use Burdock Root, Dandelion root and leaf, Chickweed, and Red Clover. I typically always add a moistening herb like Marshmallow to the infusions so as not to dry out an individual too much. You can read about herbal infusions here.
• Calendula, Chaste tree and Sarsaparilla also taste great in teas however I only use Chaste tree as a tincture.

If you’d like help preventing these cyclical moments set up a consultation with me and we can work on this.

Also, try Her Scan a gentle approach to breast examination.

RESOURCES:

Hoffmann, D. (2003). Medical Herbalism: The Science Principles and Practices Of Herbal Medicine (1st ed.). Healing Arts Press.

Romm, A. (2017). Botanical medicine for women’s health. Churchill Livingstone.

Stansbury, J. (2020). Herbal Formularies for Health Professionals, Volume 4: Neurology, Psychiatry, and Pain Management, including Cognitive and Neurologic Conditions and Emotional Conditions. Chelsea Green Publishing.