The Basics Everyone Should Know about Breast Health
photo credit: fiona mcnichols
I have the honor of supporting people in re-connecting to their breasts/chest daily in my work. As an Ayurvedic Practitioner who specializes in breast, womb, and hormonal health, I am constantly amazed by the transformation that can happen in just a one or two hour session.
Most people have never had their breasts touched therapeutically and have never learned the basics of breast/chest anatomy. Within just a short time of intentional education and care, their whole outlook on their breast space changes. Rather than feeling fear, dread, anxiety, and pain, they often come away feeling empowered and inspired to care for their bodies.
I say all of this to share how meaningful it can be to learn about your breast health. This is an opportunity to take back some of the power that has been stripped of us to care for our own bodies. Most of my clients are terrified of touching their breasts for fear that they may find something amiss. The reality is that UNLESS we touch our breasts, the likelihood of inflammation and stagnation in our breasts increases.
Breast Care as Preventative Care
I do not share this article to encourage you to stop going to the doctor, or getting mammograms, or to do any other care that feels helpful to you. But instead, to add on a layer of preventative care through self care. Mammograms, thermography, and other detection tools will do just that- help you detect cancer. And that is certainly a lifesaving tool. However, they won’t address the underlying sources of inflammation and stagnation that can cause a host of imbalances, from cysts, to lymphedema, to painful breasts.
The intention of lymphatic breast care is to help you become acquainted with your breast tissue so that when there are shifts in sensation or texture, you are the first one to know.
It is also essential care for our lymphatic system, which is centered in the breast/chest/heart space. When the lymphatic system is flowing, you are far less likely to have hormonal imbalance, breast pain, lymphatic stagnation, illness and more.
The Lymphatic System
So, let’s start there. What is the lymph? The lymphatic system is an interconnected system of lymph nodes and channels that has the primary goal of keeping us healthy. It is our immune system and our detoxification system. Lymph cells will identify foreign invaders in the body (viruses, bacteria, mold, parasites, etc) and help to remove them through the digestive system, the sweat, and other eliminatory pathways. This miraculous system, primarily made of lymphatic fluid, is able to determine which cells are our own and which are potentially hazardous, and eliminate them.
So why is the lymph so important for breast health?
All of the lymph in the body is cycled through the “subclavian drain” which is the drain underneath the collar bone where the “lymph river” meets the “blood stream”. Therefore, the chest is one of the most important lymphatic zones of the body. If this area is open and flowing, then our immune system can function optimally. If not, we run into trouble.
image from the National Breast Canter Foundation
How it Connects to the Breast and Chest
When I am working with clients or doing my own lymphatic self care, we always want to start with opening the “subclavian drain”, so that any lymph we get flowing has a place to go to. This simply means massaging or using a Gua Sha to massage underneath the collar bone. You may notice some bumpiness, which is often dry or stagnant lymph nodes. If you’d like to watch a video on how to do this type of self massage you can watch here.
In a follow up article, we’ll get more into the different types of lymph nodes and how to support them, but for now, it’s just important to notice different textures and sensations. Are there areas that feel more bumpy, crunchy, tender or painful? These are all messages from your body about what may be going on under the surface.
The breasts are made up of many different tissues including lymph nodes, mammary glands, fascia, muscle, and fat. You may be feeling any number of these tissues and that’s why it’s great to see a practitioner or watch one of my videos to get more of a sense of what you’re feeling. But the most important thing is to get it all flowing.
The lymphatic system doesn’t have its own pump (like the cardiovascular system has the heart and lungs) so it only moves with touch and movement. Pretty much any movement is great for the lymph! After you’ve massaged underneath your collar bone, you can then massage underneath the armpits and all around the breasts and chest. I generally use medium pressure and brush/massage towards the heart where the lymph will drain. In many ways, you can’t do it wrong. Just getting the tissues flowing is the first step towards breast health.
photo by Fiona McNichols
Simple Add-Ons for Breast Massage
As you’re doing breast massage you may notice tenderness, swelling, or pain. These are all quite common, and are messages from your body. This is when it’s really helpful to see a practitioner because they can help you decode the messages your body may be sending. Sharp pain may be connected to a cyst. Dense tissue may allude to more fascia. Once you know what you’re feeling, you can more easily identify what’s going on and what can help you address it.
As a starter, I love working with Castor Oil on my breasts. Castor oil is very anti-inflammatory and has been used for centuries to decrease pain in the body. I recommend using a few tablespoons and rubbing it into the breasts. You can then use a Gua Sha or your hands to massage. Afterwards, I recommend showering or putting a piece of flannel and warm water bottle on top to allow the castor oil to soak in.
Here is a 5 minute video you can watch on how to do self-massage at home.
If you don’t like using castor oil (it can be very sticky), you can use pretty much any organic oil or salve that you have at home. I often use sesame or sunflower oil. (Always patch test a small amount of oil on your wrist to make sure you’re not allergic).
Frankincense Essential Oil is one of my favorite tools for stagnant and potentially cystic breast tissue. It is also very anti-inflammatory and great to mix a few drops into your massage oil to help with breast pain.
photo by Fiona McNichols
Takeaways
The main thing I hope you take away from this article is how important it is to touch your breast/chest area. It is the center of our lymphatic system, and thereby the heart of our immunity. By massaging your breasts/chest, you can help all of the lymph in your body to flow.
Additionally, caring for your breasts and chest can help you to be the expert in your own body and know when you need to seek additional support. Having a relationship with your breasts is one of the most transformative relationships you may build in your life. They are a center of our emotional and creative bodies, and with care they can feel like a tender and comforting part of ourselves.
I hope that through self breast massage, you can feel less fear and more confidence in caring for your body.
Additional Care
If you would like additional care from me or another practitioner, please reach out to hello@abbeyjoyhealing.com or check out my website www.abbeyjoyhealing.com
You can stay up-to-date on my breast & womb care offerings through my Instagram, Substack, Podcast, and new YouTube Channel
I have a podcast episode on breast care that I highly recommend listening to for more information.
For more information and to find practitioners near you, I recommend checking out my teacher DeAnna Batdorff’s website dhyana Essentials and looking at the practitioner referral list.
Additional Information:
https://www.breastcancer.org/treatment/complementary-therapy/types/massage
https://health.clevelandclinic.org/breast-massage
Disclaimer:
Information provided in this communication is for educational purposes only. The information is not intended as diagnosis, treatment or as a prescription, nor is it intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice from your physician or primary healthcare provider. If you have a medical condition, please consult your physician.
