Mastitis (Postpartum)

Diet and Nutrition: (references)

• Avoid sugars, including sweetened juices (or at least dilute the juices several times normal)
• Eat very little food, mostly vegetable broth
• If food must be taken, eat only steamed vegetables
• Drink lots of water - 6 to 8 glasses

Vitamins and Minerals: (references)

• Vitamin A: 100,000 I.U.
• Vitamin C: 1-2 gm. 3 times per day
• Vitamin E: 800 I.U.
• Selenium: 200-300 mcg.
• Zinc: 30 mg.
• Copper: 2-4 mg.

Supplements: (references)

• Bioflavonoids: 400 mg. TID with meals

Botanicals: (references)

• Tincture - Echinacea (4), Glycyrrhiza (1), Hydrastis (1), Phytolacca (2): take 1/2 tsp. every 2 hrs. for 24 hrs.; then every 4 hrs.
• Topically - Phytolacca oil: rub into breast 2 times per day

• Individual botanicals to be considered for this condtion:
  Echinacea angustifolia (Purple cone flower)
  Glycyrrhiza glabra (Licorice)
  Hydrastis canadensis (Goldenseal)
  Phytolacca decandra (Poke, Pokeweed)

Homeopathic Remedies: (references)

• Mastitis infection:
  Acon., Apis, Bell., Bry., Cact., Carb-An., Carb-S., Carb-V., Card-M., Cham., Cist., Con., Crot-T., Hep., Lac-C., Lach., lyc., Merc., Phel., Phos., Phyt., Puls., Sil., Sulph.
• Chronic mastitis:
  Carc., Fl-Ac.
• Heat, swelling and pain with mastitis:
  Bell., Plan.
• Mastitis of the left breast:
  Cist.
• Mastitis after childbirth with fever and prostration:
  Croth-H.
• Mastitis during pregnancy, painful:
  Bell., Bry.
• Mastitis that suppresses milk:
  Bry.

(For an overview of Homeopathy, click here.)   

Other Therapies: (references)

• Heating Compress to breast: daily
• Constitutional hydrotherapy - 1 per day
• Make a poultice of raw potato and carrot and place against the breast for 30 minutes twice a day (or taped in place all night if possible)
• Ice packs (applied 5 minutes) 1 to 3 times per day along with concurrent hot foot bath
• Stop smoking

Recommended Labs:

• Check for mastitis: Physical Exam, Milk Culture, CBC with Diff
• Rule out abscess: Ultrasound, CBC with Diff, Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy and Culture
• Rule out adenosis: Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy
• Rule out breast cancer: X-Ray, Biopsy
• Rule out cysts: Aspiration Biopsy
• Rule out duct ectasia: Biopsy
• Rule out fibroadenoma: Biopsy
• Rule out galactocoele: Milk Culture
• Rule out generalized dermatitis: History, Physical Exam
• Rule out lymphoma: Peripheral Blood Smear, CBC with Diff, Lymph Node or Bone Marrow Biopsy
• Rule out neurofibroma: X-Ray, Ultrasound, MRI, Biopsy
• Rule out Pagets Disease: X-Ray, Ultrasound, Biopsy, Scrape Cytology
• Rule out tuberculosis: PPD Skin, QuantiFERON-TB

*  The recommended use of this supplement or therapy is based on a physiological mechanism or empirical data and is not necessarily supported by peer-reviewed research studies.

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).