Breast Health…How Much Attention Do You Give Them?

So, let’s talk about our beautiful breasts. How are you taking care of them? How much attention are you giving them? Self-care is not sufficient in this area with ‘most’. Heck, in many cases, our partner gives them more attention then we do, and that needs to change! Today I want to go over some of the things we can do…..

The American Cancer Society states “there is no there are no strong epidemiologic studies in the medical literature that link breast cancer risk and antiperspirant use, and very little scientific evidence to support this claim” [1]. Is this true?

I can tell you that after seeing the money that the ACS pushes into food companies, and how those exact foods can increase your risk of cancer, I think there is a lot to learn and understand. Here are some studies to investigate if you would like to learn more about this topic, however, this will not be the tone of this particular article.

I happily utilize deodorant without aluminum, and skip the antiperspirant, as I know that sweating it is one of the body’s mechanisms that we should try not to stifle.

Let’s move on to the tone this article intends to take…self-care of our breasts. I hope to cover some things you have never thought about before, and ones that you want to take on board and try for yourself.

I met someone a number of years back that forever changed the way I look at and take care of mine. Her name is Sunny Markham, and she is the owner of Earthsong, Pomegranate Breast Oil. She taught me all about breast massage and ever since I have either used her oil or formulated some of my own. I will talk more about this in a moment.

*Find gratitude for them. Did they feed and nourish life? Thank them. Are they a source of pleasure? Thank them equally for that. Looks at them in the mirror, talk to them if that resonates with you. Add this to the next steps I am about to cover.

*Move your Body, Move your Breasts. We know that exercise is important for overall health, but letting the breasts move is so incredibly important too. To all of you that take off the bra as soon as you get home, good for you! Let’s take that one step further. Touch your breasts…A LOT more! Make this a part of a routine, wherever this suits you the most. It is important to move the stagnant lymphatic fluid. This makes complete sense, as we know that the only way to move lymphatic fluid in the body is with movement. The more we contain our breasts in a bra, the less we are moving lymph fluid. Think of your lymphatic fluid like a clear running stream, there is no damn making allowed. Stagnant lymph fluid holds and contains toxins, and this is the last thing we want.

*Massage of the breast releases the feel-good hormone oxytocin, much in the same way that a suckling nursling does. Oxytocin, also dubbed by some as the love hormone, is also very beneficial for anxiety, depression, and believe it or not, intestinal issues [2].

*Regular massage of breast tissue (which covers much more than the breast alone), greatly reduces pain from fibrocystic breasts, according to many women and sources. I have included some of them below for you for further reading.

*I highly recommend watching this video created by Sunny, and bookmark it until It becomes second nature to you, found on her homepage here.

*Learn to perform deep diaphragmatic breathing. This is something that is taught to women who have been diagnosed with breast cancer, and during any stage of recovery, this type of breathing is important as it reduces stress and tension, supports proper movement and relaxation of the thoracic cavity, increases lymphatic drainage, and turned off the fight or flight response. I learned firsthand about all of the benefits of this breathing practice in my yogic journey, and have been performing it for nearly two decades. Truth be told, it is how I stopped panic attacks in their tracks and for good in my twenties.

So how do you do it? Sit comfortably. Until you have mastered it, practice this sitting. Then you can move to lying down.

1. Inhale, breathing in through the nostrils, filling the lower lungs; lower lungs expand and belly extends outward. No chest breathing, which only increases the feeling of anxiety.
2. Exhale, gently draw naval back towards the backbone releasing air from lower lungs through the nostrils. Nothing is done via the mouth here.
3. My yoga instructor teaches that there are 5 characters of great breath work, low, deep, even, without sound, and without pause.
4. Continue to lengthen and balance natural breath for up to five minutes.
5. I like to count on both the inhalation and the exhalation, and always work to make the exhalation much longer than the inhalation. This takes practice but greatly enhances the results.

*Yoga is highly beneficial for strengthening the immune system, and toning the glands of the endocrine system, which we know regulates our hormones, in particular, the one hormone linked to breast cancer, estrogen. Poses such as bridge, known to help improve thyroid function, and gentle twisting, which is a tonic to the adrenal glands. Follow this link for more on the poses that benefit our overall health.

*I want to circle back to our emotions and societies views of our breasts. Many view them as tools to either feed our children or as sexual objects. Although they represent both of those, I get incredibly disappointed when societies views do not seem to go beyond that. Be grateful that they are a part of your body and a very beautiful part at that. Understand that your breasts are in direct relation to your heart. Do not hold in and repress feelings. Express them calmly and lovingly; just be sure to do it! Ask for help if needed. Dr. Christiane Northrup states to “make a clean breast of it” [3]. I rather like that clever pun. Forgive yourself and others. The healthy expression will result in a healthier you.

*Diet. This could be a blog all in of itself. I want to point out antioxidants and constantly working to reduce inflammation and oxidation. The more colorful your plates are with vegetables and fruits, the better.

*Place focus on phytoestrogens. Think seeds! I am excluding heavily processed soy as I feel its health on the breast is very controversial.

Consume chia seed, flax seed, sesame seed, sunflower seed, pumpkin seed, etc. (This is by no means and all-inclusive list)

*Vitamin D. Studies have shown that women with low levels of the sunshine vitamin have increased the risk of breast cancer [4]. Getting your levels tested is a good idea, as some find that their levels are dangerously low, even with being out in the sun.

*Looks into herbs/roots such as red clover, turmeric, cat’s claw, evening primrose, and calendula. *Always check and make sure anything I recommend does not have contraindications for your use. 

Lastly, breast health oil. Many of you are familiar with Robert Tisserand’s recommendations, you can find that here. I had already been using Earthsongs blend for breast health, you can find that here. I decided to marry the two and make a blend that I could stand by, focusing on sustainability and my knowledge of CO2's.

So, let’s talk about our beautiful breasts. How are you taking care of them? How much attention are you giving them? Self-care is not sufficient in this area with ‘most’. Heck, in many cases, our partner gives them more attention then we do, and that needs to change! If you are applying this or any other blend immediately after showering, make sure you are fully towel dried, as you do not want to introduce any moisture into the container. Take care of your lovely breasts, my friends.

References

[1] Antiperspirants and breast cancer risk https://www.cancer.org/cancer/cancer-causes/antiperspirants-and-breast-cancer-risk.html

[2] What is the link between love and oxytocin https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/275795.php

[3] Wonderful self-care for breasts https://www.drnorthrup.com/wonderful-self-care-for-breasts/

[4] Vitamin D and Breast Cancer: Latest Evidence and Future Steps https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5802611/

Resources

Five easy things you can do now to prevent breast cancer

https://www.susunweed.com/Article_Prevent_Breast_Cancer.htm

Lymphatic Breast Massage https://www.aromatherapynaturesway.com/lymphaticbreastmassage/

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