When I recently developed mastitis, I was determined to beat it through natural remedies. I was pleased to discover that there are many natural ways to recover from mastitis.
Despite the fact that my case had become a systemic infection with a fever and extreme flu-like symptoms, I was able to treat mastitis using simple, natural treatments. After starting to use some of these remedies, I was feeling better in less than 24 hours and was back to normal in about three days.
What is mastitis?
Medterms defines mastitis as:
Inflammation of one or more mammary glands within the breast, usually in a lactating woman. It can be felt as a hard, sore spot within the breast. Mastitis can be caused by an infection in the breast or by a plugged milk duct.
The World Health Organization estimates that mastitis affects about 10% of breastfeeding women worldwide. Mastitis usually occurs in the first few weeks of nursing.
Symptoms vary for mastitis, but most women report breast pain and general flu-like symptoms. Wikipedia lists symptoms as:
Lactation mastitis usually affects only one breast and the symptoms can develop quickly. The signs and symptoms usually appear suddenly and they include:
- Breast tenderness or warmth to the touch
- General malaise or feeling ill
- Swelling of the breast
- Pain or a burning sensation continuously or while breast-feeding
- Skin redness, often in a wedge-shaped pattern
- Fever of 101 F (38.3 C) or greater
- The affected breast can then start to appear lumpy and red.
Some women may also experience flu-like symptoms such as:
- Aches
- Shivering and chills
- Feeling anxious or stressed
- Fatigue
- Breast engorgement
Here are some of the most effective natural remedies for mastitis:
Nursing:
The biggest and most important remedy for mastitis is the simplest -- nurse, nurse, nurse. Let baby help relieve the pain and pressure by nursing as much as possible. You can pump, as well. If it's painful to nurse on the side of the infection, Dr. Sears recommends starting on the breast that is not sore in order to get milk flowing and then switching to the affected side.
Rest:
Some say that mastitis is nature's way of telling new mothers to slow down. If you have mastitis, the best thing you can do is to climb into bed with your baby and stay there. Rest and nurse, and repeat!
Massage:
This is another simple but important part of treating mastitis. Massage the affected breast towards the nipple as baby nurses.
Raw garlic:
If there are signs of infection like fever, garlic is an excellent treatment. Garlic is a natural broad-spectrum antibiotic and it's quite effective at combating infections. KellyMom recommends:
At least 2-3 raw cloves per day, 4-5 cloves a day if possible. Chop a clove into 5 or 6 pieces and then swallow the pieces whole like pills.
Raw garlic acts as a broad-spectrum antibiotic, without the added antibiotic side effects of the development of antibiotic-resistant strains of bacteria, or the development of yeast infections or thrush. The antimicrobial property in garlic, allicin, is very sensitive to heat and is destroyed when cooked. In order for it to work, it needs to be raw. Swallowing the cloves with orange juice helps with the taste for some. Allicin is also what gives garlic its pungent odor, so the deodorized garlic capsules that some companies offer are essentially useless, if they are being taken for the antimicrobial properties. However, deodorized garlic is still beneficial for its blood pressure reducing properties and for stimulating the immune system.
Probiotics:
Probiotics have been found to be very helpful in treating mastitis, especially particular strains. One study found that when women were given antibiotics and probiotics, "women assigned to the probiotic groups improved more and had lower recurrence of mastitis than those assigned to the antibiotic group."
The researchers concluded that, "The use of L. fermentum CECT5716 or L. salivarius CECT5713 appears to be an efficient alternative to the use of commonly prescribed antibiotics for the treatment of infectious mastitis during lactation."
Lactobacillus salivarius is a strain that can be found in many probiotic combinations. I purchased Nutrition Now's PB8 supplement, which includes 8 strains of probiotics (including L. salivarius) from Schaeffer's Health Food store in Worthington for $14.99. Other health food stores in the Mankato area should carry similar formulas. Just be sure to look for this particular strain.
Treatment for pain and inflammation: Hot showers can provide excellent pain relief during the worst of mastitis. It may be helpful to massage the affected breast and try to express some excess milk at the same time. Cold compresses provide pain relief and also help with symptoms. Ibuprofen can relieve pain and inflammation, as well.
Other natural treatments:
I found that the combination of probiotics, garlic, nursing, massage and rest were a quick and effective treatment. However, there are many herbal and natural treatments that are said to cure mastitis. If you're interested in additional natural remedies, see KellyMom or Susun Weed's recommendations.
Avoiding mastitis:
Dr. Sears advises:
The best way to prevent mastitis is to avoid the situations that set you up for it.
- Relieve engorgement promptly. Milk that doesn't flow gets thicker and clogs the ducts, which is a set-up for mastitis.
- Breastfeed frequently. Don't restrict the length of feedings.
- If you feel your breasts getting full, encourage your baby to nurse. You don't have to wait for baby to tell you he's hungry.
- Avoid sleeping on your stomach or so far over on your side that your breasts are compressed against the mattress.
- Take care of yourself and get plenty of rest (both of mind and body).
When to see a doctor: If symptoms do not improve or they worsen after 24-48 hours, call your health care professional.
Comments