12 Home Remedies for Fibrocystic Breast Disease

These home remedies are meant to prevent and ease the symptoms of fibrocystic breast disease. Remember, the symptoms of this disease can also be the warning signs for more dangerous ailments, so be sure you consult with your doctor.

Home Remedies from the Cupboard

Drinks. Coffee, tea, soft drinks, wine, and beer all contain methylxanthines -- chemicals that trigger the body to increase production of stress hormones. Such hormones are linked to breast lumps and tenderness. Studies have shown that reducing or eliminating such liquids from the diet can diminish symptoms in up to 80 percent of women.

Home Remedies from the Freezer

Ice compresses. Ice packs may be a bit of a shock to delicate breasts, but a cold compress can give breasts some relief from tenderness and inflammation. To make this initially shocking but ultimately soothing remedy, fill a plastic, reclosable bag with crushed ice, or use a bag of frozen peas and wrap in a towel. Lie down and place on the sore breast(s) for ten minutes. Note: Some women find alternating heat and cold, applying heat first for 30 minutes then cold for 10 minutes, helps minimize pain.

Home Remedies from the Refrigerator

Fish. The best fish for female health include those high in the omega-3 fatty acids, such as salmon, trout, and mackerel. These fish are also high in iodine, a deficiency of which may be a factor in the development of breast lumps. Eating moderate amounts of fish may help prevent lumps.

Meats. Cut back on meat consumption. Before heading to the butcher's block, cows, chicken, and other livestock are often pumped full of hormones. Your body doesn't need the additional influx, especially during the hormone high time of your period. If meat needs to be on the menu, purchase hormone-free meats and poultry at a health food store.

Vegetables. Diuretics help flush excess fluids from the body and reduce breast swelling. Unfortunately, many store-bought diuretics can also deplete your potassium reserves, unbalance your electrolyte count, and interfere with glucose production. Turn to natural diuretics instead. Parsley, cucumbers, and cabbage are healthy for you and will keep you naturally flushed.

Whole-grain foods. Increasing your intake of fiber can help control the hormonal fluctuations behind fibrocystic breast disease. Eat whole-wheat bread, brown rice, beans, and fruits.

These are just some of the home remedies you can consider. Keep reading to learn about vitamin supplements and household spices that can have beneficial effects on fibrocystic breast disease.

There are many things you can do at home to monitor your health and ease the symptoms of various ailments and illnesses. Visit these links for more information.

This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.

Fibrocystic breast disease, while benign, can be quite uncomfortable. If you're suffering from breast discomfort, tenderness, swelling, and pain, consider these home remedies.

Home Remedies from the Spice Rack

Kelp. Kelp and other sea vegetables, such as nori and dulse, are good sources of iodine. Studies suggest that an iodine deficiency can predispose women to having breast lumps. While you can find these vegetables in some food markets, kelp and dulce are also available in powdered form and can be used in cooking as a salt substitute.

Salt. Two weeks before your period, hide the salt shaker. During the menstrual cycle, women tend to retain water, which in turn causes their breasts to feel heavy and become sensitive. Salt only increases this uncomfortable bloating. Be aware of the hidden salts in processed foods, too, and save that pizza order until after your period.

Home Remedies from the Stove

Hot compresses. Less shocking than ice packs, but equally soothing to swollen breasts, is the hot compress. Run hot water over face towels and place them on your chest for a few minutes. Re-warm when necessary. A heating pad will hold the heat longer, as will a homemade rice bag. To construct a rice bag, fill a clean, thick sock with a cup of uncooked rice, close the opening with a knot, and place in the microwave for 30 seconds or so. (Watch it carefully, since you don't want popped rice!) Remove, test the temperature, and place on your breasts. Note: Some women find alternating heat and cold, applying heat first for 30 minutes, then cold for ten minutes, helps minimize pain.

Home Remedies from the Supplement Shelf

Essential fatty acids. Several studies have looked at the beneficial effects of evening primrose oil on fibrocystic breast disease. Evening primrose oil is an excellent source of the essential fatty acid linolenic acid and its chemical derivative, gamma linolenic acid (GLA). Typical dosages used in the studies were 1,500 mg twice a day. (This would amount to taking 6 of the 500 mg capsules commonly available at health food stores.) Borage oil and black currant oil are more concentrated sources of GLA, so you need to take fewer capsules. For example, 3 or 4 capsules per day of borage oil may be sufficient. However, always discuss dosages with your physician before taking any of these oils.

Vitamin A/Beta-carotene. Some studies have shown that vitamin A can reduce breast pain in women with moderate to severe symptoms. There is a risk to taking high doses of vitamin A, however, because it can build to toxic levels in the body -- the body stores it, rather than flushing it out, because it's fat soluble. It's safer to eat a diet high in beta-carotene, the precursor to vitamin A, with yellow, orange, red, and dark green vegetables and fruits. This is because beta-carotene is water soluble, so any excess intake is harmlessly excreted.

Vitamin E. In several controlled studies, vitamin E was found to be quite helpful in reducing the pain and tenderness, as well as the size, of breast lumps. Vitamin E can be found in vegetable oils, nuts, green leafy vegetables, and some fortified cereals. Or you can take a daily supplement of 400 IU.

Do's and Don'ts

There are many things you can do at home to monitor your health and ease the symptoms of various ailments and illnesses. Visit these links for more information.

David J. Hufford, Ph.D., is university professor and chair of the Medical Humanities Department at Pennsylvania State University's College of Medicine. He also is a professor in the departments of Neural and Behavioral Sciences and Family and Community Medicine. Dr. Hufford serves on the editorial boards of several journals, including Alternative Therapies in Health & Medicine and Explore.

This information is solely for informational purposes. IT IS NOT INTENDED TO PROVIDE MEDICAL ADVICE. Neither the Editors of Consumer Guide (R), Publications International, Ltd., the author nor publisher take responsibility for any possible consequences from any treatment, procedure, exercise, dietary modification, action or application of medication which results from reading or following the information contained in this information. The publication of this information does not constitute the practice of medicine, and this information does not replace the advice of your physician or other health care provider. Before undertaking any course of treatment, the reader must seek the advice of their physician or other health care provider.