Fibrocystic+Breast+Dis-ease

//Western Diagnosis// A. mastalgia, breast cysts, lumps B. often premenstrual breast pain C. cyclical, bilateral D. can be asx E. small risk factor for breast CA

Diagnosis
1. clinical 2. ultrasound to distinguish cystic from solid mass

Treatment
1. **diet** a. high complex CHO & fiber, low fat [ decreasing fats can help significantly] b. avoid methylxanthines (coffee, tea, & chocolate) [can have a huge influence] c. avoid exogenous estrogens 2. **supplementation** a. vit. E 800 IU/d b. flaxseed oil 2 T/d c. EPO 1500 mg BID d. B complex: B6 e. lipotropic factors f. iodine 150 mcg/day [ambrose: oral super-saturated potassium iodine or high seaweed diet] 3. **tx liver**

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** IBIS: **
==**Definition:** ==

Inflammation and tenderness in the cystic tissue of a woman's breast.
==**Etiology:** == == This is the most common breast disease in women, occurring in about 20% of premenopausal females. The normal menstrual cycle is responsible for biphasic stimulation of the breasts, first through the proliferation of breast tissue by estrogens and then of the alveolar tissue by progesterone. Most women do not notice such changes, but in some females the breast symptoms are quite noticeable and uncomfortable. FBD is associated with a 3X higher risk for the development of breast cancer and caffeine consumption appears to be one of the principal aggravating factors. ==

==**Nutrition:** ==

eating principles:
== • Increase consumption of complex carbohydrates and fiber: it has been found that women who have fewer than 3 bowel movements per week have a 4.5x greater risk of FBD than women having at least one bowel movement/day. (Marz, p. 435, 1997) ==

avoid:
== • Avoid exogenous estrogens: oral contraceptives and animal products with estrogen residues. Fibrocystic breast disease may be caused by excessive estrogenic stimulation of the breasts due to abnormal hormone levels or by an exaggerated response by hypersensitive tissues to normal hormone levels. == == • Avoid methylxanthines: coffee, black tea, chocolate, cola drinks. Women with FBD may have a genetically determined increased sensitivity to methylxanthines (Minton, J., Abou-Issa, H., Reiches, N., Roseman, J. Surgery 90:299-304, 1981; Ernster. Surgery 91(3):263-67, 1982) ==

Meat, alcohol, hot sauces, spicy foods, fried foods, fatty foods, rich foods, salty foods, caffeine, pesticides
==**Botanicals** ==

(Felter, pp. 532-534; Mitchell, p. 41; Stansbury)
==**Chinese Formulae** ==

== • Bupleurum and Chih-shih F. (Si Ni San): Liver Qi Stagnation with Internal Heat: cold fingers and toes although the body is warm, irritability, red tongue with yellow coating, wiry pulse (Hsu, 1980, p. 112; Yeung, p. 216; Bensky and Barolet, p. 145) ==

(Bupleurum and Cyperus: Yeung, p. 54; Bensky and Barolet, p. 146; Bupleurum and Peony C.: Hsu, 1980, p. 87; Yeung, p. 72; Dharmananda, 1986, p. 177; Bensky and Barolet, p. 148)
== • Bupleurum and Tang Kuei F. (Xiao Yao San) (available as patent) minus honey-fried licorice (zhi gan cao), plus vaccaria (wang bu liu xing), millettia (ji xue teng), salvia (dan shen) and cyperus (xiang fu): Liver Qi Stagnation with Xue Xu (Blood Deficiency): headache, vertigo, bitter taste in mouth, reduced appetite, pale red tongue, wiry deficient pulse, may be irregular menses ==

• Xiang Bei Yang Ying Tang: Qi Xu (Deficiency) with Xue Xu (Blood Deficiency) with hard masses on the side of the breasts (Bensky and Barolet, p. 261)
== • Yang He Tang plus cyperus (xiang fu), citrus (chen pi) and curcuma (yu jin): Cold Accumulation causing Yin-type swellings: pale tongue, lack of thirst, thin deep forceless pulse, often underlying Xue Xu (Blood Deficiency) (Bensky and Barolet, p. 217) ==

• Blue Citrus (patent): Masses with Xue Yu (Blood Stasis): Breast lumps (Dharmananda, 1990, p. 38)
==**Acupuncture** ==

• CV-17 (-), SI-1, GB-21 (-), LI-4 (=), Lv-3 (-), Lv-8 (-) and St-36 (=) for fibrocystic breast masses due to Stagnant Liver Qi causing Liver Yin Xu (Deficiency) (Jirui and Wang, p. 258)
== • St-30, GB-22 <-> Sp-21 area and SI-11 are "essential" points for treating breast problems; St-15 <-> St-16 area along with PC-6 and Sp-4, to effect the Chong Mai (Penetrating Vessel), are secondary points; palpation, of course confirms the points' appropriateness (Matsumoto) ==

• UB-48/53 and PC-: quickly disperses axillary swelling (Ellis, et al, 1988, p. 219)
==**Homeopathy** ==

== • Asterias rubens: lumps of the left breast; swelling of breast just before menses; nodes and indurations of mammary gland; dull aching neuralgic pain in this region; swelling of the breasts as when the menses are about to appear ==

• Carbo animalis: painful nodosities and indurations in the mammae; uneven nodules, hard immovable, dirty, bluish-red; tearing stinging pains extending to the side of shoulders and through arm
== • Conium maculatum: from prolonged sexual abstinence; often small, pendulous breasts; firm lumps, esp. on right with constant dull heavy pain; from contusion; hypertrophy of breast, either general or lobular, followed by atrophy; hard, painful lumps; tumors in mammae, with piercing pains; < at night: gland abnormally tender ==

• Iodium: heaviness of mammae; as if they would fall off; bluish-red nodosities, size of a hazelnut, in both mammae, dry black points at tips
== • Lac caninum: breasts seem very full; soreness and enlargements of breasts, very painful and sore; sensitive to least pressure, dull constant, aching pain in them all evening; feel as if full of hard lumps; very painful when going up or down stairs ==

• Silicea: hard lumps in mammae; mammae swollen, dark, red; sensitive burning pains prevent rest at night
==**Subtle Support** ==

==**Mind/Body** ==

Chinese psychophysiology:
== • Liver ~ Gan is the home of the Hun (Ethereal Soul); it relates to decisiveness, control, and the principle of emergence; maintains smooth flow of Qi and Xue (Blood); and reflects emotional harmony and movement. ==

» Healthy expressions are kindness, spontaneity, and ease of movement.
== » Liver Qi Stagnation reflects and accentuates emotional constraint as the Liver's function of facilitating smooth flow in the body is constricted. Stagnation is associated with frustration, irritability, tension, and feeling stuck. With time this pattern tends to produce a gloomy emotional state of constant resentment, repressed anger or depression, along with tightness in the chest, frequent sighing, abdominal tension or distension, and/or a feeling of a lump in the throat with difficulty in swallowing. (Maciocia, p. 216) Xue Yu (Blood Stasis) often begins with Qi Stagnation. ==

== • Spleen ~ Pi governs digestion and manifests in the muscle tissues; transforms food into Qi and Xue (Blood); governs the Xue (Blood) and holds it in the vessels; maintains upbearing, and relates to the ability to assimilate, stabilize, and feel balanced and centered. ==

» Healthy expressions are fairness, openness, deep thinking, and reminiscence.
== » Spleen Xu (Deficiency) signs include slightness (deficient "form"); abundant elimination; morning fatigue; cold, wet feet (Seem, p. 28); abdomen taut and distended like a drum; craving for sweets; flatulence; nausea; mild edema; memory failure; heavy feeling in legs; easy bruising; pale lips; loose stools; muscular weakness; and, indirectly, obesity. == == » The excessive use of the mind in thinking, studying, concentrating, and memorizing over a long period of time tends to weaken the Spleen and may lead to Xue Yu (Blood Stasis). This also includes excessive pensiveness and constant brooding. (Maciocia, p. 241) Likewise, inadequate physical exercise and excess consumption of sweet and Cold foods will also deplete the Spleen. Environmentally, the Spleen is highly susceptible to attack from external Dampness and Cold. ==

• Stomach ~ Wei is the Sea of Nourishment and relates to ability to assimilate, stabilize, and feel balanced and centered.
== » Mental signs of Stomach channel disorder include depression, death wishes, instability, suicidal tendencies, mentally overwrought, doubt, suspicions, tendency to mania, and slowness at assimilating ideas. (Seem, p. 27) ==

process paradigm
==**Integrative Therapies** ==

This condition is characterized by localized swellings, pain, and tenderness of the breast as well as the presence of cysts, which may vary in size. It most often occurs pre-menstrually, due to the rise of the hormone estrogen, and usually involves both breasts.

It is recommended that women learn to self examine their breasts, doing this easy procedure at least once a month approximately 7 to 10 days after the day menses starts. Is important to learn to recog-nize the cystic areas.

A physician should be consulted if there is uncertainty about the quality of a lump or if there is any discharge from the nipples.

THE FOLLOWING SUPPLEMENTS ARE USED FOR FIBROCYSTIC BREASTS AND CAN BE TAKEN UNTIL SYMPTOMS IMPROVE: 1. A multivitamin – taken daily, according to the manufacturer's suggestion. When choosing a multivitamin, make sure it is free of sugar, yeast, and artificial ingredients. 2. Vitamin B6 – 100 milligrams twice a day. 3. Vitamin B-complex – 50 milligrams 2 times a day. 4. Vitamin E – 600 Units per day. 5. Beta-caratene – 150,000 Units per day. Pregnant women (or women who may become pregnant) should not take more than 15,000 Units a day. 6. Flaxseed oil – 1 tablespoon or 2 capsules per day. 7. Choline and Methionine – 1,000 milligrams each, daily. These are amino acids used in an attempt to aid the liver in correcting the hormonal imbalance that leads to cyst formation. 8. Iodine – 2 micrograms per day or 1 kelp tablet, which contains iodine.

REGARDING THE PROPER DIET FOR FIBROCYSTIC BREASTS: 1. The most effective change for fibrocystic breasts is the removal of caffeine-containing foods from the diet, such as coffee, tea, sodas, and chocolate. 2. Decrease the amount of meat in the diet, especially the commercially raised type since it contains excessive amounts of hormones, which will aggravate the problem. Of course, any other source of estrogen such as birth control pills will tend to worsen the problem as well. 3. Constipation can also aggravate this condition. If you suffer from constipation, increase the amount of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains in the diet, and drink 8 to 10 cups of water a day. If you need further information, listen to our program on constipation (number 271).

HERBS USED FOR FIBROCYSTIC BREASTS: • Iris Versicolor and Poke Root – in a tincture form (which is a liquid herbal extract), 5 drops of each tincture 3 times a day. This can be continued for up to 3 months. Caution – these herbs are contraindicated in pregnancy.

HOMEOPATHY: From the following homeopathic remedies, the one that best matches the symptoms is chosen. This is taken 3 times a day while the symptoms are present, dissolving 3 pellets under the tongue. • Sepia 6C: For breast swelling associated with increased irritability. • Phytolacca 6C: For multiple nodules or when the breasts are hard and sensitive. • Conium 12C: For breast swelling with a sticking pain in the nipples.

Note: A wide range of homeopathic medicines can be helpful for individuals with fibrocystic breasts. Consultation with a health care professional trained in homeopathic prescribing will usually be the best way to select the correct medicine.