Mastitis is an inflammation of the breast that can be caused by an obstruction or infection. Nothing has taken me “down for the count” like mastitis can; each time, I feel like I’ve been run over by a truck as I battle painful clogged ducts, flu-like symptoms and fevers. Many people choose antibiotics to treat their mastitis, but there are many natural ways to fight this condition, as well!
Here are several natural remedies that have worked for the treatment of mastitis:
#1 Heat and Massage
About 15-20 minutes before each feeding, I would fill a disposable diaper with hot water (not hot enough to burn) and place it on my breast. (Disposable diapers stay warm a lot longer than a wet cloth.) I would also take hot showers or baths whenever time allowed, massaging the hard mass in my breast to help loosen the clogged duct. If your shower head has different settings, try adjusting the nozzle to the hardest spray, right on your breast, to help loosen the hard mass. You can also fill a sink basin with hot water and submerge your breast while you massage it out. When massaging, make sure to massage from the outer area and toward the nipple. A handful of Epsom salt in the bath (or sink basin) also helps! Another great tip I got from a friend is to use the handle of a vibrating toothbrush to really dig in deep during the massage.
#2 Nurse, nurse and nurse some more
Even though mastitis is painful, you’ll want to nurse as often as possible to keep your breasts empty. My five-month-old usually nurses every four to five hours; so, if she wouldn’t nurse every two hours when I had mastitis, I would pump instead. Always start your baby nursing on the side that is infected FIRST, when the baby’s suck is the strongest to try to clear your clogged ducts. Make sure you have a good latch and try to “dangle feed” (where you lean over the baby and nurse on all fours so that gravity can help you dislodge the clogged duct) whenever possible. It is also very important when you have mastitis to not wear tight or restricting bras/clothing.
#3 Supplements
Medications come with potential risks and side effects, regardless of whether they are deemed “safe for nursing.” If I absolutely have to take medicine, I will – but it is always my last, not first choice. I knew that I needed something to bring down the inflammation and I did not want to take ibuprofen, so I called my friend, Dr. Jay Goodbinder and asked him for advice.
When Daniella sought out my services for a safe and natural alternative to antibiotics and non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, I was excited to help. I recommended an enzyme complex. What the enzymes do, when taken on an empty stomach, is to digest inflammation in the body, clean out the small intestine of undigested matter and thin out mucus. The added bonus is that when it cleans out the small intestine, it will actually increases the amount of nutrients available from foods eaten. Research also shows that when taken in this manner while breastfeeding, it will increase the amount of fat and protein in a mother’s milk.
These enzymes (mainly comprised of pineapple and papaya extract) were great and really worked! I knew I also needed to get rid of the fever and boost my immunity as fast as possible, so I asked a friend who works with herbs and all-natural products for some advice. This is what Carol Kremer Bahr from Mindfully Made had to say:
When Daniella messaged me in hopes of finding herbal remedies for her mastitis, I was excited to have several of the common herbs known to gently reduce fever and inflammation on hand. I made a calendula and yarrow herbal tea blend to help induce sweating, lower fever and reduce inflammation. As luck would have it, marshmallow root (a wonderful external skin softener and pain reducer) was in my herbal stash, as well. I had her boil the marshmallow root in a stock pot for an hour and then let cool so that she could soak her breast in it. Another remedy I recommended was to drink echinacea tea or tincture to help up-regulate the immune system. I also recommended taking elderflower to boost her immunity. Yarrow is a uterine stimulant and has the potential to dry up milk supply, so it should be taken with caution for lactating mothers.
Right after drinking the yarrow tea, my fever broke and my chills subsided. When my husband came into the kitchen and saw me soaking my breast in a pot of water while massaging it with the handle of my electric toothbrush, he ran to get the camera … I told him we would have bigger problems if he dared take a picture of that scene!
Marshmallow root draws out infection and diminishes the pain of engorged, inflamed breasts. Echinacea is an immune system stimulant and is an excellent anti-bacterial for helping to get rid of infection. These herbs really made a huge difference!
Additional options for pulling out the infection include:
Raw Potato: A cold poultice of grated raw potato can draw out the heat of inflammation, localize infection and unblock clogged tubes. Grated raw potato is applied directly to the breasts, then covered with a clean cloth; when dry, it is removed and replaced with fresh grated potato.
Raw cabbage leaves: The leaves can be placed directly on the infected area of the breast, also to help draw out the heat and infection. At first sign of pain or redness, immediately slip a cabbage leaf into the bra and over the nipple; the leaves should be changed out when they become warm and wilted. This is especially effective just after a duct is clogged and before the infection sets in.
Lichithin: Lichithin is an emulsifier and decreases the viscosity (stickiness) of the milk by increasing the percentage of polyunsaturated fatty acids in the milk. Egg yolk is one of the best sources of lecithin in food. Other animal sources include liver, fish, fish eggs, chicken, and meat. Good plant sources of lecithin include seeds, olives, avocado, and cabbage. You can also buy lichithin in supplement form at Whole Foods and online.
#4 Anti-Inflammatory Diet
To super-charge my immunity in order to fight infection, I knew I needed to stay away from foods that cause inflammation including gluten, sugar and dairy. I ate a lot of probiotic-rich foods like fermented sauerkraut and drank Kombucha.
I also drank chicken bone broth throughout the day. For breakfast, I made eggs and green juice and added garlic, tumeric and cayenne since they are very potent anti-inflammatories.
I also made sure to get plenty of rest and stay hydrated with lots of water, coconut water (high in electrolytes) and herbal tea. I was a complete mess for 24 hours but with all these remedies I started to feel better and within 2 days I was back to normal. When I told my blog readers on Facebook that I was dealing with this, I received so many wonderful suggestions, many are the ones that got me through this. Mastitis is horrible and painful to go through so I hope these tips help!
What remedies helped you with your mastitis?
Note: While these remedies have worked for me, they may not work for everyone. Please connect with a health care professional if you have questions about these or other treatment options. If symptoms do not improve in 24 hours, then antibiotics should be considered; if you do take antibiotics, please remember to also take probiotics to reduce thrush risk.
Great post Daniela! I never had full blown mastitis but I did have plugged ducts several times-I made a warm compress with a long sock filled with rice and heated in the microwave. I’d wrap it around my breast after massage for 20-30 min. Helped immensely!