Things aren't always smooth while breastfeeding. After both of my pregnancies, I developed mastitis (breast infection) when my babies were about 3 months old. Plugged ducts, sore breasts, and a fever - OUCH! Thankfully, when mastitis strikes, homeopathy is here to help!
Homeopathic remedies work best when they are selected to match each individual's specific symptom pattern, and not everyone with a certain condition will exhibit the same symptoms.
No one will exhibit every single indicator for any particular homeopathic remedy. Thus, when selecting a homeopathic remedy, it is best to NOT rule out remedies because of symptoms which are not present. Rather, it works better to focus on those symptoms that are present and determine which remedy best matches those symptoms.
Top 4 Mastitis Remedies
Here are the top 4 homeopathic remedies that are known to help with mastitis during lactation. These remedies can help the body quickly resolve the infection. There are other remedies that can help, too, but these are the ones that are usually indicated.
BELLADONNA: Sudden high fever in nursing mother. May have violent throbbing pains in the breast. Affected area is bright red or shiny, hot, hard, and/or swollen. The breast may have red streaks running from the nipple, and is very sensitive to touch or jarring. The mother may also have a flushed face, dilated pupils, throbbing headache and/or sensitivity to light or noise.
BRYONIA: The illness develops more slowly. Pains may have a sensation as if the breast is being pricked by a needle. Pains are made worse by any movement. Mother may lie on painful side to shield breast from any movement. The breast may be hard, pale, and/or hot. Application of heat and/or pressure may relieve the symptoms. Mother may be grumpy and may have increased thirst. There may be aversion to light and/or noise.
PHYTOLACCA: Breast feels lumpy, hard, and tender. Pains may change locations or wander to more distant parts of the body. Milk may be stringy. The symptoms tend to be less intense than mastitis calling for Bryonia or Belladonna. The mother may be irritable or feel sure she will die. She also may be shivery or pale. This remedy may also be needed after Bryonia or Belladonna.
SILICEA: Breast may be inflamed and deep red in center, fading to rosy color. Swollen, hard breasts with burning pain. There may be lumps in the breast, and it may be worse on the right side. Helpful in healing abscesses or lumps leftover after mastitis. Also helpful in chronic or recurrent mastitis. There may be sensitivity to cold and/or chilliness. The mother may also be constipated and/or have a sweaty head in bed at night.
Potency and Dosing Guidelines
30c potency is a good general-purpose potency for most mothers. If there is no obvious improvement within 3-4 doses, stop using the remedy as it is probably not the right one. Correct dosing is just as important as remedy selection, and can make a huge difference in the results. Please read my article about homeopathic dosing to better understand how often to give doses to increase the effectiveness of homeopathic remedies.
Disclaimer
I am not a doctor or licensed healthcare professional. I am a homeopathic practitioner whose services are considered complementary and alternative by the state of New Mexico. The uses of homeopathic remedies described herein are provided for educational use only.
References
Boericke, W. (2004) Pocket Manual of Homoeopathic Materia and Repertory. Paharganj, New Delhi, India: B. Jain Publishers (P) LTD.
Borland, D. M. (1950) Homoeopathy for Mother and Infant. Karol Bagh, New Delhi: Indian Books and Periodical Syndicate.
Gibson, D. G. (1987) Studies of Homoeopathic Remedies. Beaconsfield, Bucks, England: Beaconsfield Publishers LTD.
Lockie, A. (1989) The Family Guide to Homeopathy. New York, New York: Simon and Schuster.
Moskowitz, R. (1992) Homeopathic Medicines for Pregnancy & Childbirth. Berkeley, California: North Atlantic Books.
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