Breast Disorders and Chinese Medicine

Breasts nourish baby, Breasts are emotional centers Stimulation of nipples initiates uterine contractions

Traditional Chinese Medicine

– Breast physiology - 

1. First related to Stomach and somewhat spleen  (Jing)

2. Secondly related to Liver Jing (circles nipple)

3. Thirdly related to Kidney Jing (controls reproduction)

4. Chong and Ren both originate from reproductive areas and go to chest

Traditional Chinese Medicine  – Breast Pathology -

The breasts May be invaded from external or have internal organ disharmony of Qi and blood

1. Liver Qi stagnation (most common)

2. Qi and blood deficiency - see from appearance, lack of milk

3. Heat (Liver and Stomach) – leakage, bleeding, mastitis

4. Phlegm and Qi stagnation – lumps

5. Liver and Kidney - lack of milk, Pre-Menstrual- Syndrome, cysts

Diagnosis of Breast Disorders: 

Quantity and Quality of milk, or , color of milk, normally there should be no leakage, shape of breast (large = problems, small = problems), areola color/shape/size – when get dark = pregnant (very dark = boy, slightly dark = girl), areola turns orangey pale w/ undefined edge and/or inverted nipple may mean tumor, cancer will have a fixed bumpy edged lump w/ above areola signs, cysts have a clear edge and are moveable.

Principle of Treatment for Breast Disorders:

Internal Treatment: 

treating Qi (nourish and move) Soothe Liver, nourish Qi and blood, clear Heat/detoxify, dissolve hardness, nourish Liver and Kidney

External  Treatment:

Plasters, moxa (heat therapy), acupuncture, massage, washes, etc.