Conditions treated with Lactation Acupuncture

Acute Mastitis - Urgent Treatment
Mastitis is inflammation or infection of the breast(s) and is particularly common in the lactating period. Symptoms include redness, heat, swelling, throbbing/burning pain in the affected breast, fever, flu-like symptoms and general body ache. The goals of treatment are to quickly reduce fever and associated symptoms with acupuncture, to encourage milk drainage with Chinese body work (Tuina) on the body and breasts, and to provide home care and dietary recommendations to continue symptom resolution.

Often times, new mothers are fatigued, sleep deprived, and still recovering from the birth. This makes a woman more susceptible to infection and slow healing. Latent inflammation in the breast tissues can manifest as recurrent or stubborn blocked ducts and mastitis. While having the baby checked, it is also important to work on the new mothers’ ability to deal with these difficult situations. After a detailed intake and Chinese Medicine diagnosis, acupuncture can be used to help boost the immune system, increase energy, calming the emotions, and assist the body in recovery.

This is a condition when the small blood vessels in the nipples occlude and cause local whitening and pain in the nipples. This negatively impacts tissue integrity and creates difficulty with breastfeeding. Acupuncture is used to help regulate the nervous system and blood circulation to the breasts and nipples and re-balance.

Dysphoric Milk Ejection Reflex (D-MER) is described as a sudden negative emotion experienced just prior to letdown (Milk Ejection) and lasts for 30 seconds to a few minutes. Acupuncture helps ease such symptoms by regulating and harmonizing the hormones and nervous system (neurotransmitters).

Milk supply is influenced by many factors. Acupuncture can help by addressing the imbalances of the lactating mother in a natural way without drugs. Dietary therapy is also provided to further assist milk imbalances.