Breast Lumps Acupuncture

ACUPUNCTURE TREATMENT FOR BREAST LUMPS

-By Hong Jin, L.Ac.

Breast lumps could occur in women at any age, but are more common in middle age. Most breast lumps are benign if they are not attached to surrounding tissues and skin and they are movable when manipulated with the fingers. When breast lumps are present, patients often notice distending pain or a painful pressure within the breast. Typically, the skin over the breast is not red or swollen. Hard lumps can be felt within the breast or on the upper, lateral portion of the breast. These lumps are round in shape with an uneven surface, the lumps have distinct edges. Subcutaneous blood vessels are rarely visible through the skin and lymph nodes under the armpits are seldom enlarged. These lumps may occur on one or both breasts.

According to TCM (Traditional Chinese Medicine), lumps are generally caused by blood and QI (energy) stagnation. Acupuncture, a main branch of TCM, is very effective in treating these lumps. There are many different causes for breast lumps. However, three of the most common are related to injury, diet and stress.

INJURY

Occasionally, breast lumps are a result of trauma, injury, and accidental compression. Patients have sharp pain at or around the lumps most of the time. For this condition, several key acupuncture points are selected to stimulate the blood flow and soften the lumps. Normally, these are NEI GUAN, TAN ZHONG, DA LING, GE SHU and ASHI POINTS.

DIET

Consuming too much hot and spicy food can result in stomach heat which results in abnormal blood and Qi flow, blocking the channels and generating breast lumps. Acupuncturists often treat this problem with needling the points on stomach and spleen channels plus ZHONG WAN and QI HAI on the Ren channel to sedate the heat in stomach, strengthen the spleen and improve blood and QI circulation.

STRESS

Most cases of benign breast lumps are caused by emotional stress. In this condition, breast pain is usually apparent or more severe just before the menstrual period and relieved or lessened afterward. Some patients have the accompanying symptoms as insomnia, dry mouth, bitter taste in the mouth, bloating in stomach, distending pain in lower abdomen, chest or ribs, poor appetite and loose bowels. Some patients experience constipation. According to TCM theory, the nipple belongs to the liver channel, and the breast belongs to the stomach channel. Blockage of these channels can cause blood and Qi stagnation resulting in breast pain and lumps. Anxiety and anger can cause liver Qi stagnation which attacks the stomach and impairs stomach functioning. This, in turn, blocks the blood and Qi on the stomach channel. Consequently, the liver, and stomach channels are the main channels regulated with this TCM treatment. The treatment principle includes calming the liver, relieving anxiety, strengthening the spleen, sedating stomach fire (heat) and activating blood flow, thus dissolving the lumps. Using this treatment, points on the liver, stomach, spleen and Ren channels along with confluent and ASHI points are needled to clear the blockage and return Yin and Yang into balance.

TREATMENT RESULTS

For all these conditions, patients often experience reduction or complete elimination of pain after the first acupuncture treatment and lumps diminished or completely eliminated after several treatments. Normally, the treatment requires 10 to15 office visits. Even after the symptoms have totally disappeared, the patient should continue the treatment to completion to assure a long lasting effect.

_____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________

(Jane) Hong Jin, a California licensed acupuncturist, mainly trained in China, has more than 20 years experience in the field. Her specialties include:

Bell’s Palsy, Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, Migraine/Chronic Headache, Tendonitis, Breast Lumps, Varicose Veins, Pains/Stiffness/Spasm, Auto/Work/Sports Injuries

3042 S. Hacienda Blvd., Hacienda Heights, CA 91745

(Northeast corner of Hacienda Blvd. and Colima Road) (626) 369 6658

Related articles

Varicose Veins Acupuncture

Bell's Palsy Acupuncture

Breast Lumps Acupuncture

Cold and flu Acupuncture

How does acupuncture work?

A few words to my new patients