Breastfeeding is a special bond between a mother and child. However, problems like mastitis can mar this beautiful experience and be a cause of pain and discomfort to the mother. Most new mothers can testify to the fact that blocked breast ducts can be extremely painful and it is necessary to relieve them.
These blocked ducts further lead to infection and enhance the problem. The treatment of this problem in the allopathic system is only with antibiotics and these can have harmful side effects both on the mother and child hence a woman can do best by resorting to natural cures for mastitis.
6 Natural Ways To Cure Mastitis
Massage The Breast
When the baby is nursing massage your breast with your fingers. This will help you unclog the milk ducts. The massage should be done from the outer breast towards the nipple in the infected area. This is considered as one of the best natural cures for mastitis. However, you have to do this on the regular basis to get effective result.
Nurse The Baby
Mastitis results from the blocking of one or more milk ducts in the breast and the best way to break this clog is to nurse the baby frequently. It may be painful to nurse during an infection but this is the best remedy for mastitis.
Do not worry about any harm coming to the baby as it is perfectly alright to feed the baby even when there is an infection in the milk ducts. Even when doctors treat the patients with antibiotics doctors recommend that patients nurse often.
Cabbage Leaves
Take a frozen cabbage leave and stuff it in your bra over the infection. This will work wonders in treating mastitis. This cold cabbage leaves does the work of a cold compress on the inflamed breast and provides relief. This remedy is not just good for relieving the tenderness in the breast but also in unclogging the milk duct and flushing out the infection.
Raw Garlic
Garlic is a natural antibiotic and is used extensively in the natural treatment of infections. Eating 2-3 cloves of raw garlic will help to fight off the infection and act as one of the natural cures for mastitis. On the other hand garlic does not have the harmful side effects that synthetic antibiotics have and is safe for consumption even while breastfeeding.
Hot Showers
Hot shower is also very effective in curing the infection. Take hot showers at least twice a day and while you are at it let the hot water hit the affected breast. This will reduce the inflammation, reduce pain and help in loosening the clogged milk duct. You can also try placing a hot water bottle on the affected breast for short periods of time.
Rest
Another inexpensive yet effective natural cure for mastitis is plenty of rest. Usually when there is an infection in the body like mastitis, the body goes into an overdrive in order to fight off the infection. If you get enough rest every day, it will give the body the strength to fight off the infection on its own.
Caution: Please use Home Remedies after Proper Research and Guidance. You accept that you are following any advice at your own risk and will properly research or consult healthcare professional.