Treatment of Breast Lumps
By Dr Mohammed Sarwar Khan.

Breast lumps can occur in women at any age.  They are more common in middle age. When breast lumps are benign they are not attached to the surrounding tissue and skin and are movable when manipulated with the fingers. When a breast lump is 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. The lumps are round in shape, with an uneven surface. They have distinct edges.  They may occur on one breast or both breasts.

According to Chinese Medicine, lumps are generally caused by Blood and Qi (pronounced as “chee”), stagnation.  Qi is simply the energy in our body.  Acupuncture, a branch of Chinese Medicine is very effective in treating these lumps.

There are many different causes for breast lumps.  Three of the most common reasons are related to injury, diet and stress.

(1) INJURY:
Occasionally, breast lumps are a result of trauma, injury, and accidental compression. Patients have sharp pain at or around the lumps frequently.  Acupuncture points are selected to stimulate the blood flow and soften the lumps.

(2) DIET:
Eating too much hot and spicy food can result in Stomach Fire or excess Heat. This results in abnormal blood and Qi flow. It blocks the channels and generates breast lumps. Acupuncturists treat the points on the stomach and spleen to sedate the heat in the stomach, tonify the spleen and improve the blood and Qi circulation.

(3) STRESS:
Most cases of benign breast lumps are caused by emotional stress.  Breast pain is usually apparent or more severe just before the menstrual period. It is relieved or lessened afterward.  Other symptoms include 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 may experience constipation.

According to the Chinese Medical theory, the nipple belongs to the Liver channel.  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 and Qi stagnation, which attacks the stomach and impairs stomach functioning. This, in turn, blocks the blood and Qi on the stomach channel.

The principle channels to be regulated are the Liver and Stomach channel in Chinese Medicine treatment for breast lumps.  The treatment principle includes calming the Liver, relieving anxiety, tonifying spleen, sedating Stomach Fire (heat) and activating blood flow. Only then can the lumps be dissolved.  Using this treatment, points on the Liver, Stomach, Spleen and other points are needled, to clear the blockages and return Yin and Yang into balance.