Therapy of the inflammation of the breast gland

The most important pillar of the therapy is regular breastfeeding or pumping out the milk secretion to eliminate the cause of the inflammation. Breastfeeding is usually not necessary and does not show any advantage for the course of the disease. Cooling can be used locally to combat the pain, which is particularly useful after breastfeeding.

To facilitate emptying of the breast, heat can be applied before breastfeeding or pumping out. If complete evacuation is still not possible, hardened areas where milk secretion has remained can be removed manually. Painkillers that are permitted during breastfeeding can be given to relieve the pain.

These include paracetamol, for example, which can be taken up to four times a day, or ibuprofen up to three times a day, but should only be taken for short periods. If the cause of the inflammation of the mammary gland is bacterial, the use of an antibiotic is recommended. In advanced stages and if the above-mentioned measures have not helped to bring about an improvement, milk production can be reduced or inhibited with medication such as the prolactin inhibitor bromocriptine.

An abscess should in any case be drained with either a puncture or a small incision and the remaining cavity thoroughly rinsed. The following articles may also be of interest to you: Medication during lactation, painkillers during lactationHome remedies can be effective especially in local therapy. Before breastfeeding, a warmth treatment can help to mobilise the milk secretion, for example by means of a warm shower.

Here, let the warm water hit the breast directly. An alternative to water is the use of a red light lamp. For local cooling after the breast has been emptied, quark compresses, compresses with natural honey or ice packs are suitable.

A white cabbage leaf in the bra can also provide an even and pleasant cooling effect and also has a positive effect on the milk ducts by helping to eliminate the causative milk congestion. When cooling, care should be taken to ensure that the time intervals are not too long in order to avoid effects on circulation. In addition, with a tight bra the breast can be immobilised as well as possible, which can have a positive effect on the course of the inflammation.

Various household remedies can also be used to influence milk production. For example, drinking at least two cups of hibiscus, peppermint or sage tea a day can lead to reduced milk production. As with any other acute inflammation, in addition to specific measures, care should be taken to ensure sufficient rest and adequate fluid intake in order to support the body in fighting the inflammation in the best possible way.

Homeopathy knows many remedies against inflammation, so only a selection of them can be mentioned here. One of the main remedies is belladonna, which can be helpful in acute inflammation with fever development. Arnica, as the best known wound healing agent, can have a positive effect on initial pain and swelling.

In severe and stabbing pains, especially when there is vibration, Bryonia can bring about a reduction in pain, it is also considered one of the main remedies. Phytolacca or Pulsatilla are indicated in cases of radiating pain in the shoulder and neck. They are also effective for negative mood changes during breastfeeding or pumping.

These articles may also be of interest to you: Belladonna, ArnicaIn general, an antibiotic is indicated in cases of bacterial mastitis. In clinical practice, an antibiotic should be prescribed if conservative measures, such as mastectomy, application of heat and cold, have shown no improvement after 24-28 hours. The administration of antibiotics only makes sense in the early stages of the disease, so an early search for the cause is essential. Antibiotics of first choice are so-called penicillinase-resistant penicillins, such as flucloxacillin or cephalosporins.