As
mentioned
in the Massage
Therapy Journal
Self Care for Your Breasts
The left side demonstrates the vascular system
of arteries and veins. The right side shows the
lymph nodes and direction of lymphatic flow
away from the breast.
While one in eight women will find themselves
in the grasp of breast cancer during their lifetime, you don't
necessarily have to be one of them. The information provided in
this brochure will give you some insight into how your breasts
work and what you can do to keep them functioning properly.
The goal of this brochure is to help in the prevention
of breast cancer. It doesn't make sense to leave your health to
chance. Even the Self Breast Exam is designed to help you after
you get a tumor or breast cancer. This is not to say that you
shouldn't regularly check yourself for lumps. Early detection
does greatly increase your odds of surviving cancer. However,
waiting for cancer rather than actively participating in its avoidance
can be detrimental too your health.
Your breasts are essentially structures made up
of fat and gland, mounted to the female's chest wall with a delicate
system of ligaments. The circulation in the breast is much the
same as the rest of the body consisting of arteries,veins, and
lymphatic vessels. In short, the arteries bring fresh blood too
the cells carrying along with it the nutrition that the breast
and its tissues need for proper health. The veins bring the blood
back from the cells along with cellular waste and toxins. The
lymphatics are designed to return the toxin and other waste materials
that lie in the intercellular fluid between the cells.
Toxins are believed by many to be the local beginnings
of cancerous tissue.It is imperative that these toxins be continually
removed through the body's veins and lymphatic vessels. When these
toxins are unable to exit the body properly, the possibility of
cancer increases.
A recent study* of 4,700 women found that women
who wore brassieres had an increased chance of acquiring breast
cancer. It is very possible that the constant pressure that the
bra puts on the breast is limiting the flow of toxins that need
to be released, resulting in the increased cancer rate. Any more
than a gentle amount of pressure can flatten the lymphatic vessel
and stop the toxic flow from the breast.
The Study found the highest rate of breast cancer
in those who wore bras 24 hours a day, and the lowest rate in
those who never wore bras. The study suggested that women should
wear their bra less than 12 hours a day.
* Singer, Sydney Ross. Dressed to Kill: The Link
Between Breast Cancer andBras, Garden City Park, NY: Avery Pub.
Group, 1995
Self Care
Now that you have a better understanding of
your breasts, it is important that you apply this knowledge
to your health. The four-step procedure shown on this page
will give you a simple massage technique that can be done,
by yourself,in the privacy of your own home. Although almost
any gentle massage technique will be of benefit, these four
techniques should be a part of your personal regimen.
The purpose of these techniques is to flush
fluids from the breast, (both venous and intercellular), bring
nutrition to the tissues and specifically remove the toxins
via the lymphatic system. Also, these techniques will enhance
the health and elasticity of the support ligaments, which
will in turn provide you with better breast support.
More specifically, step One is a gentle draining
motion designed to drain the breasts lymphatic system and
is possibly the most important of the four steps.Steps number
Two and Four are to assist in the movement of venous fluids.
Feel free to experiment with these to movements and find what
is comfortable for you. Step Three is simply to help keep
your support ligaments in good health and assist in the fight
against gravity.
This procedure should be done at least twice
a week. It can be done on bare skin, but you may find that
using some vegetable oil may be more comfortable. Stay away
from mineral-based or scented oils.
Step One: Use your fingers to gently smooth
away from the nipple. These movements travel from the nipple
and directly away using no more pressure than what you would
apply to your eyelid. Any more pressure would flatten the
lymphatic vessel and stop the flow of toxins and fluids. Also,
make this stroke slow, not fast, for it to be effective. Step
Two: Gently massage the breast with a kneading-like motion,
using lifting and pressing movements.Step Three: Slowly and
carefully use your hands to twist the breast in a clock-wise
and counterclockwise direction, being careful not to put too
much tension on the breast.Step Four: Use both hands as shown
to apply several, moderate pressure,compressions to move out
more pressure fluids.
Download our free video
showing this technique! Just
click on the image below...
If you run Windows,
you may need a player
to view this video. Click HERE
to
download the Windows Media Player
