Mastitis: A non-antibiotic treatment
1. REST! - Mastitis appears to be the body’s way of telling moms to SLOW DOWN. The old adage is really true: A BREAST infection is a REST infection! Get as much rest as possible.
2. Empty the breasts - Get naked (mom and baby) and get into bed and NURSE, NURSE, NURSE! Or if you are pumping, pump until your breasts feel slack (not full or hard), and not a minute longer. The goal is to empty the breast, but not to stimulate them to produce more milk.
3. Gentle massage - When your baby nurses on the affected side (use that side first), gently massage the breast towards the nipple. Massage the breast often during and between feedings.
4. Alternate HOT and COLD - between feedings, use a COLD compress or cabbage leaves on the breast to help reduce inflammation. A very warm shower can help – let the water just run over your breast. Some find placing a HOT compress directly on the affected breast before nursing to be helpful, while others prefer to stick to just the cold. Compresses that can be helpful (soak a clean washcloth in the infusion to create the compress and heat):
a. Rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) infusion: to make an infusion, add 2-4 teaspoons of fresh or dried rosemary to a cup of boiling water. Infuse (steep) for 10 minutes, then strain.
b. Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale) infusion: boil about an ounce of minced dandelion root in two to three cups of water until only half the liquid remains; soak a clean washcloth in the resulting liquid to create the compress.
5. Anti-inflammatory tea - brew up a batch and drink this tea all day (it may be diluted). Simmer ginger root (2 inches, fresh, peeled), turmeric root (2 inches, fresh, peeled), 1 cinnamon stick in 6 cups of water for 20 minutes.
6. Probiotic supplement – Designs for Health, Jarrowdophillus or other similar brand: DOUBLE DOSE taken 2x/day, and or probiotic/fermented foods.
7. Raw garlic – At least 2-3 raw cloves per day, 4-5 cloves a day if possible. Chop a clove into 5 or 6 pieces, swallow the pieces whole like pills. The antimicrobial property in garlic, allicin, is very sensitive to heat and is destroyed when cooked. In order for it to work, it needs to be raw. Swallowing the cloves with orange juice helps with the taste for some. Allicin is also what gives garlic its pungent odor, so the deodorized garlic capsules that some companies offer are less effective if taken for the antimicrobial properties; they are still beneficial for reducing blood pressure and stimulating the immune system.
8. Herbal tinctures - proper administration is SUBLINGUAL, so hold the tincture liquid under the tongue for 10 seconds before swallowing and do not drink or eat anything for 15 minutes after taking tincture. DO NOT DILUTE.
a. Echinacea tincture, 3-4 times/day, 2 droppers full under the tongue.
b. Tincture of Oregon grape root, 3-4 times a day, 2 droppers full under the tongue.
9. Vitamin C - (3000-5000 mg/day megadose). If you prefer not to take supplements, consume significant vitamin C through your diet and teas. Red clover blossom tea is an unsung source of vitamin C
10. Ibuprofen - 600mg every 6 hours for 48 hours, which will help with inflammation and pain.
If the mastitis does not improve or gets worse after using this treatment for 24-48 hours, contact your midwives – you may need antibiotic treatment.