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I’ve received a lot of calls lately about acupuncture and breast feeding. Many mothers are concerned with lack of milk production, and others have experienced the dreaded mastitis on more than one occasion. Both of these issues are something that acupuncture and herbal medicine can definitely help with (be sure to find an acupuncture practitioner who specializes in women’s health, especially fertility and pregnancy!)
Lack of milk: There are several ways to boost milk production, and acupuncture combined with Chinese herbs is a great way to help promote more milk and improved flow. Getting a an acupuncture treatment is a great way to determine why milk production is lower, and finding the best herbal formula to help. Each person has a unique constitution, and your practitioner will help you get the safest herbal formula for you and your baby.
Mastitis: Acupuncture treatment includes acupoints in the hands, legs, upper chest, and possibly a few near the inflamed breast itself. Mastitis is inflammation of the breast, often caused by blocked milk ducts. It’s necessary to move the stagnant blood and energy in the local area to clear the blockage, clear the inflammation, and get the milk moving again. Herbal medicine is also safe to take while breastfeeding- as long as you are taking the right herbs! Your practitioner will know what to give you.
If milk production just isn’t working for some other reason, purchasing milk from another lactating mother is another option, and this is usually this is done through breast milk banks. You can contact a midwifery organization or your local hospital for more information about this. You can also make your own formulas- a rice or goats milk substitute is commonly used (I don’t personally have experience with either of these, but would love more information from those who have used either of them!).
Oriental medicine is a traditional herbal medicine that has been used to defend against diseases for thousands of years. It also has been used as a means of
prevention of illness and disease.
As a board certified lactation consultant in private practice I am always honored to work with mothers coping with breastfeeding challenges. I frequently recommend holistic healing modalities for a variety of lactation issues. Of course understanding the root cause of the issue is critical and once that is identified appropriate treatment can make a huge difference. I’d urge any mother dealing with breastfeeding issues to include a holistically-minded lactation consultant in their circle of care.