Healthy breasts are breasts that are loved. We have to stop beating them up.


~Dr. Christiane Northrup


flush toxins out of lymph nodes in the breast. Also, steer clear of chocolate and coffee, because caffeine is believed to interact with enzymes in the breast, exaggerating pain and lumpiness. Also consider ditching the bra,


says Vaughan. Brassieres can constrict lymph nodes and hinder blood circu- lation in breasts, locking toxins in and aggravating fibrocystic symptoms. The link between bras and breast cancer risk remains hotly debated, with one 2014 U.S. National Cancer Institute study of 1,400 women concluding un- equivocally that, “There’s no evidence that wearing a bra increases a woman’s risk of breast cancer,” while smaller studies from the United States, China, Venezuela, Scotland and Africa suggest a link. Vaughan, the founder of BraFree. org, says the science is compelling enough that she has chosen to keep her own bra use to a minimum and advises her patients to do the same. “Obviously, there are certain sports


where you should wear a sports bra and there are certain dresses that only look right with a bra,” says Vaughan. At a minimum, avoid wearing a bra to bed and steer clear of underwires and over- ly tight bras that leave red marks. “This is not about guilt-tripping women into never wearing a bra. It’s about wearing a bra less.”


Beautiful Breasts Naturally Too small or too big, lopsided or riddled with stretch marks… it seems almost every woman has a complaint about the appearance of her breasts. That’s a prob- lem, says Northrup, because, “Healthy breasts are breasts that are loved. We have to stop beating them up.” According to the American Society of Plastic Surgeons, the number of women getting breast implants for cos- metic reasons ballooned from 212,500 in 2000 to 286,254 in 2014. Physi- cians—including Northrup—claim that modern implants don’t, in the majority of cases, promote disease like older sil-


A Crucial Player for Breast Health


by Joyce Sobotta T


he lymphatic system supports every system in the body. This vast network is made up of tiny vessels, nodes and spleen. The lymphatic


system’s primary function—to isolate infection and debris and transport it through the filtration points known as lymph nodes—is a crucial player in the body’s ability to ward off disease and heal by generating and storing white blood cells that fight infection. The lymph is like a river; a healthy river runs clear. If lymph fluid is


blocked (due to illness, surgery, toxic overload, tight clothing or lack of activity), lymph fluid backs up. Extreme blockage may cause inflammation, pain, fatigue, infections, headaches, cramping, fibromyalgia, depression, and many more symptoms. Muscle contraction, as in the diaphragm with deep breathing, and manual manipulation as in massage, are the primary means for our lymph to circulate and drain from the body. The body depends on the circulatory system to supply it with needed nutrients and remove waste. Part of the blood escapes from the capillaries and becomes lymph fluid. There are over 600 lymph nodes which carry disease-fighting T cells to attack germs, remove waste and return plasma fluid back to the bloodstream. Human breasts contain lymphatic ducts and nodes that need palpita-


tion to fulfill their purpose of detoxification. There is twice as much lymph fluid in our body as blood. The lymph continuously bathes each cell. The body needs plenty of quality water for our lymphatic system to function optimally. Much of the vascular fluid, waste and all infection are picked up by tiny lymph vessels which drain away the debris through the circulatory system, before it can travel to other parts of the body. Fibrocystic breast tissue is not a disease. Statistics say that 90 per- cent of breast lumps are benign. A gentle lymphatic self-massage is an effective way to move lymph in the breast area and under the arms. Use a light touch, moving the skin instead of massaging the muscles. Enhance the massage by using a blend of pure essential oils such as Healthy Girls Breast Oil to nurture and protect breast health.


Joyce Sobotta offers free webinars and presentations to empower women with freedom from fear of breast cancer by taking preventative action. For more information, includ- ing a free PDF of The Nine Steps to Natural Breast Health, visit AromaTherapyNaturesWay.com.


natural awakenings May 2015 21


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