Suggestions for Long-Term Breast Health

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Misty L. Trepke

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Good Morning!

 

Suggestions for Long-Term Breast Health

 

When treating women with breast conditions and/or those who have

concern for their long-term breast health (what woman doesn't?),

possibly the most important thing you can do as their

practitioner is teach them to take care of themselves. Below are the

suggestions I make to my female patients. I have even typed up this

list to use as a patient " handout. " Please feel free to copy

it for use in your clinic.

 

Suggestions

 

*Eat as many fresh, lightly cooked vegetables as you wish. Go easy on

spicy, sweet or greasy foods.

 

*Avoid overeating. This stagnates the stomach qi -- the stomach

channel irrigates the breast tissue. Stagnant qi in any form is bad

for the breasts.

 

*Try to avoid becoming overweight. There is a known relationship

between body fat, fat consumption and breast cancer.

 

*Stay relaxed. Remember the " serenity prayer, " or simply learn to

know the difference between what you can and cannot change and

control in your life and in the lives of those around you. Try to

let go of what you cannot change and work at changing what you can.

 

*If you cannot relax, use relaxation tapes or meditation techniques

to help you learn to do so. Stress, when not released or diffused by

some method, is an enemy of breast health.

 

*Avoid caffeine in as many forms as you can. Stop eating chocolate

except as a rare treat. Switch from coffee to black tea

(or better yet, green tea).

 

*If you can, get some form of exercise every day, or at least every

other day. It burns fat cells, reduces stress, increases energy, and

improves self-image.

 

*Eat meat sparingly. Use it in broths, soups and stews, and not

necessarily every day. Don't just eat chicken and fish; a variety of

meats is better over the long term.

 

*Grains (well cooked and/or in the form of noodles) should be the

foundation of any diet. Try eating something else instead of bread.

Try cutting back to bread products only once per day.

 

*When you use oil, use olive oil. Studies show it to be a better

option for breast health than other oils or fats.

 

*Do something for someone. Volunteer; participate in a community

activity; grocery shop for a sick friend; invite a neighbor for a

walk. Whatever your interests and skills, they are probably of use

to someone else in your community. Putting meaning into your life in

these ways is one of the best things you can do for yourself to

maintain overall health.

 

*Learn a new vegetable recipe once every week or two. Try them on

friends and family.

 

*Sugar is a no-no most of the time for optimal health. On the other

hand, moderation in all things is important for health.

Never eating a dessert probably reflects a very rigid personality.

 

*Breast massage and any form of self-massage is helpful in keeping

qi and blood circulating. Learn a simple self-massage regime from a

book or make one up for yourself.

 

*Don't beat yourself up if and when you do get an illness or disease.

Everyone's body will develop disease at some point in life. Focus on

the positive. Do as much as you can on your own to stay healthy for

as long as you can in life. Remember: in the end, no one gets out

of here alive. Be grateful for the blessings that you have.

 

*************************

 

A Traditional Chinese Look at Breast Cancer Prevention

 

I would like to thank Dr. Nan Lu, Ellen Schaplowsky and Honora Lee

Wolfe, Dipl.Ac. for this wonderful article on breast cancer

prevention.

 

An excellent book by Nan Lu, OMD, L.Ac. to recommend is Traditional

: A Woman's Guide to Healing Breast Cancer by Nan

Lu, OMD, L.Ac. with Ellen Schaplowsky

 

This time Nan Lu writes eloquently about the prevention and

treatment of breast cancer with TCM.

 

Begin With Mind-Set

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As a former X-ray tech who spent a summer performing mammograms and

collaborating on a report of the results, I am NOT a big fan of

yearly screening mammograms. For this reason, I particularly

enjoyed the section of the book on how to use TCM to manage breast

exams.

 

Nan Lu believes that constantly " looking " for cancer on a monthly and

yearly basis puts tremendous stress on a woman (as any of us waiting

for mammogram results can attest to), and that mental, physical, and

emotional stress can create or add to physical problems. Believing

that the mind has far more power than the body, Lu suggests ways

that the monthly breast self-examination can be used as an energy

healing experience. Instead of worrying about where cancer might be

lurking, he recommends telling yourself instead that, wherever you

touch, you are sending in healing energy to protect that location so

that you will never have breast cancer.

 

Lu suggests that if a woman IS worried about breast cancer, then she

should go ahead and get a mammogram to help eliminate negative

thoughts. If a woman does believe she should undergo annual

mammograms, he suggests in lieu of worrying about the potential

results to instead look at the tests as confirmation that your own

prevention plan is working.

 

Says Lu, " Using this positive approach to handling annual breast

exams is very important. I find that a lot of women become angry

when they talk about mammograms because they feel they are looking

for bad news. Many women also tell me how frustrated and frightened

they are just to think about taking these tests. If you don't

approach mammograms with a positive mental attitude, then the tests

themselves can exert a kind of power over you and your emotions.

Otherwise, these tests are almost like self-hypnosis where you think

all year long, 'I'd better go in for a check-up to see if I have

cancer.' Even though heart disease is the number one killer of

women, most don't walk around telling themselves, 'I better go in

for a checkup to see if I'm going to die from heart disease.' When

you repeat this kind of message constantly, you are actually giving

yourself very powerful, yet subtle programming. " (pp.188-189).

 

This emphasis on mental and emotional balance as the root of physical

well-being is deeply embedded in TCM and forms the basis of all

treatment, preventative as well as therapeutic.

 

 

Progression of Breast Cancer According to TCM Principles

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TCM theory believes that when your Qi is in balance and harmony,

illness simply cannot find a foothold.

 

It is also true that as long as your own healing ability is not

completely destroyed, at each stage, your body can control or stop

the progression of conditions leading to breast cancer.

 

In the earliest, non-detectable stages of Qi disharmony, you might be

aware of vague discomforts and intermittent symptoms.

 

In the second stage of progression, individual organs begin to

dysfunction and have trouble functioning smoothly and harmoniously

with other organs. Problems begin to crop up, such as menstrual

complaints, PMS, breast tenderness, migraines, headaches, or mood

swings. Still, nothing will likely show up on a mammogram or

physical exam - - and yet these very imbalances are calling out to

you to take preventative steps to bring your body back into

harmonious functioning.

 

In the third stage of progression, actual physical, structural

problems become evident. The flow of energy has stagnated or been

slowed down enough to take on actual form, resulting in masses or

tumors (which can be benign), infertility, endometriosis,

hysterectomy, and problems that can be diagnosed through physical

exams.

 

In the fourth stage of actual physical breast cancer, cancer's energy

overwhelms your body's own healing ability.

 

 

The Root Causes of Breast Cancer

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According to TCM, the root cause of breast cancer is two-fold.

First, it involves the stagnation of Qi in the meridians that run

through the breast area; Second, it involves the dysfunction of one

or more of the three major organs of the Kidney, Stomach and Liver.

 

Ancient practitioners have long recognized the three pre-conditions

for cancer in the body-Qi deficiency, cold, and stagnation. The very

essence of cancer is cold, yin energy. (Recall that yin in the body

encompasses things of solidity and substance). This cold can be a

result of Qi deficiency, of the organs not having enough Qi to

perform their natural functions. If Qi is deficient for a long

enough period of time, stagnation of Qi or Blood will inevitably

follow.

 

When energy is blocked or slowed long enough, it will take on form,

the way a dirt clod can form in a dry river bed. Just as flowing

more water through a dry stream bed will dissolve the dirt clod back

into the water, so will flowing more Qi or energy through a physical

tumor dissolve it back into the energy stream. Energy and matter ARE

interchangeable and ever-changing. This can be done at ANY stage of

stagnation, long before it turns to cancer.

 

Because TCM always treats the whole person, it fully recognizes the

power of emotions and mind over the body. Each emotion is connected

to specific organ, and over-indulgence in or complete repression of

any emotion can imbalance that particular organ.

 

To give an example, TCM considers the Liver the major organ for a

woman's health. We can all easily understand how dietary choices can

affect the health and functioning of the Liver-overloading the Liver

with unhealthy foods can weaken its ability to function with full

strength.

 

The emotion of anger is related to the Liver, as well, and if you're

always angry, or have difficulty letting negative emotions go, you

will create Liver Qi stagnation. The symptoms of Liver energy

stagnation can include headaches, poor digestion, and tight

muscles. Ongoing Liver Qi stagnation will create menstrual cycle

problems, and since the Liver meridian passes through the breast,

breast tenderness and fibrocystic disease can also result.

Ultimately, breast cancer can form.

 

One of the best practices for Liver health is learning to let go of

troublesome thoughts and negative emotions. Meditation is one

practice that calms and opens up the free flow of Liver energy.

 

 

HEALING HERBS AND FOODS

 

Lu discusses the other organ system imbalances, and the ways in which

lifestyle choices can be made to keep your Qi strong and free-

flowing, thereby preventing disease.

 

Lu's book includes checklists for self-diagnosis of problem areas in

your organ systems and lifestyle, with simple, common-sense

recommendations for foods, herbs, and exercises to keep the Qi strong

and healthy.

 

While I cannot go into nearly as much detail as I would like to, I

hope I have introduced you to a terrific resource that can help you

transform your fears about cancer to confidence in the incredible

innate healing capacities of your body and its ability to send you

hundreds, if not thousands, of small warnings that can readily be

heeded and transformed.

 

While Lu goes into the energetics of why each food is particularly

healing for prevention and treatment of breast cancer, below follows

a partial list of recommended foods to add to your diet and eat as

frequently as possible. I urge you to read and find out more about

what you can do to set your mind and body at ease!

 

Broccoli, Cauliflower

Scallions, Ginger, Fennel, Garlic

Eggplant, Celery, Carrot

Radish, Chinese Radish

Bamboo, Lotus

Beans, Chinese beans, tofu, bean sprouts, soy products

Mushrooms (any and all!)

Nuts: walnuts, pine nuts, peanuts, chestnuts

Dates

Pineapple, watermelon

Kiwi, lemons, pears

Honey, Bee Pollen, honeycomb

Barley

All Green Teas (do not buy decaffeinated)

 

I list the following beneficial Chinese herbs with one caveat: Your

best results will come with matching the herbs to your own personal

situation and constitution. If you do not have knowledge or

background of Chinese herbs, please see a qualified professional

acupuncturist/herbologist who can assess areas of Qi deficiency or

stagnation and accurately prescribe a formula for you.

 

Angelica root (Dang Gui)

Chinese White ginseng (Bai Shen)

Poria (Fu Ling)

Red Sage Root (Dan Shen)

White Atractylodes (Bai Zhu)

Zedoary (E Zhu)

Licorice root (Gan Cao)

Notoginseng (San Qi)

Astragalus (Huang Qi)

Hawthorne berry (Shan Zha)

Psoralea fruit (Bu Gu Zhi)

Dolichos seed (Bai Bian Dou)

Lily Bulb (Bai He)

Safflower (Hong Hua)

White Peony root (Bai Shao)

Germinated Barley (Mai Ya)

Cinnamon Bark (Rou Gui)

Corn Silk (Yu Mi Xu)

Prunella (Xia Ku Cao)

Chinese Yam (Shan Yao)

Lycium berry (Gou Qi Zi)

Motherwort (Yi Mu Cao)