Remedies for mastitis

• Treatment of mastitis with herbs should include , hot application to the breast at least four time daily ( See Natural lactation remedies for painful breasts Part 1 )
• Plenty of bed rest
• Nursing as often as long possible on the infected breast
• Breast infection are often always a sign of too little rest. Take a 10min nap for every 2 hours. It is important to nurser often keeping your breasts empty to promote healing ( breast infection will not make your infant sick)
• Propolis – it has a history of use against infection in Russia and a strong following among midwives in the North America It is said to accelerate healing time by increasing the body metabolism and general resistance to infection. A dose of 10-15 drops is recommended twice a day
• Enchinacea root is an excellent treatment of severe mastitis. use 1 oz of the root in a pint of boiling water let it steep for at least 8 hours. Drink 2 cups daily until the fever comes down. Then make lighter infusion. 1 oz of the root to a quart of the boiling water and drink 1-2 cups daily for another week.

Sore Nipples

Although sore nipples heal rapidly often within a few day, it is easier to prevent them rather then to treat them. If your nipple are persistently sore or suddenly sore, you may have a thrush infection. Further symptons of thrush include pink, flaky skin and itchy nipples. if you have sore nipple , you may still continue to nurse to help promote healing

Preventing sore nipples

• Expose your breast to air. do not wear a bra the whole day and night. wear your nursing bra with flap down if possible
• Rub olive oil, sweet almond oil , lanolin or comfrey root ointment into the nipples during the latter part of pregnancy and beginning weeks of nursing
• Place the baby correctly making the whole areola is in the mouth and the nipple is centered.
• Experiment with different nursing positions.
• Nurse as often so that the baby does not get too hungry enough to have a tear at the breasts
• Avoid washing the nipple with soap. Soap removes natural oil

Remedies for Sore Nipples

• Apply crushed ice in a wet cloth or a wet frozen gauze pad to the nipple immediately before nursing. Ice is a good painkiller and it can bring out soft small nipple of a full breast so that the baby can feed easily
• use Comfrey Root ointment to soften and strengthen nipples at the same time. Comfrey root ointment are exceptionally soothing to sensitive nipples and rapidly heal any tissue or bruise. be sure to rinse the ointment off the areola before nursing so that the baby can grasp the breast properly.
• Yarrow leaf leaf / ointment can relieve pain and heals cracked nipples rapidly
• Apply clear Aloe vera leaf to soothe and heal sore and cracked nipples. Be sure to wash off before nursing as the tasted can be quite bitter.

Happy Milking !!