Fibrocystic Breast Disease
(Chronic Cystic Mastitis)

Diet and Nutrition: (references)

• Reduce all fats to less than 20% of the diet, especially saturated fats (animal products)
• Eat more high fiber foods (reduces estrogen level by decreasing bowel transit time)
• Vegan diet is recommended
• Eat more soy protein products, such as tofu and tempeh
• Avoid dairy products
• Avoid chocolate, coffee, colas, and black tea (all forms of caffeine/methyl xanthine)

Vitamins and Minerals: (references)

• Beta Carotene: 50 - 300,000 I.U.
• Vitamin C: 2 - 5 gm.
• Vitamin E: 800 I.U.
• Vitamin B-Complex: 5 - 10 times the normal daily dose
• Vitamin B6: 200 mg.
• Iodine (SSKI): 6 - 8 drops (cut back after 2 weeks to 2 - 4 drops)

Supplements: (references)

• Omega 3 Fatty Acids: 1 -5 gm. TID
• Omega 6 Fatty Acids : 500 mg. TID
• Acidophilus and Bifidus: 1 capsule between meals
• Ovary, Pituitary, Adrenal and Liver Glandulars: 1 tablet TID
• *Lipotropic factors

Botanicals: (references)

• Formula - *Phytolacca decandra (2), *Arctium lappa (1), *Berberis vulgaris (1), *Scutellaria laterifolia (1), *Vitex agnus castus (1), *Dioscorea villosa (1), *Medicago sativa leaf and seed (1): take 1 tsp. QID

• Individual botanicals to be considered for this condtion:
  Arctium lappa (Burdock)
  Berberis vulgaris (Barberry, Oregon grape)
  Centella asiatica (Gota kola)
  Dioscorea villosa (Wild yam)
  Medicago sativa (Alfalfa)
  Phytolacca decandra (Poke, Pokeweed)
  Scutellaria laterifolia (Skullcap)
  Vitex agnus castus (Chaste tree, Monk's pepper)

Homeopathic Remedies: (references)

• Nodules in the breasts:
  
  aster, bell-p, bry, bufo, calc-p, calen, CARB-AN, carb-v, cham, chim, chin, clem, coloc, CON, crot-t, cund, dulc, foll, graph, iod, kali-m, kreos, lac-c, lyc, mang, nit-ac, phos, PHYT, puls, ruta, SIL, sulph, thuj, tub

(For an overview of Homeopathy, click here.)   

Other Therapies: (references)

• *No smoking
• *Some form of daily exercise (walking, cycling, yoga, etc.)

Recommended Labs:

• Rule out adenosis: Fine Needle Aspiration Biopsy
• Rule out breast cancer: X-Ray, Biopsy
• Rule out cysts: Aspiration Biopsy
• Rule out duct ectasia: Biopsy
• Rule out fibroadenoma: Biopsy
• Rule out galactocoele: Milk Culture Test (if lactating)
• Rule out lipoma: Biopsy
• Rule out lymphoma: Peripheral Blood Smear, CBC with Diff, Lymph Node or Bone Marrow Biopsy
• Rule out neurofibroma: X-Ray, Ultrasound, MRI, Biopsy
• Rule out Pagets Disease: X-Ray, Ultrasound, Biopsy, Scrape Cytology

*  The recommended use of this supplement or therapy is based on a physiological mechanism or empirical data and is not necessarily supported by peer-reviewed research studies.

Copyright 1998 - 2008 by L. Vicky Crouse, ND and James S. Reiley, ND. All rights reserved (ISSN 1527-0661).