The information provided here is not a replacement for a doctor. You shouldn't use it for the purpose of self-diagnosing or self-medicating but rather so you can have a more informed discussion with a professional TCM practitioner.
Breast infection can be the consequence of several so-called “patterns of disharmony” in Chinese Medicine.
Chinese Medicine sees the body as a system, not a sum of isolated parts. A "pattern" is when the system's harmony is disrupted, leading to symptoms or signs that something is wrong (like breast infection here). It is similar to the concept of disease in Western Medicine but not quite: a Western disease can often be explained by several Chinese patterns and vice-versa.
A pattern often manifests itself in a combination of symptoms that, at first glance, do not seem necessarily related to each others. For instance here breast infection is often associated with breast pain, breast distention and breast lumps in the pattern “Blow Breast (Chui Ru)”.
Once identified, patterns are treated using medicinal herbs, acupuncture, and other therapies. In the case of breast infection we’ve identified two herbal formulas that may help treat patterns behind the symptom.
We’ve also selected below the one medicinal herbs that we think are most likely to help treat breast infection.
In Chinese Medicine breast infection is a symptom for the pattern "Blow Breast (Chui Ru)". Below is a small explanation for it with links for more details.
Milkvetch Roots (Huang Qi) is the king ingredient for Tuo Li Xiao Du San, a formula used for Blow Breast (Chui Ru)
Pulse type(s): Weak (Ruo)
Tongue coating: Partial absence of coating
Tongue color: Pale
In addition to breast infection, other symptoms associated with Blow Breast (Chui Ru) include breast pain, breast distention and breast lumps.
From a Western Medicine standpoint Blow Breast (Chui Ru) is associated with health issues such as Mastitis or Breast Engorgement.
Blow Breast (Chui Ru) is often treated with Tuo Li Xiao Du San, a herbal formula made of 11 herbs (including Milkvetch Roots - Huang Qi - as a key herb). Tuo Li Xiao Du San belongs to the category of "formulas that clear internal abscesses and sores", which might be why it is often recommended for this pattern. Its main action as a formula is: "Draws out toxicity".
Number of ingredients: 12 herbs
Key actions: Alleviates milk blockages and uneven supply issues*
Rating: from 123 customer reviews
Designed by Me & Qi's expert practitioners to tackle some of the patterns that can cause breast infection, Unblock Nursing Tea is a 100% natural and vegan product composed solely of the 12 herbs listed in its ingredients.
Source date: 1548 AD
Number of ingredients: 11 herbs
Key actions: Draws out toxicity. Expels pus from the interior. Tonifies Qi and Blood.
Because it is a formula often recommended to treat the pattern 'Blow Breast (Chui Ru)' of which breast infection is a symptom.
According to Chinese Medicine, Blow Breast (Chui Ru) can contribute to many health issues, including Mastitis.
Because it is a key herb in Tuo Li Xiao Du San, a herbal formula indicated to treat the pattern '' (a pattern with breast infection as a symptom)
Milkvetch Roots is a Warm herb that tastes Sweet. It targets the Spleen and the Lung.
Its main actions are: Tonifies the Wei Qi and stops perspiration. Tonifies the Spleen Qi and the Yang Qi of the Earth Element. Tonifies the Qi and Blood. Expels pus and assists in the healing of wounds. Helps to regulate water metabolism in the body and reduce edema.
Breast pain Breast distention Breast lumps Breast redness Fever White spots on nipples Uneven milk supply Breast pus discharge Breast hardness Constipation