Breast massage is not often thought of as part of regular massage therapy, but there is no reason why it should not be. Considering the health benefits that breast massage can offer, both preventative and restorative, it should be considered as part of your routine to maintaining good breast health.
As preventative care, breast massage helps to improve circulation of both blood and lymph. Increased blood flow helps to bring nutrients to the tissues in exchange for cellular waste products. While stimulating the lymphatic flow helps to flush out harmful toxins that are stored in breast tissue. Breast massage is an excellent treatment to minimize the negative effects that environmental toxins and restrictive bras and clothing can have on your breast health.
Many women experience aching breasts due to hormonal changes, during pregnancy and breast feeding or just due to their regular menstrual cycle. Again, by increasing movement and flow and relaxing tension in the breast ligaments, massage can help ease swelling and reduce soreness and pain.
Limitations in the mobility of breast tissue can cause general contraction in the chest and pectoral muscles, resulting in restricted shoulder movement. Chest contractions can also pull the posture forward, resulting in mid back and upper back pain or the anterior shift of the head, which leads to headaches, jaw and neck pain. These postural changes can also be a result of injury, surgery or simply due to the weight of the breasts. Breast massage can help to loosen chest restrictions and alleviate these postural issues. Also see Structural Integration for correcting postural shifts.
Scars anywhere in the body restrict movement and flow. In breast tissue this can be even more significant. Scars from reductions to augmentations, from biopsies to mastectomies to full reconstructive surgeries, can cause pain and imped breast health by restricting the natural flow of fluids in the tissues. Easing the tissues around the scars, making them more flexible and mobile helps reduce discomfort and can greatly improve breast health in general. Also see Scar Release Therapy for the treatment of breast scars.
It is not uncommon to avoid areas of our bodies where we have experienced trauma. And breasts are an area where lots of emotions can be stored. After surgical intervention or injuries, breast massage can sooth tissues and help you to reconnect and feel whole again.
Breast health therapy is particularly helpful in the treatment of:
- Biopsy / mastectomy scars
- Breast cancer recovery
- Breast reduction / augmentation
- Open heart surgery
- PMS breast pain
- Pregnancy / breast feeding
- Engorgement / mastitis
- Frozen shoulder / limited shoulder mobility
- Kyphotic posture