Breast Health Awareness Involves Self-Care

A Chinese medicine practitioner is able to determine each patient’s deficiencies to assist in strengthening the body to function properly. Whether the woman is going through chemotherapy, exploring options to improve a benign breast disease or just wants to learn breast self-care and nutrition tips, a practitioner will develop a tailored treatment plan. A recent BioMed Central cancer study conducted in Toronto reported that 47 percent of women with breast cancer seek complementary care in addition to their Western medical treatments.

         Lara Koljonen, LAc, a San Diego practitioner, says, “Breast health is movement. Moving your lymph tissue, moving your body’s energy and blood flow. With stress and negative thinking we create energy stagnation and block lymph, energy, and blood flow. The lymphatic system is different than the circulatory system, it does not have a heart to pump it, so it only moves when you move it using exercise and breast health techniques.”

         In addition to moving the lymphatic system and getting regular exercise, specific dietary choices can improve a woman’s overall health and possibly prevent breast cancer. Wendy Sellens, Lac, WABT-CI, another San Diego Chinese medicine practitioner, recommends avoiding foods containing phytoestrogens (such as those that include soy, flax and garbanzo beans) as well as sugary and processed foods, and alcohol.

For more information, visit the Pacific College of Oriental Medicine at PacificCollege.edu.