Cabbage leaf for lactostasis - how to apply, prevention

Useful properties and effectiveness of cabbage leaves

Cabbage is a commonly available cruciferous vegetable with high biological activity. Its beneficial properties are explained by the presence in the composition:

macro- and microelements;
B vitamins;
amino acids;
ascorbic acid;
phytoncides;
indoles;
beta-carotene;
fiber.

Cabbage is endowed with a long list of medicinal properties, so it is actively used in folk medicine. Cabbage leaves have antitumor, anti-inflammatory, and anesthetic effects. But to obtain a positive effect in the treatment of inflammation of the mammary gland, you need to know exactly how to properly use cabbage leaves for lactostasis.

Composition and benefits of cabbage for women's breasts

Cabbage is truly a folk remedy. People have used the miraculous properties of cabbage leaves since ancient times to heal many diseases. A healthy and tasty leafy vegetable is distinguished primarily by its high content of vitamins. There is even more ascorbic acid in cabbage than in citrus fruits.

And in the vegetable row, cabbage stands out noticeably because it contains an exclusive vitamin U - S-methylmethionine. This substance is famous not only for its healing properties (it even scars stomach ulcers), but also for its ability to catch and remove “strangers” from the body - dangerous, destructive compounds, including carcinogens.

In addition, cabbage contains a lot of sulfur, manganese, sodium, iodine, selenium, zinc, cobalt, aluminum, iron, copper, salts of useful elements, phytoncides, indoles, choline and lysozyme, organic acids:

Folic acid is especially necessary for women. It activates all metabolic processes, cleanses and renews the blood;
tartronic acid - actively fights cholesterol, excess fats and salt deposits. Relieves inflammation and relieves pain.

Cabbage contains many beneficial substances

Treatment with cabbage leaves is attractive due to its simplicity, accessibility and effectiveness. Such a green compress, applied to the area of almost any organ, will quickly relieve pain, heat and inflammation localized in this place, and cleanse the blood of toxins.

Why is this happening? The unique ability to provide emergency care is primarily due to the drainage properties of the cabbage leaf - a powerful natural filter that not only removes the symptoms of the disease, but actually cures it.

It’s not for nothing that a cabbage leaf resembles the shape of a bra cup

Cabbage leaves provide invaluable assistance to women's health, helping with unpleasant and dangerous problems with the mammary gland. It’s not for nothing that it probably resembles the shape of a bra cup! The active substances of cabbage juice literally rush to the affected area, quickly cope with the pathology and normalize the situation. All that remains is to throw away the used, unpleasant-smelling cabbage leaf - it has already absorbed the secretions of the healthier tissue.

By the way, it is this specific smell that indicates that the treatment is successful. Thus, infected fluids absorbed from the body by the cabbage leaf interact with the sulfur compounds it contains.

A whole team of biologically active components of cabbage works harmoniously to improve the health of the mammary gland. Metabolism in its tissues is improved by vitamins, micro- and macroelements, and indoles, along with selenium and zinc, normalize hormonal levels. Polysaccharides help phytoncides stimulate blood circulation and restore tissue at the cellular level, as a result of which swelling subsides and milk circulation improves.

Causes of lactostasis

The term “lactostasis” in the medical community usually refers to inflammation of the mammary glands that occurs due to stagnation of milk. The problem is typical for nursing mothers, but sometimes women in late pregnancy face it.

The main reason for milk stagnation is the “human factor”. That is, the problem is provoked by the woman herself, who does not follow the basic rules, the existence of which experienced mothers know. Provoking factors include:

Wearing tight and uncomfortable bras that tighten the milk ducts.
An incorrectly formulated diet, which is dominated by products that reduce the fluidity of breast milk and make it more viscous.
Long intervals between feedings.
Features of the physiological structure of the mammary glands (concave nipples and narrow milk ducts).
Sleeping on your stomach, resting during the day, or feeding your baby on one side.
Frequent expression of milk due to increased milk production.
Hypothermia, colds.
Injury to the mammary glands.
Negative emotions, stress.
Constant pinching of the milk ducts with your fingers (during feeding).

It is necessary to carefully protect the mammary glands from hypothermia, as this leads to vasoconstriction, which is the main cause of lactostasis.

What is lactostasis and the reasons for its occurrence?

Lactostasis is stagnant processes in the milk ducts.
If they narrow, the movement of milk becomes difficult, and its outflow decreases. Dense areas appear, the gland in this place hurts. Painful sensations are also felt during the feeding process. Insufficient emptying of the gland leads to increased pressure in the lumens of its ducts. Swelling occurs, the inflammatory process of the tissues in this area begins, which consequently causes pain. In addition, increased pressure in these areas reduces lactation. Milk that does not leave the gland begins the process of inverse absorption, which is characterized by an increase in temperature and the so-called “milk fever” develops.

The main reasons for the formation are the active production of milk and its poor output from any part of the gland.

Factors that provoke the appearance of lactostasis include:

violation of breastfeeding technique, in which the baby empties only a separate area of the chest;
pinching and improper squeezing of the breast with fingers when feeding;
position on the stomach during sleep, in which compression of the glands is observed;
use of tight underwear;
trauma and damage to the nipples, which complicates feeding;
draft or cooling;
individual physiology of the structure of the breast and ducts, flat nipples;
dehydration, milk becomes thick.

Lactostasis is dangerous because milk moves slowly through the ducts, inflammation appears, and then an infection can occur, which leads to mastitis, a more serious disease of the mammary glands.

Compress technique

Cabbage leaves require preliminary preparation. Cup-shaped leaves of moderate size are suitable for compresses, which must be washed with warm running water and dried with a towel before use.

All coarse elements (veins) are removed using a sharp knife. Cabbage juice has a healing effect, and in order for it to begin to stand out, you need to lightly beat the leaf with a wooden mallet. After this, you should apply the sheet to the mammary gland, ignoring the nipple area. For fixation, a bandage made of pure cotton fabric is used. An old but comfortable bra is put on over it.

The best time to apply a cabbage leaf compress is after feeding. The question: how long to keep a cabbage leaf during lactostasis should not arise. You need to keep it until the child gets hungry again and demands food. In any case, the duration of the procedure cannot be less than 2-3 hours.

If possible, it is better to apply a compress at night. Because this will not cause much discomfort that occurs when the bandage is dislodged. Before the next feeding, you need to wash off traces of cabbage juice from the mammary gland.

When you can't do without a doctor

It is necessary to consult a doctor (mammologist, surgeon) if self-help does not help within 1-2 days and the following symptoms of mastitis intensify:

the high temperature lasts for several days and does not decrease;
the temperature drops briefly after feeding and rises again at the next feeding, and these cycles are repeated many times;
axillary lymph nodes have enlarged;
the lump in the chest becomes larger, denser, more painful;
redness increases;
There is pus coming out of the chest.

How to apply cabbage leaf for lactostasis

When the first symptoms of lactostasis occur, it is recommended to apply a cabbage leaf compress, which can be with or without “fillers”. Women who are faced with this pathology are advised to consult a specialized specialist - a mammologist or gynecologist. Because compresses help in the early stages of the disease, at the very beginning of the inflammatory process. The following signs indicate the need for urgent action:

General malaise, weakness, increased body temperature up to 380C.
A feeling of intense heat in the armpit adjacent to the inflamed mammary gland.
Pain in the chest area.
Induration and redness of the soft tissues of the breast.

The cabbage leaf applied to the chest should be cool, but not cold. To achieve an optimal therapeutic effect, it is recommended to replace the leaves with fresh ones every hour.

Cabbage leaf with honey

Lubricate the pre-prepared cabbage leaf with natural honey, apply to the inflamed area, cover with plastic wrap and a clean cloth on top. Wear a comfortable bra.

The maximum exposure time is no more than three hours, after which you need to wash the mammary gland with warm water and wipe with a towel - without applying excessive force.

To achieve maximum therapeutic effect, it is better to apply the compress at night. To give the compress more pronounced healing properties, namely an anti-edematous effect, it is recommended to add a couple of tablespoons of raw beets, grated on a fine grater, to the honey.

Cabbage leaf without additives for milk stagnation

Information on how to properly apply a cabbage leaf for lactostasis is already presented in this article. But there are certain rules, compliance with which will speed up the healing process. Also, this will eliminate the occurrence of unpleasant surprises in the form of leaking cabbage juice, which tends to stain clothes and linen.

Increased juice secretion is observed during the first hour from the moment the cabbage face is applied to the chest. Therefore, it is necessary to take appropriate measures.
For a compress, it is better to take a leaf from the middle of the head of cabbage.
For lactostasis, a breast pump must be used, the use of which improves the outflow of stagnant milk and eliminates the infected “product”.
The sheet is applied with the concave side. You should not skimp and limit their quantity, because you can use several pieces at once.

Compress recipes

In addition to the classic use of softened cabbage leaves, you can use compresses with additional components that activate or complement the effect of this healing vegetable.

With honey

For lactostasis, it is recommended to use cabbage leaves with honey. This beekeeping product also has antiseptic and anti-inflammatory effects. To do this, grease the softened sheet with a small amount of honey and apply it to the gland, taking into account the general recommendations. Cover the breasts with a cotton piece of cloth, as the honey will bleed through and ruin clothes and bedding.

Important! Honey is an allergenic product. It must be used carefully. It can cause redness and itching of the skin.

With butter and salt

Mix butter and salt in equal proportions. Grease the washed, softened cabbage leaves with the prepared mixture. Attach them and secure them using a bandage or loose bra. Leave for about half an hour, remove, wash the glands with water at a comfortable temperature.

With curdled milk

For intense pain, it is recommended to grind the leaves using a meat grinder, pour in sour milk in a ratio of 2 to 1. Apply the resulting mass to a cloth and cover the entire area of the gland. Dried fabric needs to be replaced.

Prevention of lactostasis

To prevent stagnation of milk, it is necessary to carefully observe the rules of personal hygiene, as well as the temperature regime when performing water procedures. For example, a contrast shower for a nursing mother is unacceptable, because a sudden change in water temperature can lead to lactostasis.

It should be remembered that female breasts do not like hypothermia and overheating. After a shower, be sure to wipe the mammary glands dry with a towel and lubricate them with a neutral cream (for children).

If abrasions and cracks are found on the nipples, it is recommended to treat them with wound-healing ointments. There are a few more useful tips that are worth listening to:

You cannot feed your baby while constantly being in the same position. There are many options, and you can choose several suitable ones using the “individual selection method”.
The remaining milk must be expressed after each feeding.
The mammary glands should be protected from hypothermia, overheating, drafts, injuries and other negative influences.
It is not recommended to feed your child “on a schedule”, but only according to his need for food.

If the ducts of the mammary glands have a special anatomical structure, then the intervention of a competent specialist is required to eliminate the problem.

Reviews

Reviews from nursing women will help you understand whether cabbage is really effective for lactostasis. The opinions of young mothers about this folk remedy are quite contradictory. Most women speak positively about cabbage leaf compresses. Negative opinions are associated mainly with the use of the method in advanced stages.

Reviews from nursing women and doctors about cabbage compresses are given below:

Catherine . In the second month of breastfeeding, I encountered symptoms of lactostasis. A painful lump appeared in my right breast. I decided not to use medication: I was afraid that it would negatively affect the baby’s health. I read on the Internet that cabbage compresses help with milk stagnation. Within 5 days of use, the pain went away and the seal disappeared;
Valentina . During lactation, I experienced stagnation of milk. The chest turned red, became swollen and hot. A friend advised me to apply cabbage leaves with honey. She also had lactostasis. She cured him using this folk method. I made cabbage compresses with honey for about a week. During this time there was no improvement: my temperature rose, my chest became even more swollen and painful. I had to see a doctor. After examination and examination, it turned out that I had developed a complication in the form of mastitis. Therefore, I recommend using traditional methods only after consulting a doctor;
Victoria . During breastfeeding I encountered lactostasis. Mom advised me to make cabbage compresses with biokefir. I did not believe that the folk method could solve my problem. But after a few days the condition began to improve, and after a week the signs of milk stagnation disappeared;
Svetlana . Cabbage did not help me with lactostasis. I had to use pharmaceuticals. Perhaps the ineffectiveness of the traditional method is due to the fact that I started the problem and started treatment when severe inflammation had already developed. My friend managed to get rid of initial complications when feeding using this method;
Alyona . I cured lactostasis with cabbage and honey compresses. This method was successfully used by my mother and sister. Many of my friends also note the effectiveness of cabbage with honey;
Antonina . I have been working as a mammologist for more than 5 years. I do not encourage the use of traditional methods by patients. I see a lot of good reviews about cabbage compresses. But we must remember that this method can only be beneficial in the initial stages of the disease. Only a doctor can determine the stage of development of pathology. Therefore, if symptoms of lactostasis occur, I advise you to immediately consult a specialist.

Alternative compresses for lactostasis

To restore the child's normal feeding function and eliminate the consequences of milk stagnation, drug treatment is sometimes required. But in the initial stages, when the inflammatory process has not yet gone too far, you can use publicly available means.

Magnesium sulfate (magnesium)

A drug that has several therapeutic effects at once. The use of this remedy helps relax muscle fibers and dilate milk ducts. But it has side effects such as decreased blood pressure and decreased respiratory function.

To eliminate milk stagnation, the drug is used in the form of a compress, so there will be no side effects. To prepare the base for the compress, you need to mix 3 ampoules of the drug and pour the contents onto a piece of gauze folded in several layers.

Apply a compress to the problem area, with a dry cloth and plastic film on top. The exposure time is 2 hours, after which you should do self-massage of the breasts, followed by expressing milk.

Chlorhexidine

An antiseptic intended for external use, improving blood circulation, preventing secondary infection, eliminating swelling. To prepare a highly effective compress, it is advisable to mix chlorhexidine with magnesium in equal proportions. The algorithm of actions is similar to the previous paragraph.

Alcohol compress

Before carrying out the procedure, you should take into account that the skin on the chest is thin and sensitive. Therefore, the alcohol is diluted to a concentration of 30%. It is noteworthy that official medicine is against alcohol compresses for lactostasis, since the warming effect they have can aggravate the situation. In addition, alcohol reduces lactation. Even so, this method of treatment is popular due to its simplicity and accessibility.

Camphor oil

Helps only in the initial stages. The product is endowed with analgesic, decongestant, warming, antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties. To prepare a compress, you need to mix camphor oil and water in a 1:1 ratio, moisten a cotton swab with the mixture and apply only to the area where there are seals. The tampon is fixed with a gauze bandage, and the chest should be wrapped in cellophane and wrapped in a scarf. Maximum exposure time is 5 hours.

What is mastitis

Mastitis is an inflammation of the mammary glands. Typically, this disease is caused by Staphylococcus aureus bacteria. And the “entrance door” for these pathogenic microorganisms is usually the cracks that form on the nipples at the very beginning of breastfeeding. Also, staphylococcus can enter the breasts through wounds, eczema and other, sometimes minor, damage to the skin of the mammary glands.

Symptoms

Mastitis (in common parlance – breastfeeding) in most cases occurs as a consequence of lactostasis.

And its symptoms, in addition to pain, excessive hardness and swelling of the breasts, include:

increase in body temperature,
chills,
feeling of tension in the chest,
swelling of the nipple.

It is important to remember that not only nursing mothers or pregnant women can get mastitis. This disease affects women aged 15 to 60 years, and in rare cases it can also affect newborn girls due to improper regulation of hormones in the body of a nursing mother.

Principles of treatment

Mastitis is treated in two ways depending on the stage of the disease. Without going into details, you need to keep in mind that in the initial stages, when pus has not yet begun to form in the breasts, mastitis is treated conservatively, i.e. non-surgical. And if mastitis is not cured within three days from the moment of its appearance, then the doctor will probably prescribe surgery on the mammary glands, which cannot be avoided.

To determine which stage is initial or more advanced, you need to express as much milk as possible. At the initial stage, within 3-4 hours the woman’s temperature will not rise and the pain in the breasts will subside.

In this case, conservative treatment is carried out. This:

Express milk from both breasts (first from the healthy one, then from the sick one) every 3-4 hours.
Intramuscular injections of no-shpa and oxytocin (only as prescribed by a doctor and according to the correct regimen).
Intramuscular injections of an antibiotic (also only as prescribed by a doctor and in the correct dosage).

Traditional methods will also help in the treatment of mastitis. But they can only complement, and not replace, treatment.

During the treatment of mastitis, breastfeeding will have to be postponed, because medications taken, and in particular antibiotics, can harm the baby’s health. During the treatment period, the child should be fed with adapted milk formulas, and after treatment, continue breastfeeding.

It is also important to know that if you have mastitis, you should never wear a hard bra. It should be replaced with a bralette that will simply support the breasts, or with a bandage.

Contraindications

Cabbage leaf compresses have absolutely no contraindications for use. Except in cases of individual intolerance to this vegetable and the presence of open wounds on the surface of the skin.

Treatment and elimination of symptoms through the use of such a technique is not recommended in cases where lactostasis has already turned into the cystic fibrous form of mastopathy. Because the only correct way to eliminate the problem is to prescribe drug therapy.

You should not use compresses that contain, in addition to cabbage leaves, other ingredients that are allergens. For example, honey.

What is possible, but not necessary for mastitis

Apply a cold (!) cabbage leaf .
As soon as it gets hot, replace it with a new one. Use external swelling-relieving “absorbable agents”—not warming ones !

It's easy (!) to massage your sore breast before and during feeding.

Create a drainage position for the chest : bend over at the waist and lightly shake your chest with your fingers.

Using the edge of your palm, apply slight pressure several times from the nipple to the armpit (not vice versa!).