Breast DIY

Video clips on techniques for those who would like to carry on Self Massage

or indulge their partner's with it. This site got loads of tips.

Self Massage

For Woman Only

Before you start - Caution

This self-massage mini routine is strictly for relaxation purposes. It is not to be used to treat health problems. Do not attempt it if you are pregnant or have any health conditions that might be affected by massage. Always consult a physician before beginning any new health or fitness routine.

Breast Massage

While one in eight women will find themselves in the grasp of breast cancer during their lifetime, you don't necessarily have to be one of them. The information provided in this brochure will give you some insight into how your breasts work and what you can do to keep them functioning properly.

The goal of this brochure is to help in the prevention of breast cancer. It doesn't make sense to leave your health to chance. Even the Self Breast Exam is designed to help you after you get a tumour or breast cancer. This is not to say that you shouldn't regularly check yourself for lumps. Early detection does greatly increase your odds of surviving cancer. However, waiting for cancer rather than actively participating in its avoidance can be detrimental to your health.

Breast Massage therapy can provide gentle and effective treatment of a number of the breast complaints that women have, including post-surgical and scar work, easing of discomforts of pregnancy and breastfeeding, treatment of congestion and oedema and alleviation of many of the causes of breast pain.

It is often in the process from age 35 onward as the breasts begin the slow process of replacing their functional tissues with fat that fibrotic problems occur. Massage drainage is used to significantly reduce discomfort from these developments.

Summary of treatment goals:

·         Relieve lymphatic congestions (lymphodema)

·         Prevent or reduce adhesions and restrictive scars in the breast especially after surgery

·         Reduce pain and discomfort from fibrous lumps or cysts

·         Alleviate breast discomfort during pregnancy

·         Reduce engorgement during weaning 

·         Foster and encourage positive self-image and attitudes to breast health

For obvious reasons most women can not find safe therapists that will support their breast tissue health. Learning to massage your own breasts is a vital component of personal health and hygiene. It is easy, effective, safe, and a powerful way to enhance not only the health of breast tissue, but your overall health as well.

Breast tissue is comprised of fat, glands, blood vessels, milk ducts, connective tissue, nerves and a lacy network of lymphatic vessels. The lymphatic fluid leaves the breast through this network of lymphatic vessels that empty into a system of kidney-shaped glands which filter lymph fluid called lymph nodes. 

These lymph nodes are linked throughout the body and act as a major line of defence against the spread of disease in the body. When lymphatic vessels and nodes become restricted through lack of physical movement, or clothing that is too tight, the body’s defence system begins to break down and disease can set in.

Our breast tissue and physiology and anatomy must be respected. There's a lot of fat and a lot of lymph glands in our breasts and if we don't take care of them through gentle massage and daily "maintenance" then problems can begin. 

Wearing a bra and not massaging our breasts weekly set us up for Cancer. Who needs it? You don't. And here's what you can do to stop it before it starts.

Behind the breast itself is the chest wall comprised of the Pectoralis muscles and the rib cage muscles, called intercostals, which assist in breathing. With tension and stress, these muscles become quite tender to the touch.

There has been much research recently supporting the correlation between under-wire bras and increases in breast cancer in women. The premise for this work is that the under-wire, as well as a bra that fits too tight, impedes the body’s ability to move lymph through the breast tissue, as well as diminishes blood flow and nerve function. 

Other problems occur with breast tissue that has been held tightly within the confines of a bra for many hours per day, such as fibroids, cysts, nursing problems, pain and discomfort, and yeast infections.

Massage therapy has been proven to assist in promoting healthy breast tissue, reduce fibroids and cysts, relieve the pain and discomfort associated with PMS or from compression from bras, relieving the pain and tension from stress in the muscles of the chest wall, assist in healthy tissue regeneration and scar reduction following surgery, and as a logical proactive step against cancer and other diseases. The goal of this article is to provide accurate, easy to use information about maintaining personal breast health through self-massage.

Here is where all our lymph nodes and the major "stations" are located at in our breasts. As you can see, it's a busy place and even MORE reason to massage them on a regular basis to keep the lymph moving. Better out than in, is our maxim. Here is an enlargement of a lymph node.

Recommended Breast Massage Routine 

The Basics

Massaging your own breasts only takes about 5-15 minutes and should be done 2-3 times per week.

Self massage can be done in the shower, lying down, or sitting… what ever is most comfortable for you, and appropriate.

The purpose of these techniques is to flush fluids from the breast, (both venous and intercellular), bring nutrition to the tissues and specifically remove the toxins via the lymphatic system. Also, these techniques will enhance the health and elasticity of the support ligaments, which will in turn provide you with better breast support.

More specifically, step One is a gentle draining motion designed to drain the breasts lymphatic system and is possibly the most important of the four steps. Steps number Two and Four are to assist in the movement of venous fluids. Feel free to experiment with these to movements and find what is comfortable for you. Step Three is simply to help keep your support ligaments in good health and assist in the fight against gravity.

This procedure should be done at least twice a week. It can be done on bare skin, but you may find that using some vegetable oil may be more comfortable. Stay away from mineral-based or scented oils.

Step One: Use your fingers to gently smooth away from the nipple. These movements travel from the nipple and directly away using no more pressure than what you would apply to your eyelid. Any more pressure would flatten the lymphatic vessel and stop the flow of toxins and fluids. Also, make this stroke slow, not fast, for it to be effective.

Step Two: Gently massage the breast with a kneading-like motion, using lifting and pressing movements.

Step Three: Slowly and carefully use your hands to twist the breast in a clock-wise and anticlockwise direction, being careful not to put too much tension on the breast.

Step Four: Use both hands as shown to apply several, moderate pressure, compressions to move out more pressure fluids

Another way (clip) demonstrating for you how to do it

Be Well