Sore Nipples and cracking

This is one of the main reasons a woman will discountinue breast feeding. There is hope for the breastfeeding mom to have some relief.

Pure Herbs  Partridge Berry tincure (squaw vine)
apply mixing it with vitamin e 100-400 capsules ( squeezed)
with 20 drops of partridge Berry and massage onto nipples 2 times a day.

Mastitis
* as always consult your Dr. first

Proplis which is collected and used by bees to make glue. It has a history in Russia to be great for fighting infections.  Follow directions on tinture bottle. ( you may find this at a health food store)

Echinacea - root tinture ( we sell this)  Using this as instructed on bottle  for at least a week may help this heal up faster.

Poke root  - this is a tinture that stimulates the lymph gland activity and clears up mastis quickly.  It can be toxic so be careful. Use no more than 2 drops a day and combine with Echinacea for acute or severe infections.

Poltices and soaks

These can be very helpful in helping you through the pain.  A poltice is fresh or dried herbs placed in a cloth and on the infected area. A soak is placing infected area in a soak of hot water.

Hot water by itself is known to do well.

Soaking in a sink full of hot water an lean over to place breast in water . If ingorged sqeeze some of the milk out while soaking .

Making a poltice - use Parsley leaf to stop milk flow, comfrey leaf  and Marshmallow root mix for reducing pain and swelling.
Cabbage leaves may also be just stuck right into your bra (dry ) but this may lead to your milk drying up so use this just for short whiles when your ingorged .

Combine the herbs together to blend. ( marshmallow root and comfrey leaf) take a hand full and place into a cloth ( cotton) . Place the cloth and the herbs in hot water ( you may boil the water but make sure it is cooled ) Place on breasts . You may do this several times a day , the shorter lengths of time and more often works best. You may reuse the herb poltice throughout the day.

To dry up milk using parsley do as said above only using parsely leaf ( fresh or dried) . Or the above cabbage leaf trick.

To prevent sore nipples

Continue to nurse ( sore nipples and thrush nipples are not helped by discontinuing nursing.) You can try nursing less time but more frequently.

Expose nipples to the air ( wear nursing bra down use cotton bras)

Olive oil , sweet almond oil , lanolin, or comfrey ointment rubbed onto nipples throughout the end of your pregnancy and the first few weeks of nursing can help.

try different nursing positions until you find one that works for your and your baby. The entire areola (dark area ) should be in baby's mouth and centered.

Offer nursing often. ( this prevents aby from getting too hungry and nursing agressively)

Avoid soaps, deodorant, powder and perfumes on your breasts. Start the practice before baby is born only using water to clean the breast areas.

some other herbs that can be used with sore nipples as a poltice.
Ice
Yarrow leaf - or oil ( tintures on the nipple) this helps cracked nipple heal quickly

aloe vera - from a plant leaf soothes the sore and cracked nipple.

Calendula mixed with some vitamin e oil helps heal and strengthen the nipple. 

 *** try to avoid the use of ointments containing ntibiotics and anesthetic drugs that can be potentially harmful to both mother and baby.

Yeast in baby's mouth or your nipple

If your baby has yeast you must be treated also.  It is passed back and fourth between you. Yeast can be in the form of white in the babies checks ( looks like cheese ) or a small bumby  diaper rash that does not respond to treatment. A nipple with yeast will have itchy and redness or no symptoms at all. Either way both must be treated.

For baby and mom suggested herb is Can- Sol this can be rubbed inside the baby's checks a few times a day by placing a few drops on a clean swab or finger and massage into checks and lips.  Same for mom the use of this with a few drops internally and some rubbed right into the nipple.  ( we sell this also Pure herbs Can - sol.

Red clover blend - this helps aid in getting rid of  toxins - this we sell also.

use of yeast creams over the counter but may be toxic to mother and baby so consult your Dr.  he can perscribe a perscription of oral drops. These options do have side effects.