Fibrocystic Breast Disease.

Fibrocystic breast disease. That's how the medical establishment classifies the condition of women whose breasts are lumpy, cystic, or painful, particularly around the time of their periods.
"It's not a disease," insists Dixie Mills, MD., breast specialist at the Women to Women health clinic in Yarmouth, Maine. "It's a normal, physiological condition that reflects the surges of the female hormones during this time of month."

In fact, says Dr. Mills, many of her patients have much less breast pain after they've been reassured that it's not a sign of disease or an omen of cancer. "Just the stress reduction from knowing her breasts are normal can eliminate a lot of a woman's physical pain," she says.
There are, however, many lifestyle factors that can aggravate benign breast changes-and a lot of alternative home remedies that can help keep the pain and lumpiness under control.

FOOD: Less Fat Means Less Pain
High-fat diets raise estrogen levels in the body, and excess estrogen causes the buildup of fluid and cellular tissue in the breast that leads to lumps and pain. That's why Dr. Mills recommends eating fewer high-fat dairy products and less red meat. Besides the fat, some dairy and poultry products contain hormones that may worsen breast pain and lumps, she says.

SOY: To Balance Out Your Estrogen
Soy contains natural estrogen, which balances out the excess estrogen in the body, helping to decrease breast pain and lumpiness, Dr. Mills says. "I encourage women to eat more soy-from tofu, soy milk, soy nuts, and other sources."

FIBER: Show Estrogen the Door
Fiber escorts excess estrogen out of the body, says Dr. Mills, helping to decrease breast pain and lumpiness. Most vegetables and fruits are rich in fiber, as are whole grains and beans. Dr. Mills particularly recommends high-fiber cruciferous vegetables such as cabbage, broccoli, kale, brussels sprouts, and turnips. They contain indole-3-carbinol, a chemical that helps block estrogen from binding to breast tissue.

IODINE: Get Relief with Ocean Plants
Iodine blocks estrogen from sticking to its receptors in the breasts, Dr. Mills says. The best sources of iodine are sea vegetables such as kelp, wakame, and kombu. You can use kelp in granulated form as a seasoning. To use wakame or kombu, soak the seaweed until it's soft, then cut it into small pieces and add it to soups.

CAFFEINE: Cut Back for a Week
Methylxanthine, a chemical in coffee and other sources of caffeine, stretches blood vessels, irritating nerves and increasing breast tenderness, Dr. Mills says. "I recommend that women decrease their caffeine intake from sources such as coffee, tea, cola, chocolate, and over-the counter pain relievers in the week before their periods," she says.

VITAMIN E: Ex Out the Excess
This nutrient is believed to help regulate excess estrogen, says Dr. Mills. She recommends 400 international units twice a day.

EVENING PRIMROSE OIL: To Alleviate Inflammation

Evening primrose oil, or EPA, contains a type of fatty acid that mutes inflammation and helps make breasts less painful. Dr. Mills recommends taking two SOO-milligram capsules in the morning and two in the evening.

PROGESTERONE: To Cut Estrogen Absorption
The hormone progesterone may help balance the receptors in your breasts so that large quantities of estrogen can't be absorbed, says Dr. Mills. She recommends the product Pro-Gest, a cream that contains real progesterone rather than the less effective synthesized variety (such as that in products containing wild yam), which may have side effects.

Following the dosage recommendations on the label, massage the cream into your breasts, abdomen, or thighs on a daily basis. But don't expect instant results. "It takes a couple of cycles for progesterone to decrease breast lumps and pain," Dr. Mills says.

MASSAGE: A Gentle Circulation Improver A gentle massage can help improve circulation to the breasts and decrease pain, says Jason Elias, a practitioner of Traditional Chinese Medicine in New Paltz, New York. "With your fingertips, make small, gentle, circular motions over the entire surface of the breasts," he says. "When you feel a cyst or a lump, massage gently around it, but never so hard that you irritate the tissue or cause any pain."

HRT: Talk to Your Doctor If you're on hormone replacement therapy (HRT), you may feel more tenderness in your breasts, says Dr. Mills. That's because hormone replacement adds estrogen and progesterone to your body. If your breasts are tender, perhaps your dosage should be adjusted, so talk to your doctor about this possibility.

The Most Soothing Relief: A Castor Oil Pack.
A castor oil pack applied to your breasts three times during the week before your period for a month or two can decrease inflammation and eliminate breast pain, says Dixie Mills, M.D., breast specialist at the Women to Women health clinic in Yarmouth, Maine. Here are her instructions.

• Assemble all the materials you'll need: cold-pressed castor oil (castor oil that isn't cold-pressed can be used, but it contains more toxins, she says); a large, soft flannel cloth; a plastic sheet of medium thickness; a filled hot-water bottle; and a bath towel.
• Fold the cloth into two to four thicknesses so it measures about 10 inches by 14 inches after it's been folded.
• Put the plastic sheet under the cloth and pour some castor oil on the cloth it should be wet but not dripping.
• Lie down and put the soaked cloth over your breasts.
• Place the plastic over the cloth, then put the hot-water bottle on top of the plastic.
• Fold the towel lengthwise and wrap it around the entire area. Lie on the ends to hold it all in place.
• Keep the pack in place for I hour. Afterward, cleanse your skin with a quart of warm water to which you've added 2 teaspoons of baking soda. Don't wash the flannel pack. Instead, keep it in a plastic container or plastic bag to use again; refrigerate it between uses. Do the treatment three times a week for 2 to 3 months. If your breast pain is eliminated, you can begin a once-a-week maintenance program.