Natural health with Megan Sheppard
Mastitis is a painful condition, not least because one of the most important things to do is to keep feeding from the infected breast, which is often a case of white-knuckling your way through feeding time.
The conventional treatment is antibiotics, and this is a condition that needs to be dealt with as immediately as possible since it can spread and worsen so quickly.
Green cabbage leaves, boiled and then applied to the breast while warm are an age-old remedy that really does work to help draw out fluids and inflammation. Your boy will be helping simply by feeding, however if this is simply too painful for you, it is important you still express milk from the affected breast.
It isn’t typical to suffer from repeated mastitis, but there are some mothers who seem to be more prone than others. Each baby can present new issues with latching and positioning while breastfeeding, so it may be worth checking that your boy is getting optimal milk flow with a lactation consultant.
With your child being the youngest of three, it is common for feeds to be interrupted or cut short due to a busy household. Stress and fatigue are other contributing issues.
Tongue-tie can also affect latch and flow. It is important to bring this to the attention of your GP.
Vitamin C and lecithin are often given to help treat and prevent recurrent mastitis.
Homeopathically, Phytolacca is a popular choice, often taken alternately with hepar sulphur. It is a good idea to see a homeopath for a professional diagnosis rather than trying potluck with remedies.
My reactions include extreme diarrhoea, vomiting, rashes, headaches, dizzy spells, and tiredness. I feel much better when I don’t eat gluten or dairy, as these cause similar symptoms, just not as extreme. Do you know what might be wrong?
This must be a very difficult set of intolerances to live with, as garlic and onions are certainly found in most meals and many prepared foods and snacks. Consider looking for a health practitioner with experience in dealing with allergies and intolerances, who can help identify which foods and environmental triggers are an issue for you, and suggest a customised plan for eating optimally.
There may be certain combinations making matters worse for you, and it is highly likely that there is an underlying issue that you need to address in order to moderate the response your immune system has developed to certain foods.
The fact that your sensitivities appear to be getting worse means it is a good idea to identify (or rule out) the possibility of conditions such as coeliac’s disease, leaky gut and/or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Your symptoms aren’t completely typical of coeliac’s disease, but this is a condition that must be taken seriously as long-term damage can often be avoided through dietary changes.
Leaky gut is a condition where the permeability of the intestinal lining is compromised and unwanted nutrients and toxins seep through and cause a systemic reaction. A healthy gut allows essential nutrients to pass through the intestinal lining, but will block any toxins or allergens from passing through.
IBS, Crohn’s disease, coeliac disease, inflammatory bowel disease and food allergies have all been linked with the development of leaky gut, so you may well find that you are dealing with one or more of these conditions.
Once you know the nature of your condition, it is likely you will find that making the necessary diet and lifestyle changes will make a complete change to how you feel.
