Get friendly with your breasts! There is much confusion and fear about breasts. We equate them with nursing, pregnancy or cancer.
We must begin nurturing our breasts and massaging our breasts to reduce cancer. Breast massage is critical to breast health and should be a part of every women's self care.
The importance of breast massage
The underarm and chest area have a high concentration of lymph nodes. Lymph is a thin fluid that circulates throughout the body carrying waste materials. It passes through the lymph nodes which act as filters to remove bacteria, toxins and waste materials from your body. Stimulating these areas with dry brushing and breast massage promotes detoxification and prevents blockages.
When we wear a bra, lymph doesn't drain effectively from the breast. Dry brushing and breast massage drain the stagnant lymph fluid, stimulate fresh blood supply and reduce lymph build-up. Breast massage reduces hormonal breast tenderness and swelling. Learning how to breast massage is an effective preventative care measure to notice any changes in the health of your breast.
Breast massages help you detect lumps early on. Whereas some lumps are noncancerous and go away on their own, others need to be tested as soon as possible. Therefore, early detection is key, and regular breast massages tell you if something is abnormal. Massaging the breasts also releases tension in the pectoral muscles right underneath the breasts, which can get sore after exercising or illness.
Women who are pregnant can also greatly benefit from breast massage. Breast massages ease the breasts’ sensitivity and improve blood circulation to the breast. When you massage your breasts, you warm and loosen the tissues around the breasts’ milk ducts, improving milk flow. It is recommended for breastfeeding mothers to massage their breasts 15-30 minutes before it’s feeding time to help stabilize milk production.
How to massage your breasts with oil
Although there is no wrong way to massage your breasts, here are four important tips to consider for optimum health benefits:
1. When dry brushing, always use a natural bristle brush and on dry skin, before showering. Brush your breasts gently towards your armpit.
2. When breast massaging, apply 1-2 drops of Breast Massage Oil, formulated with breast-friendly oils onto each hand and place your hands under the breasts. Massage inward and upward in a circular motion, slowly covering the entire chest to promote lymphatic drainage and reduce the chance of breast cancer. Use this time to become familiar with how your breasts feel.
3. When learning how to breast massage, cup one hand just above your opposite breast (on the pectoral muscle) so that your fingertips fit into your armpit and your thumb on the front of your chest. With light pressure, gently pump the area in a rhythmic pumping motion to stimulate lymphatic movement.
4. Place your hand onto the top part of your breast and repeat this pumping action. Work your way around the outside, under, and then the inner part of your breast, around the nipple, and back toward the armpit. This sequence will drain lymphatic fluid away from your breasts toward your armpits. As an alternative, you can repeat this lymph moving sequence with gentle fingertip circles, similar to a breast self-exam for cancer detection.
This breast massage can be done daily by anyone at any stage of life. Remember to go bra-less as much as possible to help support proper lymphatic flow.
Overall, learning how to breast massage with oil promotes lymphatic draining, alleviates tension and soreness, reduces swelling, detects cancer, and helps you feel connected to your body.
This massage can be done daily and remember to go bra-less as much as possible to help support proper lymphatic flow.
At Oresta, we offer a variety of body oils so you can get breast massaging today. Try our Jao Goe Body Oil or our Eminence Apricot Body Oil to nourish and hydrate your skin while receiving all the benefits of breast massage.