Cabbage: A Natural Home Remedy for Mastitis

You have recently given birth to a beautiful baby and are working at getting the hang of breastfeeding when you suddenly begin to experience flu-like symptoms. Your body aches, you are running a fever, you're tired, and last but not least, one or both of your breasts are hard, painful to the touch, and have red lines running up from the nipples. Hello mastitis.

Breast infections during lactation are emotionally as well as physically draining. Along with sleep-deprivation, raging hormones and possibly nipple pain from nursing, you now have to make a visit to your doctor's office or urgent care, right? Wrong. You (or preferably your husband) need go only as far as your nearest grocery store to find relief.

Fresh cabbage leaves have shown themselves to be a cheap, natural, reliable method of mastitis treatment for many women. Here's how to use cabbage to treat your mastitis:

- Place fresh cabbage leaves over your breast. They can be worn inside your bra or nursing shirt, or simply be laid over your breast while you are resting.

- Do not use the cabbage continuously, as constant exposure may have a negative effect on your milk supply. A regimen of two hours on, four hours off is recommended by midwives.

- In many cases, cabbage will draw out the infection within 24 hours.

My midwife and I recently discussed breast infections during a prenatal visit. When discussing the use of cabbage to fight mastitis, she related the story of a first time mother for whom she had recently delivered a baby.

"At 2:00 AM, the day after the delivery, I received a call from the father of the baby. He said the new mother was very sick with the flu. After a few questions I determined she had mastitis and told him how to use cabbage to treat it. He called me back at 6:00AM. 'It's gone. She is completely better.' "

While this method may not be 100% effective for all women, it is definitely worth trying. Using cabbage leaves to treat mastitis will save you time at the doctor's office and money for a prescription, as well as limit your exposure to antibiotics.

Along with using cabbage leaves to treat the infection, there are several other things to note when dealing with mastitis:

1. As much as possible, breastfeed through the infection. Though this is painful, it is important to keep the breast draining and milk production continuing. Breastfeeding with mastitis is not harmful to your baby, as he has already been exposed to the bacteria in your milk.

2. Warm compresses, along with warm showers or baths, can make you more comfortable and encourage your breasts to drain.

3. Wear clothing that is unrestrictive.

4. Continue to eat well and take your vitamins to boost your body's ability to fight infection.

5. Make sure to get your rest. Many moms experience mastitis 6 weeks postpartum. This is likely due to a mother's increase in activity and feeling like she should be completely recovered from childbirth at this time.