Intuitive Bodywork

Lymphatic Breast Massage:

An Effective, Proactive Way to
Breast Health and Wellness

"Massage therapy is an effective 'wellness' treatment for breasts, as breasts particularly need good circulation and tissue mobilization for optimum health. Poor circulation can produce various uncomfortable symptoms. Breast scarring (surgically and traumatically induced), which is more common than we often realize, can cause painful syndromes and obstruct blood and lymph flow.

Some believe there may be a correlation between chronic poor breast drainage and susceptibility to malignancy. Massage techniques and hydrotherapy may in fact turn out to be some of the most effective modalities for addressing such problems and promoting breast health.

Many women need more help becoming comfortable with breast self-examination than they receive in their doctors' offices. Some have traumatic histories and need assistance achieving a sense of normalcy about their breasts and the types of touch involved in seeing to their care.

As well, a skilled palpator may be more successful in picking up early-stage breast tissue changes needing medical follow-up than a client would herself. Given the time spent, the regular treatment intervals, the privacy of the circumstances, and the trained empathy and physical skill of the practitioner, massage therapists really have something to offer."

From"Breast Massage Deserves Attention" by Debra Curties, RMT in Massage & Bodywork Magazine, June/July 2001

The Benefits of Lymphatic Breast Massage

Relieves Breast Pain & Tenderness
Assists in Recovery from Breast Injuries
Relieves PMS Related Tenderness
Promotes Comfort & Breast Health in Pregnancy
Comforts & Support while Breastfeeding
Post-Surgical Care
- Speeds Healing
- Lessens Scar Formation
- Aids in Prevention of Capsular Contracture after Implant Surgery
May Help Resolve Benign Conditions
Increases Comfort & Helps Maintain Posture
- Opens the Chest
- Provides More Supple, Lighter Feeling
Promotes Proactive Breast Health
- Increases Circulation and Lymph Drainage
- Assists in Breast Health Monitoring
- Places Emphasis on Breast Health, Not Disease
- Empowers Through Gaining Knowledge & Becoming More Comfortable with Our Own Breasts

Breast Massage in Pregnancy, Nursing and Weaning

Breast Massage can be a wonderful addition to prenatal care and a source of support while nursing and weaning. The benefits of breast massage in the childbearing years include:

Reduced discomfort during pregnancy
Improved skin tone
Increased breast milk production
Relief of engorgement
Can Unblock plugged milk glands
Increased drainage during breastfeeding
Decreased appearance of scars and stretch marks

For Breastfeeding Support

Visit Breastfeeding Problems.com

Why Might a Woman Seek

Lymphatic Breast Massage?

Women often seek breast massage for pain or tenderness (chronic or cyclical) or for treatment of a variety of medical conditions. Others are interested in pro-active preventative breast health care, or feel that breasts are a natural part of their body that should not be ignored. Breast massage is beneficial for many women during pregnancy, lactation and weaning.

Massage can play a critical role in the care of breast implants and post-surgical care. Some women want to become more comfortable with their own breasts or having their breasts touched. Safe, nurturing touch can be a healing experience.

Most women want to attain more knowledge about breast anatomy, physiology, pathologies, risk factors and wellness care

After receiving breast massage, most women report feeling lighter and less restricted in the chest and that they are able to breath more fully. Decreased pain and lessened menstrual cycle related discomfort are often reported. An overall feeling of good health, a sense of freedom, lessened fullness and other benefits are typically reported.

Breast Massage Procedures

As a specific treatment, breast massage includes the back, neck and abdomen and is a 45 minute session.

Breast massage may also be included as part of any 75 minute or 105 minute massage, bodywork or prenatal massage session.

Breast Massage is never automatically included in any massage therapy session. Before proceeding with Lymphatic Breast Massage the following steps occur:

You request or wish to discuss lymphatic breast massage.
We discuss breast massage expected benefits, procedures and draping options.
You complete and sign the Breast Massage Addendum which includes a Breast Health Intake Form and Acknowledgement of Informed Consent.
As with any massage procedure, you may change your mind at any time!

Do All Massage Therapists Offer Breast Massage?

No. Many massage therapists have not received the specialized training or simply are not comfortable with providing breast massage. Although not as common as other techniques, breast massage is now offered by a growing number of massage therapists. However, Lymphatic Breast Massage has been practiced in other cultures for centuries and in the United States by a limited number of therapists for decades. The notion that breast massage is beneficial is illustrated in this newspaper ad from 1910!

In the U.S., interest in breast massage grew dramatically after Debra Curties, a Registered Massage Therapist in Canada and past president of the American Massage Therapy Association Council of schools wrote the book Breast Massage in 1999. Debra understood the health benefits of breast massage and made a mission of educating the massage therapy and medical communities about this work. You might expect Lymphatic Breast Massage to be more readily at clinical and medically oriented massage practices but today even some day spas, including Elizabeth Arden Red Door Door Spas, are now offering some type of breast massage therapy.

Alan Jordan, LMT, NCTMB has performed breast massage and taught breast massage classes at massage therapy schools and as continuing education since 1998.

Alan studied Lymphatic Breast Care with Dr. Bruno Chickley, MD and Breast Massage with Debra Curties, R.M.T., author of Breast Massage and Executive Director of the Sutherland-Chan School in Toronto, Ontario. He studied Massage for Breast Health with Susanrachel Condon at the Swedish Institute of Massage in New York City.