Mastitis

[Pat Robinson]

I'd focus on magnesium sources, Nettles infusions are great, as are Epsom salt baths and Epsom salt compresses for comfort. Food folate, again such as in the Nettles or green smoothies will help the PPD and natural detox pathways. Bone broths are another wonderful source of minerals to support the immune system.

Whole food probiotics, rather than bottled, provide more different strains of microbials in larger amounts. Milk kefir (or water kefir is dairy free) has tons of probiotic benefits. Commercial kefir or yogurt has more limited microbials to recolonize the gut after that plethora of antibiotics. Bubbies sauerkraut has active live cultures also.

Probiotics alone are significantly beneficial for staphylococcal mastitis: http://www.greenmedinfo.com/article/human-breast-milk-contains-lact...

Selenium is specifically indicated for staph mastitis also. Brazil nuts are an easy whole food source: http://www.greenmedinfo.com/article/wheys-anti-staphylococcus-aureu...

This is an interesting study (in rats), "Fennel honey, propolis and bee venom significantly improve the immune response of rats to staphylococcal infection.": http://www.greenmedinfo.com/article/fennel-honey-propolis-and-bee-v...

Here are some additional "Breastfeeding Challenges Resources" from Mothering.com specific to Mastitis (scroll down about 1/2): http://www.mothering.com/community/wiki/breastfeeding-challenges-re...

Caprylic acid (coconut oil) has antibacterial activity specific to staph, including MRSA, also. http://www.greenmedinfo.com/article/caprylic-acid-has-antibacterial...

Tongue-tie, PPD and cystic issues are suggestive of MTHFR gene polymorphism issues. So, food folate is critical. I'd include heavy-metal tested kelp for the iodine source also. And Omega 3 fatty acids.

HTH,

Pat

[Rachel J]

I was able to knock out mastitis with lots of fresh garlic (like seven cloves, may have overdone it a bit, and got kicked out of the bedroom when the smell woke my husband up, lol), hot/cold compresses, lots of nursing, elderberry/echinacea. If it had been stubborn I would have done 1 drop of poke root tincture (or 5-10 drops poke berry tincture) and then repeated the next day if necessary. Lots of rest. These are more acute measures but clearly long-term support like the suggestions above are critical to preventing mastitis from becoming recurrent.