AN ACUPUNCTURE APPROACH TO IMPROVED BREAST health of our spleen and stomach is one of the most important things we can

health of our spleen and stomach is one of the most important things we can do to prevent breast disease or, indeed, any kind of
HEALTH
By Honora Lee Wolfe, Dipl. Ac.
Acupuncture Treatment Suggestions
In acupuncture therapy, the chong is used to treat the viscera and bowels in relationship to each other, including the uterus,
kidney, heart, spleen, stomach and liver. One way the chong mai is commonly used is to harmonize the liver and spleen or liver and
stomach. Since the spleen is the pivotal viscera in this theory of breast disease vis-–-vis aging, it is important to be sure that the spleen
is included in any treatment given. Gong sun (SP4) is not only the hui meeting point of the chong mai, it is also the luo network point of
the spleen. Tai chong (Liv3) is known to not only harmonize wood and earth, but its name also suggests that it is a powerful point for
affecting the chong mai or, seen another way, affecting the relationship between the liver, spleen, stomach and heart. We also know
that the foot jue yin channel has an internal branch which homes to the nipples, and that tai chong, as a yuan source point, is one of the
most powerful points on this channel.
The chong mai is a yin channel. As such, it has no affinity to pathological replete yang qi. Therefore, if depressive heat from the
liver or stomach enters the chong mai, it may well be passed into the connecting du mai or governing vessel. The du is the sea of all
yang. Pathological heat will flush up the du mai and spread into the tai yang channels of the neck and upper back. This helps explain
why shao ze (SI1) is an empirical point for a number of breast diseases, and why tian zong (SI11) is reliably sore or tender in women
with breast disease.
In a typical TCM style acupuncture treatment, one might choose tai chong (Liv3), liang qiu (ST34), ru gen (ST18) and nei guan
(Per6). While these points are all right, based on the above discussion, I would choose additional points from among the following for
root and branch treatments.
1. Palpate da du (Sp2) and tai bai (Sp3) to check for tenderness. If either point is tender, it can either be needled very shallowly
(using a 40 gauge, #1 or gold needle) as a root treatment, or treat with 3-5 tiny threads of super pure gold moxa.
2. Alternatively, you might palpate gong sun (Sp4). If this point is tender, again needle it shallowly. If you have also needled nei
guan (Per6), you may wish to attach IP cords. In that case, I would use gong sun as the ruling point and black clip, but that
decision must be made in the moment. You may also conduct an IP cord treatment using tai chong (Liv3) to replace gong sun.
3. For branch treatment, one might palpate the back shu points between Bl17 and Bl23. Needle the sore ones briefly. Definitely
palpate the tian zong (SI11) area and needle the sorest point.
4. Also palpate dan zhong (CV17), ru gen (St18), shi dou (Sp17) and da bao (Sp22). It is likely that at least one or two of these
points will be tender. The two spleen channel points will respond to treatment with thread moxa, but I would needle the other two
points, pointing the needles downward to reverse any counterflow qi and heat.
disease, because the spleen is central to the production of qi and blood, proper movement and transformation of fluids, and as a
counterbalance to liver pathology.
What does Chinese medicine suggest in terms of a diet that supports the health of the spleen? Between 40-50% fresh, lightly-
cooked vegetables; 30-40% well-cooked grains of all types; not too many bread (flour) products; 10% well-cooked meats; and 10-
15% everything else (dairy, fruits, nuts, sweets, oils, etc.).
Exercise. Exercise controls stress by letting off steam, just like releasing the valve on a pressure cooker. It stimulates the lungs,
which helps keep the liver in check and encourages the smooth and harmonious flow of qi. Exercise also helps prevent blood stasis by
keeping qi and blood flowing smoothly.
Relaxation therapy. The other way to get rid of the pressure in a pressure cooker is by turning off the heat. This is analogous to
relaxation therapy in our lives. Instead of blowing off steam through exercise, we can turn off the heat.
Self massage. Breast massage has been suggested in a number of publications in China. It involves 100 gentle circles in each
direction over the breasts once per day. I would recommend this for any woman with higher risk factors for breast cancer and for any
woman willing to take the time. This is obviously meant to keep the qi and blood circulating freely throughout the breast channels and
vessels and prevent stagnation and stasis.
Herbal medicine. I am not trained in the use of internally administered Chinese medicinals. However, it is well known in the
Chinese medical literature that dandelion (herba taraxaci mongolici cum radice/pu gong ying) has a special tropism for the breasts.
One may use it either fresh or dried; it can also be used in congee, stir-fried greens, tea or wine. It clears heat, nourishes yin, resolves
fire toxins, rectifies the qi, and scatters nodulation. There are several recipes for using dandelion as a simple home remedy, and this
medicinal appears in many standard Chinese formulas used for treating breast disease.
References
1. Dan-xi Z. Extra Treatises Based on Investigation and Inquiry. Boulder, CO: Blue Poppy Press, translated by Yang Shou-zhong and
Duan Wu-jin.
2. Ibid, p. 64.

In patients with chronic fibrocystic breast disease or breast distention and pain, I would suggest doing some version of this
treatment once per week between the onset of the period and ovulation, and more frequently between ovulation and the onset of the
period when the breasts are often more tender. During this time, the woman should also be counseled about her diet and any lifestyle
choices that may either ameliorate or exacerbate her health problems.
None of us is perfect. Although most of us really do know what we should and should not do, few of us are able to maintain a
perfect lifestyle with no lapses. In that case, you may need to repeat a course of treatment two or three times a year to help a woman
keep her symptoms at an acceptable minimal level. A woman can do many other things on her own to help herself between treatments,
or better yet, to keep from needing treatment at all.

Preventing Breast Disease

Another quote from Zhu Dan-xi relates more to how women can prevent breast disease. Zhu states: "By eating too much think,
heavy foods or by bearing grudges, the portals (of the breast) will become blocked. As a cumulative effect of worry (which damages
the spleen and liver by knotting or binding of the qi), a dormant node may develop, hard like a turtle shell (but) with no pain or
itching. It takes more than 10 years to become a sunken sore · called suckling breast rock because it forms a depression like a rock
cave. It is incurable. If, at the initial stage of its generation, (one) eliminates the root of the disease by keeping the heart tranquil and
the spirit calm and administers certain treatment, there is the possibility of treatment ·"2
In other words, Zhu is saying that emotional health is the root of breast diseases. With proper diet and keeping the spirit calm,
serious breast disease is treatable or, better yet, preventable.
While we all know what to eat to support health and what other healthy lifestyle choices are, it never hurts to go over them
again.
Diet. Many women know about the studies showing the relationship of fat intake to breast cancer; caffeine and fibrocystic breast Source : Acupuncture Today, August, 2000, Vol. 01, Issue 08
disease; alcohol and breast cancer; and cruciferous vegetables and beta carotene. We also know that we should eat lots of leafy
greens and organic foods to limit chemical xenoestrogens, etc. Chinese medicine gives us another piece of information: maintaining the Compiled By : Abu Nidaa Thoe [http://www.rumahtherapysyafakallah.blogspot.com]