By Dori Ball
One of the first signs of becoming a woman is developing breasts. Remember silently hoping we were one of the first and not the last in gym class to turn in our little white tee shirts? As young girls, we anxiously anticipated the day that we could don that plain white cotton contraption that marked our journey into womanhood. We proudly wore our training bras like a badge of honor.
As we got older and wiser, we learned to pad, lift and separate those glorious orbs that seem to wield such power over the opposite sex. Blossoming into motherhood we learned of another power our beautiful breasts have... the awesome power to sustain life. |
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| One thing we never learned was how to keep our breasts healthy, though. After finding a lump a few months ago, I decided it was time. In researching breast cancer I found that there are certain risk factors that are beyond our control, such as genetics. I also found that there are many risk factors that we can control and no matter how young or how old you are, now is the time to empower yourself with this knowledge. |
Dori is a staff member of NIRC and Founder and President of Earth Elixirs, Inc.
Always an advocate for all things natural, in 2002 her passion for organics, including diet, prevention and healing, became a major focus in her life when her mother was diagnosed with cancer.
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Ditch The Deodorant!
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- Most antiperspirant/deodorants contain an active ingredient called Aluminum Chlorohydrate which has been a controversial topic since the 1950s and has been contributed to Alzheimer's Disease and Breast Cancer.
- Underarms have a very important job to do. They purge toxins from our bodies in the form of perspiration. Using an antiperspirant clogs the pores and hinders this function allowing toxins to stay in our systems and build up in the Lymph Nodes below the arms where nearly all breast cancer tumors occur. A better alternative is to purchase a mineral salt stone or a deodorant created with natural ingredients.
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Let Those Boobies Bounce!
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- Wearing a bra hinders the lymph nodes in flushing out toxins from the breast tissue and increases the risk of breast cancer, cystic breasts, tenderness and pain. Ladies... it is time to Burn that Bra!
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- Not ready to Burn that Bra just yet?
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- Opt for a bra or sports bra that fits loosely.
- During your menstrual cycle wear a larger sized bra as breasts tend to swell.
- Sleep naked or in material that stretches with you. Material with no give can cut off
circulation as you change positions throughout the night.
- Go without a bra as often as possible!
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Massage Those Mammaries!
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- Massage will help improve the flow of blood, keep the breast healthier, flush out toxins that are built up in the tissues and decrease breast tenderness.
- There are many different types of massage. The one that I find is the easiest and best
workout is a method that has been used in China for centuries.
- Cup your hand over your whole breast. Massage your breast upwards in circles toward your
armpit. Do one breast and then the other or both at the same time. You eventually want to build up to 300 circles a day per breast. This is a great workout for your arms as well as your breasts, just think of those extra calories burned!
- Breast massage can be done with or without massage oil. If you choose to use massage oil make sure that it is an organic blend of herbs and plant oils.
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Nourish Those Knockers!
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- Eat a diet rich in organically grown foods including daily servings of; olive oil, raw and cooked greens, whole grains, sunflower seeds, soy products, miso, tamari, cabbage, garlic, seaweed, fresh fruit, cheese, yogurt and flax seeds.
- At least once a week indulge in eggs, seafood, mushrooms, dried fruit and nuts.
- Enrich your life daily with nourishing herbal infusions and vinegar. Check below for a partial list of herbs and instructions on how to create infusions and vinegars.
- Avoid sugar, alcohol and tobacco!
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| The best herb for warding off cancer and keeping the breasts problem free is red clover blossom. Red clover is a potent anti-cancer herb and contains ten times more phytoestrogens than soy. A few other nourishing herbs are; alfalfa, burdock root, calendula, chaste tree berries, chickweed, comfrey leaves, dandelion (root and leaves), echinacea root, fenugreek, garlic, ginger root, hawthorn berries, horsetail, lady's mantle, lavender, lemon balm, licorice root, marshmallow root, nettle, oatstraw, plantain leaves, red clover blossom, red raspberry leaves, Siberian ginseng, violet leaves and wild yam root. As a rule of thumb, the more bitter the herb the less you need on a daily basis. |
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Preparing Herbal Infusions:
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Place one cup of herb in a quart canning jar
Using boiling water, fill the jar to the top and close the lid tightly
Let the brew steep overnight
Strain the herb out of the infusion
Drink the brew warm or cold
Refrigerate the extra infusion but make sure you drink it all within a couple of days
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Preparing Herbal Vinegars:
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You will need:
Large glass or plastic jar (one quart is a good size)
Plastic lid for the jar (if you use a metal jar you will also need waxed paper and a few rubber bands)
Herb of your choice
Apple Cider Vinegar (at least one quart)
Fill jar with fresh cut herbs – pack herbs tightly
Pour apple cider vinegar into jar to fill it completely
Cover jar with a plastic screw-on lid or several layers of waxed paper and hold with a rubber band
Label jar with the date and name of the herb
Place in a cool dark cupboard for six weeks
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| With herbal vinegar you not only reap the benefits of the herb you are harnessing the powers of vinegar itself. Vinegar improves skin tone, moderates high blood pressure, lowers cholesterol, prevents osteoporosis, eases arthritis pain and helps speed up your metabolism. Sprinkle your herbal vinegar on salads, infuse some in your kale greens or seaweed, create salad dressings and marinades with them... the list is endless. If you don't have time to cook, make sure you take at least one tablespoon per day.
For the best tasting herbal vinegars, try any of these herbs: apple mint, bee balm, bergamot, burdock root, catnip, chicory root, chives and chive blossoms, dandelion (roots, leaves and buds), fennel, garlic, ginger, lavender, mugwort, nettle, orange peel, peppermint, plantain, red clover, red raspberry leaves, rosemary, spearmint, thyme and yarrow. |
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Enhance your health and your life, rejoicing in the power of your womanhood and you too can say...
Thanks for the mammaries! |
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you can visit Dori's websites here:
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Excuse Our Faerie Dust While We Are Redesigning Our Website )
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