The comments below reflect the personal experiences and opinions of readers and do not represent medical advice or the views of this website. The information shared has not been evaluated by the FDA and is not intended to diagnose, treat, or prevent any disease or health condition. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional for medical concerns.
Avoid Xenoestrogens
Posted by Louise (London, UK) on 06/07/2009
★★★★★
I would like to make some comments on the subject of Fibrocystic Breast Disease which I feel could really help others with this condition. Firstly, I have noticed some positive improvements with iodine, though I haven't been using it for long enough as it's only been a few days. I'm taking Lugol's iodine - 6 drops per day. However, I would also like to suggest some general lifestyle changes which also greatly help this condition. I made these lifestyle changes prior to using the iodine, as I've had the condition for approx 2 years. The first year I had the condition, I had pain 24/7, and high doses of Evening Primrose Oil weren't really helping. Then I made some lifestyle changes which made a huge difference.
I had read that Fibrocystic Breast Disease is caused by estrogen dominance in the body, and that in recent years this condition has worsened and now many more women than ever before are suffering from it. This has been attributed to the amount of 'xeno estrogens' which we are exposed to nowadays. Xenoestrogens are chemicals which mimic or behave like estrogen. Structurally, xenoestrogens are very different to estrogen but they are synthetic chemicals which may act as an estrogen. A build up of these chemicals in the body can cause hormonal changes to take place, and can cause breast cancer, uterine cancer, cervical cancer, cervical dysplasia, fibrocystic breast disease, ovarian cysts, endometriosis, adenomyosis, premature sexual development and uterine fibromas. Critics have proclaimed that these chemicals are for the most part 'weak'. However, they exist in the body in concentrations 100s to 1000s of times of the natural body hormones; also one researcher demonstrated that two 'weak' estrogens may act synergistically to give a strong estrogen response. Here is a list of things which contain chemicals which may mimic estrogen:
1. Pesticides & herbicides
2.Laudry detergent - laundry detergent persists in the clothes even after the first washing, gets on the skin and is then broken down by bacteria. It is then absorbed by the skin. If any estrogen is taken orally, it is 80 - 90% first pass metabolized by the liver before entering the body. In other words, the body only gets 10% of the estrogen when taken orally. By contrast ANYTHING ABSORBED BY THE SKIN GOES DIRECTLY INTO THE BODY. Looked at another way, ANYTHING ON THE SKIN HAS AN EFFECTIVE CONCENTRATION THAT IS 10 TIMES THAT OF AN ORAL DOSE.
3. Synthetic preservatives used in skin lotions, make up and body lotions such as the parabens that include methyl paraben, propyl paraben and butyl paraben. Also please note that many common sunscreen chemicals are strong estrogens.
4. Caffeine - According to a report in the October issue of Fertlity & Sterility, women who consumed at least 500 milligrams of caffeine daily, the equivalent of 4 or 5 cups of coffee, had nearly 70% more estrogen during the early follicular phase than women consuming no more than 100 mg daily, or less than 1 cup of coffee. I followed the above advice, and noticed a dramatic improvement in my condition, and would strongly advise any other women with this condition to do the same.
I was able to find alternative natural products for everything which I changed such as laundry detergent, I switched to 'soap nuts' which I now use with essential oils in my washing machine. These are available on the internet, as are shampoos which do not contain synthetic preservatives and soaps and skin lotions and cosmetics. I use natural zinc-based sunscreens instead of ones which contain the nasty chemicals. These natural ones do the job just as effectively as the others, and are readily available on the internet. I hope this is useful to other women out there!!.
Vitamin E, Eliminate Caffeine
Posted by Autumn (CA, USA) on 06/06/2009
★★★★★
I had fibrocystic breasts at one time in my life. It was horrible. Fortunately, all I had to do was eliminate coffee from my life. Once coffee was a eliminated, the cysts were go in 30 days. The only caffeine I consume now is the caffein in green tea.
Iodine
Posted by Ann (Vancouver, Canada) on 05/31/2009
★★★★★
Kelp tablets and seaweed do work for this problem for me. I started taking 2 - 3 a day and have settled on 5 or 6 in a day plus 2 sheets of nori seaweed. I love japanese food so I also will eat a seaweed salad plus sushi 1 or 2x a week. The kelp is ___ brand and each tablet has 650 micrograms of iodine. So my total per day is about 4 milligrams plus whatever is in the seaweed. I feel amazing. My breasts are now smaller and less painful, pain free actually. I have also gotten an energy boost from the kelp & seaweed and I sleep better. Interestingly, this has also lengthened the time between menstrual cycles. There is a published study showing that kelp consumption helps the body increase progesterone
(the author's name is Skibola, Christine I think). And much less PMS. Kelp rocks!
Rhodiola
Posted by Patricia (Edmonton, Alberta, Canada) on 05/10/2009
★★★★★
I've been taking Rhodiola for 5 weeks and have increased energy and have lost about 15 pounds that I have been struggling with for the last 5 years. I have had breast cysts that have disappeared and my memory has definitely improved. 6 weeks ago I attempted to climb the 7 flights of stairs to my condo when the elevator was out. I had to stop and rest at each floor. Today I take the stairs instead of the elevator without stopping at all.
When I started taking Rhodiola, my daughter had told me about it but I didn't know much about the herb only that it would give me an energy boost that I really needed. The only negative factor that I have experienced is insomnia, so now I make sure that I don't take the herb after about 3pm. I take 2 - 250 mg per day. One in the morning as soon as I get up with 10 oz of warm distilled water and the juice of 1/2 freshly squeezed lemon, and one around 3pm at my work breaktime with lots of water.
Iodine
Posted by Amy (Highlands Ranch, Colorado) on 04/28/2009
★★★★★
I'm 34 and have had fibrocystic breasts for the past 3 years. The tenderness was 24/7. The pain was not excruciating, but my breasts were always tender. My gynocologist told me all woman get this and not to worry!!
I told my osteopath and he prescribed iodine/iodide in a pill form. I've been taking it for the past 6 weeks the pain is gone! Not even a twinge. I should tell you that my osteopath also precribed selenium, evening primrose oil and vitamin E to take along with the iodide/iodine. I however believe it was the iodine - I was already taking selenium/vitamin e. Whatever it was - I found the magic bullet!
Rhodiola
Posted by Susan Cole (Beverly, Ma.) on 03/14/2009
★★★★★
I have cysts in my breasts and was having xrays at hospital done and they made my left side breast cyst burst . The pain was very bad and I went looking for natural cures and found Rhodiola rosea and one capsules stopped the pain . I took it every day from that time on to now. I use only natural cures now and eat natural foods only
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Rena (New York, NY) on 01/11/2009
Also, for Maureen, thanks for the rebounder suggestion, i'm looking at mine leaning against the wall in my bedroom! I will take your suggestion and start at day 1. I bought mine used so I don't know if its a good one or not, but I get some bounce from it.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Rena (New York, NY) on 01/11/2009
I want to thank everyone for their feedback. This forum is amazing! I will give the primrose oil a try once again at the suggested dosage and also upping the iodine.
I was finding some stomach upset with the primrose oil, but i'm going to give it a try. An MD breast specialist prescribed it for me years ago, I've had mixed results, but I'm going to give it a try. Thanks!
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Gina (Oslo, Norway) on 01/08/2009
Hi; no doctor involved in this I can assure you; no one in Norway are doing this test. I took a chance and self medicated me with lugols after reading about it on the internet. I have used it for 10 months now. First thing I noticed was that my nails stopped splitting. Next my body temperature went up; I am now almost back to my old self. More energy, skin improved etc.
Then the breast-pain ceased and is now more or less gone. (I have had FBDfor 20 years.) I plan to use it until further; as long as I feel I need it. I have given lugols to my kids to; with great success; improved at school, stop infection.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Jan (Chicago, IL, USA) on 01/07/2009
I have a question for Gina from Oslo. Did you have your iodine load tested before using Lugol's? Also have you had your thyroid function tested since using Lugol's. I would like to try Lugol's for my FBD but am leary. Do you plan to use indefinitely? Thanks!
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Gina (Oslo, Norway) on 01/07/2009
★★★★★
Hi Rena; I used Lugols (5%) for my FBD and it worked very well, but it took almost half a year before it worked properly. The biggest difference happened when I upped my dose to 50 mg a day; aprox 8 drops of the 5% lugols (or 25 drops of the 2 %)
In addition you may want to supplement with selenium, zink + good protein to keep your Thyroid in shape. Good luck; and dont give up!
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Haycee (Gauteng, RSA) on 01/06/2009
★★★★★
If lymphatic drainage is an issue, it may be easier and more comfortable to locate the pressure point for breasts on your feet. I found a 'special breast lymphatic drainage' hotspot on a reflexology body map and had amazing results overnight - engorgement and discomfort subsided dramatically. You will find the spot near your outside ankle bone more or less in line with your middle toe. The spot will likely be rather tender (mine was). I gently massaged the spots on both feet for a few minutes. I now make a point of massaging my feet every day. Good luck.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Maureen (Etobicoke, Ontario, Canada) on 01/04/2009
★★★★★
My comments are for Rena from New York: dated Jan 4, 2009. I do not know if the following will help you, but for normal breast soreness most women feel before their period, jumping on a rebounder (mini trampoline) will eliminate the tenderness/soreness. You need to jump daily and start when you are not feeling any pain so by the time of the month that you are normally sore, (in your case, day 15) you should be surprised that you are not suffering any discomfort at all. Work up to rebounding at least 45 minutes daily. It's easy to do, although I should warn you it's like any exercise. You will feel your insides "exercise" sore at first. So work up to the 45 minutes. Also a cheap Wal-Mart type rebounder is not a good idea; there is hardly any bounce to them. The bounce is what moves the lymphatic system and eliminates the tenderness/soreness.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Kerry (Los Angeles, CA) on 01/04/2009
I was taking evening primrose oil for the same thing. It didn't seem to help until I started upping the dosage. I now take 1 1,000 mg capsule 3 times a day (morning, noon, evening). It worked within 12 hours. I had tried flax seed oil well blended in yogurt too, but the evening primrose oil works best for me. I got mine at Trader Joe's -- very cheap. Says it is hexane free so maybe some brands are much more effective than others.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Rena (New York, NY) on 01/04/2009
Thanks for the feedback. I actually drink little to no caffeine at all which is why this is all so mysterious. From my own research lumpy, painful breasts are not a pre-cursor to breast cancer. Painful yes, difficult yes, but cancer no. I don't want other women coming on this site and being scared like I was...impt to remember we are not doctors.
I may up my iodine dose to 10 drops a day and see how that works. I do take magnesium every day. I'm watching my diet more now too. Giving up dairy, eating more organic greens.
If anyone has other suggestions let me know.
Iodine
Posted by Gina (Lethbridge, Ab, Canada) on 12/27/2008
★★★★★
My naturopath recommended Lugol's, eight drops per day, for asthma. I took it as directed and it completely cured a completely different problem. My breasts has been so painful, for nearly a year, that I had to hold them still with my hands when I got out of bed, crying from pain. Lugol's completely cured this. If I lower the dosage or skip it, the symptom returns.
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Terry (Minneapolis, MN) on 12/27/2008
★★★★★
I have had good luck with powdered magnesium (dissolves in hot water) and Evening Primrose oil. Cutting way back on caffeine is a must too. I know exactly what you are talking about. So painful!
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Laura (Carbondale, CO/USA) on 12/27/2008
Breast Cancer, hormonal imbalances, tender breasts, low energy, feeling cold, cracking skin, etc.
Please check out NASCENT iodine. There are different forms of iodine out there - RESEARCH this one extensively - chances are if it can't help you, it may benefit someone you know!! To a healthy life.... Laura
Multiple Remedies
Posted by Rena (New York, NY) on 12/25/2008
★☆☆☆☆
I have tried most of the remedies on here for breast pain. It starts right at day 15 and have varying degrees of intensity. I'm tracking what I eat and noticing how that effects the pain. BUT there are still days, like yesterday, that I was in so much pain i had to stay at home and felt like crying. I'm taking lugol's 6 drops each morning but that doesnt seem to have any effect. Does anyone have any other suggestions regarding iodine since it seems like there are so many different types. I have tried evening primrose oil (2600 mg per day), vitamin E (400 IU) etc...
Iodine
Posted by Ollie (Anchorage, Ak) on 12/12/2008
Hi, I was reading your comments about the iodine and the results you got with it but I need to know whether you took both the 5mg and the 7.5mg together.
Vitamin E, Eliminate Caffeine
Posted by Catherine (Wellington, New Zealand) on 11/14/2008
★★★★★
Yes.. 10 yrs ago I thought I had breast cancer, my breasts were so sore I could hardly move my arms. Went to the doctors and he asked if I drank coffee! I had been dieting for about 6 weeks and given up milk and sugar in my coffee, drinking about 3-4 cups a day. Doctor told me BLACK coffee was the worst culprit and gave me a little booklet (about 30 pages) listing all the symptoms and complaints linked to coffee consumption. A few days after discontinuing the black coffee all soreness was gone. I wish I had kept the little booklet, must have lost it in one of my many shifts. One thing stuck however..If you must drink coffee always add full cream milk or better yet cream itself, it mitigates the bad effects (but I forget the reasons for this) Cheers.
Vitamin E, Eliminate Caffeine
Posted by Anna (Philadelphia, Pa) on 11/13/2008
★★★★★
I just stopped drinking coffee (the only caffeinated drink) and it was gone!
Iodine
Posted by Amy (Marietta, Georgia) on 09/27/2008
★★★★★
For about 6 months, I was having increasing soreness and cysts in my breasts for the last 2 weeks of my cycle. My Dr. said I had fibrocystic breast disease and avoid caffeine and chocolate (not a good option for me!). I tried an iodine treatment posted here and was AMAZED at how quickly the pain and knots disappeared. I began taking 1 tablet/day of 5 mg Iodine and 7.5 mg Iodide. Noticed improvement within a few days. After 1 month I've cut back to 1/2 tablet per day, still with great results. I read some studies showing that low levels of Iodine are linked to greater risk of breast cancer, so I think Iodine supplements are especially good for me.
Vitamin E, Eliminate Caffeine
Posted by Mary (Regina, Canada) on 09/17/2008
Dear Mary:
Another thing that works for fibrocystic breast disease is lugol's solution iodine. Iodine is also supposed to prevent breast cancer. My naturopath said in 2-3 years the lumps will dissolve due to the iodine. I take 10 drops per day which is about 60mg of iodine. I also got a thermogram done to put my mind at rest and get a clear picture of my breast health. The thermogram (infra red picture of your breasts) shows changes years before any cancer gets a chance to develop. Relieved my worry and no radiation. Does anyone else have any thoughts on this?
Vitamin E, Eliminate Caffeine
Posted by Mary (Logansport, Louisiana) on 09/16/2008
★★★★★
Fibrocystic Breasts: Hey this stuff can hurt. I had it so bad my left arm was painful. I really thought I had breast cancer. The doctor told me to GET OFF THE CAFFEINE and take Vitamin E twice a day. It worked havent had a problem like that since then.
Iodine
Posted by Barbara (Baton Rouge, LA) on 05/26/2008
★★★★★
I had problems with Fibroystic Breast Disease and the doctor put me on 3 drops of Iodine in a glass of orange juice each day plus a pregestrone cream for the breasts...this works...no more problems.
Oil Pulling
Posted by Susan (Saratoga Springs, NY) on 12/02/2006
★★★★★
Have been pulling for about a week with organic sunflower oil. I have had fibrositictic breasts for over a year--the outside of left breast was a large cystic mass.That mass has almost completly dissapeared! My face and neck have been breaking out with pimples(i am rarely without at least ONE zit-) It just seemes that the pulling has brought out ALL the pimples that were "waiting" under the skin. I also have a "blooming" cold sore in the exact, and ONLY place i have had one( 3x) in the past. I guess it "pulled" out the dormant herpes virus. I am going to buy some other oils today(like olive, and hemp), as i have read that it is beneficial to alternate. I am feeling "strangely" tired this morning. any feedback would be awsome----thankyou (i have to go spit out my oil!
Iodine
Posted by Pamela (Pueblo West, CO) on 02/15/2006
★★★★★
Iodine cured Fibrocystic breasts, weight gain, fatigue, depression, over all poor health. Painted my stomach with iodine, and had a similar reaction as Candace. So now I paint my inside forearms, alternating each time... no problem now. Started taking Lugols at 2 drops daily increasing to 5 drops at this time. Within days I noticed a vast improvement in my breast tissue, my energy level etc. Within 10 days my breasts were normal. Energy still good, depression gone, better immune response. I always tested within the normal range on thyroid tests, however, I had all the symptoms, that is why I started taking the iodine. I was desperate to be normal again. I started Weight Watchers in October and lost 5 pounds in 4 months! It was almost impossible to lose weight even though I lifted weights and walked 6 days a week. Once I started the Lugols drops, the first week I lost 3.5 pounds. The second week I lost 2.8 pounds. It must be the iodine. I feel great. I am telling my family about Lugols because, my mother, grandmother, and both aunts have thyroid problems as well as other health issues I think the iodine could help. I'll lower my dose eventually to 2-4 drops but kick it back up if needed. This stuff is great!
Iodine
Posted by Jean (London, England) on 01/11/2005
★★★★★
I can confirm that iodine in the form of kelp is a cure for fibroystic breast disease. I have been taking it for about 10 years and it works so well that if I don't take it for a few days, say if I run out of tablets or forget to take them on holiday, my symptoms return within days. I have read that taking iodine can be dangerous if you have thyroid problems, but I don't see how the dose I take (1 tablet a day or 150mg) can be a problem. The side effects caused by conventional medicine e.g. diuretics, can be much worse, so I was determined to find a natural remedy. I think this use of iodine/kelp should be more widely known, but there seems to be a curious silence about it. Maybe it is too cheap and readily available as you suggest in your article! Keep up the good work.
Iodine
Posted by Ted (Bangkok, Thailand) 392 posts
Tracie:
My hot flashes have lessened also, which is curious and wonder if the iodine is the reason.
Yes. Most hot flashes are hormonal related. Iodine can help and it seems to work whenever you have lumps in the breast. I still find iodine cures to be amazing since it was discovered over 150 years ago. The reason why kelp do not work in some cases is the fillers and contaminants being introduced. So iodine that you use are often easier to deal with.
Anyway, his doctor became upset with him and told him to stop taking the pills because it would hurt his thyroid.
It would hurt his income, not the thyroid.
Iodine
Posted by Tracie (Willow, AK) on 11/24/2006
★★★★★
I'm in the process of experimenting with iodine to cure fibrocystic breast disease. I've had cysts since I was 13 and am now a menopausal 48 yr. old. (Can't even dicipher a self-breast exam since I'm so lumpy) I started with some kelp tablets and increased all the way to 8 per day. At that point the quantity of lumps was lessened but then a couple of them enlarged and were really sore. I then changed over to Iodonol tablets (iodine/iodide) and now the cysts are getting smaller and for the first time since I can remember, my breasts are beginning to feel like they are supposed to. My hot flashes have lessened also, which is curious and I wonder if the iodine is the reason. My son began taking these tablets in an experiment to see if this would eliminate his problem of cysts that he has in the fatty layers of his abdomen and under his arm. It seems to run in our family. He's type 2 diabetic but not typical at 6'3 and about 220 lbs. Anyway, his doctor became upset with him and told him to stop taking the pills because it would hurt his thyroid. ???? Does this guy know what he's talking about? I thought that iodine was good for the thyroid
Iodine
Posted by Jamie (Fairmont, Minnesota) on 12/15/2007
★★★★★
Hello you WONDERFUL people! Thanks you SO much for this resource! I was in the middle of my third serious bout with salmonella in a year and feeling little relief from the antibiotics after 8 days. After reading a book by Dr. Hulda Clark I am convinced that I was picking up Salmonella from milk products. Hulda says that Lugol's kills vicious stomach bacteria including salmonella so I got online looking for it when I found this site. I read through all of the comments and went looking for the iodine. Someone said I could get it at walmart so I tried. The Pharmacist had no clue about iodine deficiency and wouldn't give me the iodine he had ordered for me. How disgusting and irresponsible! I ordered the book by Dr. Brownstein, Iodine: Why You Need It and Why You Can't Live Without It along with a 2 oz. bottle of lugol's solution from amazon.com. I was very discouraged by the fact that there was no overnight shipping option available on the site. A day or two after ordering I emailed them expressing my discouragement and they responded with a toll free number that could be used to get overnight shipping. My Lugol's arrived a day earlier than expected and I tested for allergy on my foot. I knew I wasn't allergic since I have had iodized salt for ever, and I had no irritation from the iodine on my foot. So I began the dose recommended by Hulda for salmonella which is 6 drops in a half cup of juice after meals and at bed time. After reading the book by Dr. Brownstein and looking at the Optimox site I knew that 6 drops 4 times a day is equivalent to 150mg of iodine a day. The relief from the Salmonella began nearly immediately but was nearly complete after a day of the scheduled dose. I had no symptoms of taking too much iodine, so I continued to the third day at that dose (as recommended for treating Salmonella in Hulda's book). Then I cut back to 6 drops 3 times a day to counter my newly recognized iodine deficiency. Just so you know, the Salmonella are DEAD!!! And I feel ALIVE!!!
5 years ago I should have been diagnosed with fibrocystic breast disease but was told that my %uFFFDlumpy bumpy%uFFFD breasts needed vitamin E. I didn't take it seriously as I wasn't diagnosed with anything. I had just had my first child. Over the last 6 months I have had pain in my breasts not just before a period but at intervals during the month that wouldn't even allow me to hug my (now I have 3) children. I had no idea until reading this site and the information from Dr. Brownstein that I had fibrocystic breast disease, the precursor for breast cancer (which is so prevalent in this area that it should be a CRIME that people are not handed iodine by the government in giant sized rations!) The great lakes basin is the worst in the WORLD for iodine deficiency%uFFFDwe are the reason salt is iodized%uFFFDonly well enough to fend off goiter and mental retardation which were becoming a problem in the early 1900's in this area! The actual need for iodine by your body is 13.5mg a day and that's after fixing a deficiency. And that number does not take into account the other factors we are exposed to. (Halogens which replace iodine in the body everywhere around us%uFFFDchlorine, bromine, fluorine%uFFFDin bread, in toothpaste, in water) THIS IS EPIDEMIC!
Two days into my salmonella killing spree with iodine, I began my menstrual period without cramps. I have had such terrible cramps from my period that I have a stock pile of ibuprofen. (which makes your stomach bleed and hurts your liver) but what are we to do? IODINE! I have been on Iodine for 4 days now and each morning I wake up with cramps but almost as soon as I take my 6 drops of lugol's my cramps are GONE! It's like the cramps are there because my ovaries are begging me for much needed iodine to clean me out. I am so thrilled about this! By the way%uFFFDmy breast pain has diminished to almost none, and they feel like 16 year old breasts. No kidding. My energy level has sky rocketed and I am losing weight. (I should mention that I am taking the iodine with a liquid B complex supplement because Dr. Brownstein says it is possible to get heart palpitations and/or symptoms of iodine allergy if you are deficient in vitamin b2 and b3 since they are needed to transport iodine throughout your body. I can feel my metabolism normalizing%uFFFDit feels GREAT!
For a long time I have wondered why my ears hurt%uFFFDI thought maybe I was taking an autotoxic (something toxic to your ears) drug%uFFFDI wasn't taking any drugs other than ibuprofen%uFFFDso I wasn't convinced, but I was becoming afraid that I would eventually lose my hearing. I have also become slower in the brain over the last few years. I attributed it to the mercury in my fillings after reading Dr. Clarks book%uFFFDbut having seen the symptoms of iodine deficiency including hearing loss and cretinism I now believe I am severely deficient in iodine and I am so excited to not get any worse. I am getting better!
