Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[Julia F]

Hi everyone, I'm starting a new thread on this as previous ones are a bit outdated now. I'm hoping people can share any experiences. I've been doing some research about post menopausal breast changes, in particular tenderness and itchiness which I suffer from. [Public] online data is quite poor but I have access to medical journals through an university library and I've been trying to find out more. My symptoms are just itchiness which comes and goes and moves around from armpit to nipple. No rash, no dents, no redness, no inversion nothing. It is chronic at this point. I'm not on HRT and I have very few other meno symptoms. I'm checked annually by a breast specialist and they just say that they can't rationalise it. There is definitely some correlation to diet and stress. Western medicine points to hormonal changes and rare cancers. Eastern medicine points to poor nutrition, stress and ageing. I use bio-oil topically, and EPO and Maca Root orally. I'm thinking of seeing an acupunturist/herbalist with whom I've had results previously for gynae issues. Has anyone experienced success with alternative therapies for this particular breast itching issue? Please do share!!  xx

[CLKD]

It's lack of oestrogen.  'natural'.  Why is it that the itch is almost impossible to scratch  and mine always becomes a nuisance when I'm in public   

Lack of oestrogen may cause the body to become dry: inside and out.  Including the skin.  I use Nivea or 'vaseline' hand cream, gently, often.  No need to swallow anything which may aggravate the condition. 

[Julia F]

Hi there, thanks for your response! I get the lack of oestrogen bit but I think there is more to it than that. My symptoms flare up when I'm under the weather or stressed. But my brain tends to discount the pruritis when I'm occupied and content. I have found EPO and Maca root really helpful for flashes and night sweats but I only take them periodically. By changing my diet, including pulses, legumes etc. I have found menopausal symptoms much easier to deal with. But the itching continues!!  It's not bad enough to go on HRT and because of family history, it's not recommended for me either.
Hope all's well with you x

[CLKD]

HRT isn't banned unless there is a very good reason.  Not usually related to family members with cancer etc..

Whereas people take/use 'alternatives' without considering that they may well cause problems: these are not usually NICE regulated.  Sometimes they can interact badly with prescribed medications.  St John's Wort for example shouldn't be used if the person is taking prescribed anti-depressant medication. 

I wonder how many 'alternative' remedies have been checked against potential risks?

[Julia F]

Yes I'm sure you're right about all of that but I don't really want to go down the HRT route as I have no other meno symptoms other than pruritis currently. I know HRT protects your heart and bones etc. etc. but I am posting in this Alternative Therapies section for the very reason that I would like to understand what others might have used for this particular issue. It's just curiosity really. I'm not looking for a snake-oil solution!

[CLKD]

First catch your snake 

>shivers< .......... how people can keep them as pets   

Last Sunday I had a very itchy scalp, so bad that I had to wash my hair and then massage hand cream in, gently.  Then washed my hair the next morning.  I had been given the vaccine on Friday    .......... I did wonder whether it had nudged my hormones   

Let us know how you get on.