Supporting Sthanyavaha srota: A guide to breast health
by Alakananda Devi (Alakananda
Ma), M.B.,
B.S. (Lond.)
Breast health comprises a complex topic on several counts. The female breast is both an exocrine gland and a secondary sexual characteristic, it responds both to an array of endogenous hormones and to exogenous oestrogens and pollutants and it fluctuates both with the menstrual cycle and the life cycle. In this article we will consider issues in breast health during puberty, reproductive years, pregnancy, lactation and the post-menopausal years and will look at simple suggestions for ahara, vihara and aushadhya (diet, lifestyle and herbs) for each phase.
The breast consists of glandular tissue, adipose tissue (fat cells), nerves, blood vessels and lymphatics. Anatomically it overlies the pectoralis major muscle and is anchored to the pectoralis fascia by suspensory ligaments known as Cooper’s ligaments (1,2). The breast contains about 15 to 25 lobes formed by groups of milk glands, or lobules. Each lobule is composed of hollow milk producing alveoli or acini, and feeds into a milk duct leading to the nipples. The ducts converge near the areola, the darker area round the nipple, to form ampullae or milk storage cavities. Around the areola are small glands known as Montgomery's glands which secrete an oily substance that protects the nipples during nursing. Lymph nodes within the breast drain into the axillary lymph nodes in the armpit—the first place to which breast cancer will typically metastasize.
The breasts have several functions. As exocrine glands, they produce milk for suckling the young, a function shared in common with the mammary glands of all mammalian species. As a secondary sexual characteristic they form an intrinsic part of a woman’s attractiveness and hence of her self esteem and body image (3). And as detailed in ancient texts such as Kama Sutra and Ananga Ranga Sutra, and established in current studies in sexual medicine (4), the breasts also play a significant role in sexual arousal.
Telarche, or the appearance of breast buds, technically known as Tanner Stage 2 breast development, is typically the first change of puberty. The age of telarche has been dropping from a mean of 11to a mean age of 8.87 years for African-American girls and 9.96 years for white girls (5). Various factors that may be associated with a younger age of onset of pubertal changes include a changing diet pattern, adolescent obesity, stress, sexual abuse and oestrogen-like environmental pollutants. Earlier pubertal changes carry a host of potential social and psychological issues. It has been found that a vegetarian diet high in fibre can slow the age of onset of puberty (6) and obesity can speed puberty (7). Hence an important step for a pre-adolescent girl would be adoption of an Ayurvedic diet high in vegetables rather than a standard American teen diet of pizza, fries and soda. In terms of lifestyle, it is important to encourage an exercise progamme suited to prakruti, to work to reduce stress within the family system and to discourage the use of bisphenol-containing plastic water bottles, which are tied to a host of developmental issues including early puberty (8, 9, 10). Shatavari Kalpa is likely to be well tolerated by teens as it has a pleasant taste and will help support healthy breast development. Roast an ounce of Shatavari with one or two tablespoons ghee in a cast iron pan until light brown and add two tablespoons of sucanat, rapadura or turbinado sugar, two pinches saffron and a pinch of cardamom.Alakananda Devi (Alakananda Ma) is director of Alandi Ayurvedic Clinic in Boulder, Colorado, and principal teacher of Alandi School of Ayurveda, a traditional ayurvedic school and apprenticeship program. She can be reached at 303-786-7437 or by email at: info@alandiashram.org.