Why do breasts swell and hurt after soaking feet in mugwort?

Written by Zhang Shu Kun
Traditional Chinese Medicine
Updated on March 05, 2025
00:00
00:00

When experiencing breast pain and swelling while using mugwort for foot soaks, it is primarily considered that mugwort promotes overall blood circulation, which may lead to painful hardness upon touching, mainly suspected to be caused by mastitis or a tumor. It is advised to promptly visit a reputable hospital to investigate the specific cause and rule out inflammation or tumors in the breast. This can effectively prevent worsening of the symptoms. Additionally, rest is important as mugwort foot soaks can be beneficial for bodily health, but if symptoms occur, it is essential to immediately stop the treatment.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
46sec home-news-image

Breast engorgement but not much milk, what's the problem?

Breast pain with scanty milk supply may be due to milk stagnation in the ducts. It is recommended to visit a formal hospital's breast department for an ultrasound or routine blood test to determine if inflammation is present. If the blood count exceeds 10,000, it indicates that the milk was not fully drained during breastfeeding, causing it to accumulate in the lobules of the breast tissue, leading to bacterial mastitis. In this case, it is advised to stop breastfeeding and treat the inflammation symptomatically. Local warm moist compresses, as well as peri-inflammatory injections of isotonic saline, can be used to help reduce the inflammation. Antibiotics such as penicillin, cephalosporins or erythromycin may be chosen.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wu Shi Ting
Breast Health Department
49sec home-news-image

What is the cause of breast swelling and pain before menstruation?

Menstruation has not yet arrived, but the breasts are already in pain—this is a common annoyance for many women. Many women experience swelling, hardening, and even pain in their breasts before the onset of menstruation. In severe cases, even slight vibrations or bumps can cause unbearable breast pain. What causes this? It all starts with a mysterious substance—hormones. Each menstrual cycle, levels of estrogen and progesterone rise, causing the mammary ducts and lobular duct endothelial cells to enlarge, and the ductal epithelial cells and stromal cells to become congested and swollen, leading to pain. Thus, different degrees of pain occur before menstruation.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Jia Rui
Obstetrics and Gynecology
44sec home-news-image

What is the cause of breast pain before menstruation?

If breast pain occurs before menstruation, it is likely due to stagnation of liver qi, caused by discomfort of liver qi. Initially, one can use some traditional Chinese medicines that soothe the liver and regulate qi for treatment, which are very helpful in alleviating these symptoms. It is also important to avoid frequent anger, anxiety, and excessive heat, as these can affect menstruation and lead to breast pain during this period. If symptoms of premenstrual breast pain recur, it is also necessary to visit a hospital for a detailed examination, and an ultrasound of the breast can be performed to check for any breast lumps or related symptoms.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Lin Yang
Breast Surgery
47sec home-news-image

Can breast engorgement and blocked milk ducts be treated with scraping therapy?

Breast pain and blocked milk ducts are not recommended for scraping therapy, as scraping can easily cause inflammation of the mammary glands and result in breast damage. Breast heaviness and blocked milk ducts are likely caused by the accumulation of milk in the ducts. It is advised to visit a regular hospital for a breast ultrasound to determine if the issue is caused by inflammation or lipid accumulation. If the condition is merely an accumulation, using a warm towel for heat compresses and massage can achieve the effect of unblocking the milk ducts. However, if the condition is caused by inflammation, and the symptoms are mild and the lesions are not severe, breastfeeding can still be continued. Nevertheless, the affected breast should not be used for breastfeeding. A breast pump can be used to extract the milk.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Zhang Chun Yun
Obstetrics and Gynecology
53sec home-news-image

Can breast swelling and pain before menstruation be relieved by massage?

It is advisable to go to the hospital for a systematic, standardized, and reasonable examination before menstruation if you experience breast swelling and pain, in order to rule out diseases that could cause such symptoms, such as mastitis in women, mammary hyperplasia, or breast cancer, etc. If these organic changes in the female breast are ruled out and the pain is considered to be caused by premenstrual syndrome, you may gently massage under the doctor's advice and guidance to alleviate the pain. Be gentle and slow in your approach, and pay attention to the technique; do not pinch or squeeze with excessive movements. Please follow the doctor's advice for specific actions. If you have further questions, please consult a doctor at the hospital.