How to Massage Your Breasts and the Benefits

Knowing how to massage your breasts has important benefits. One of the most important benefits of breast massage therapy is promoting lymphatic drainage from the lymph vessels in and around the breasts. Stimulating lymphatic drainage may help prevent breast cancer and can also help relieve breast pain from a number of different causes, including pregnancy, breastfeeding, and PMS.

Reasons NOT to massage your breasts include infection or an undiagnosed lump.

Breast massage can promote lymphatic drainage.

Breast Anatomy

The fatty tissue of the breasts contains blood vessels, glands, milk ducts, ligaments, lymphatic vessels, and nerves. Lymphatic fluid from the breasts move through the lymphatic vessels into a system of glands (lymph nodes) that filter the fluid, removing toxins and other unwanted waste products. 

These lymph nodes are linked with other lymph nodes throughout your body and are an important line of defense against the spread of disease. When lymphatic vessels and nodes work less effectively, often due to lack of physical movement or tight clothing (especially a badly fitted bra), your body’s immune system works less well, weakening the body's ability to resist disease.

Do Massage Therapists Massage Breasts?

Most massage therapists don't massage the breasts, and in some places aren't legally allowed to do so. A massage therapist who does offer the massage needs specialized training that includes breast anatomy and physiology, indications and contraindications, pathology, draping, techniques, therapist-client boundaries, expected outcomes, and client safety.

The massage therapist should always ask your permission, and only do as much as you are comfortable with.

Massage therapists who want to massage the breasts need good training and clear and appropriate boundaries. Here's more information for professionals:

• Breast Wellness
• Lymph Drainage Therapy for Breast Care
• DVD: Therapeutic Breast Massage

How to Massage Your Breasts

Breast self massage is often the best option for women. The following video shows how to massage your breasts. Always be gentle to avoid damaging the ligaments that support the breasts.

Breast Massage for Breast Health and Post-Mastectomy

Sally Spurgeon, co-creator of the Spurgeon Method® (with Jennifer Shulte-Denman) to help women after mastectomy, discusses breast health and massage.

Breast Massage Essential Oil Blends

Massaging your breasts regularly with an aromatherapy massage oil may promote breast health. If you are breastfeeding, avoid getting oil on your nipples.

Breast Massage Oil #1

• 5 drops peppermint essential oil
• 5 drops ginger essential oil
• 5 drops lemon essential oil
• 8 drops geranium rose essential oil
• 3 drops clary sage essential oil
• 2 tablespoons carrier oil

Blend ingredients in a small dark bottle. Shake well and let set for eight hours before using. Apply a little of the blend to your breasts as desired.

Adapted from Essential Oils Complete Reference Guide

Breast Massage Oil #2

• 14 drops lemon essential oil
• 5 drops copaiba essential oil
• 4 drops palmarosa essential oil
• 3 drops frankincense essential oil
• 3 drops bergamot essential oil
• 1/4 cup carrier oil (rosehip oil and evening primrose oil recommended in equal amounts, but any carrier oil is OK)
  

Blend ingredients in a small dark bottle. Apply a little of the blend to your breasts twice a day.

Source: Tisserand Institute – See more information at Citrus Oils and Breast Health.

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Image: Maksim [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons