Breast Tissue Changes
The breast is composed of two main types of tissues: glandular tissues and stromal (supporting) tissues. The glandular tissues house the milk-producing lobules and the ducts (the milk passages). The stromal tissues include fatty and fibrous connective tissue. Any changes in the glandular or stromal areas may cause symptoms of benign breast conditions.
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Some women experience changes to their breast tissue over their lifetime. These changes can include an increase in the number of breast cells (hyperplasia) or the emergence of atypical breast cells (atypical hyperplasia). In some instances, a portion of breast tissue that exhibits abnormal characteristics can eventually develop into a cancerous tumor. That is why physicians carefully monitor patients with abnormal breast cells, to ensure that if cancer develops at a later date, it is detected and treated early. Some patients with atypical hyperplasia may also be recommended to take the drug tamoxifen to help prevent breast cancer. While the appearance of atypical hyperplasia increases the risk of breast cancer, not all women with abnormal breast cells go on to develop breast cancer.
The following chart summarizes the typical progression of breast tissue from "normal" to "cancer:
Herbal Remedies
Evening primrose(Oenothera biennis)
The seeds of this flowering plant contain gamma-linolenic acid (GLA), which is a valuable anti-inflammatory. Evening primrose oil has been shown to reduce both cyclic and noncyclic breast pain.
.Red clover(Trifolium pratense)
Red clover is a traditional remedy for cyclic mastalgia. Recent research has shown that an extract of the herb significantly reduces breast pain and tenderness in nearly half the women who try it.
.Vitex (Vitex agnus-castus)
Vitex seems to have estrogenic activity in the body and has been shown to relieve cyclic breast pain.
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