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Home remedies such as marigold and barbatimão compresses and oils such as copaiba and extra virgin, for example, are great options for naturally treating nipple cracks and cracks, which may arise during the breastfeeding period.
The healing, analgesic, anti-inflammatory and antiseptic effects of these plants provide pain relief, burning, decrease the discomfort when breastfeeding and accelerate the regeneration of the skin, allowing the fissures to close in less time.
In addition, they have no side effects, be it on women, babies or milk, so these medicinal plants can be used as a routine natural treatment, even if the cracks heal, in order to prevent them from opening again.
1. Barbatimão compress
Barbatimão is a healing, anti-inflammatory and antibacterial, which reduces the swelling of the affected area and helps to close the cracks that appear during breastfeeding. It still has an anesthetic effect, because it can relieve pain and burning minutes before breastfeeding begins. Check out other benefits of barbatimão.
Ingredients:
- 20 g of Barbatimão bark or leaves;
- 1 liter of water.
Preparation mode:
In 1 liter of boiling water add Barbatimão bark or leaves and boil together for 10 minutes. After letting it warm, apply it on moistened cotton or gauze and leave it on the breasts for approximately 10 minutes.
2. Marigold compress
The marigold tea compress can be used to speed up the healing of fissures and increase the production of collagen, essential for wound closure and to strengthen the skin, preventing it from opening again. In addition to having anti inflammatory and antiseptic activity, which help in relieving discomfort and pain. See the other benefits of marigold.
Ingredients:
- 2 g of marigold flowers;
- 50 ml of boiling water.
Preparation mode:
Mix the ingredients in a plastic container, cover and let stand for 15 minutes. After warming, moisten cotton in the tea, and leave on the cracks until the next feeding.
3. Copaiba oil
Copaiba oil is also one of the natural healing agents that can be used to treat and prevent nipple cracks that appear during breastfeeding. In addition, it also has germicidal, antitumor and analgesic properties.
How to use: apply a small amount of copaiba oil on the nipple that contains the crack and let it act for 40 minutes, after this time, do the cleaning and let the place dry.
4. Basil paste
Basil leaves can prevent possible infections and bleeding in the region where the fissures exist, in addition to providing a calming effect by generating a feeling of freshness at the wound site.
Ingredients:
Preparation mode:
Chop or knead the basil leaves until it becomes a moist paste. Then, put it on gauze and leave it on the injured nipple between feeding.
5. Extra virgin olive oil
Extra virgin olive oil has anti-inflammatory, antioxidant and moisturizing properties that speed up the healing process and prevent new fissures from appearing, in addition to strengthening the skin of the place where it was applied.
How to use: after all breastfeeding, apply 3 drops of extra virgin olive oil directly on both nipples, even when there is no crack and leave until the next feeding.
How to speed up healing
A natural option that can be mentioned to treat and speed up the healing of nipple cracks is breast milk, as it is moisturizing and healing, treats existing cracks and prevents the appearance of new ones. Thus, after breastfeeding it is recommended to pass some breast milk around the nipple and areola and let it dry naturally, without covering. In addition, sunbathing in the morning, before 10 am and after 3 pm can also help in the improvement of the present cracks.
If all the necessary care to heal the fissures has been done, but there has been no improvement, it is important to consult the obstetrician, so that guidance is given according to the need and severity of the injury, so that the discomfort is reduced without causing damage to mother or baby.
What not to do
Avoid using alcohol, merthiolate, moisturizing creams or ointments that were not recommended by the obstetrician, as it can harm the baby, since it comes in direct contact with the region and can leave residues that are difficult to remove during washing, in addition to the risk of clogging the nipple pores causing inflammation.
It is also important to remember that breast cleaning should be done before offering milk to the baby, as certain medicinal plants and natural oils may taste salty and slightly bitter for the baby, which can cause the milk to be rejected.
Created by: Tua Saúde Editorial Team
Bibliography>
- INT J MOL SCI. Anti-Inflammatory and Skin Barrier Repair Effects of Topical Application of Some Plant Oils. Available in: . Accessed on 01 Oct 2019
- CLINICS IN DERMATOLOGY. Virgin olive oil as a fundamental nutritional component and skin protector. 2009. Available at:. Accessed on 02 Sep 2020
- WORLDVIEWS ON EVIDENCE-BASED NURSING. Application of Extra Virgin Olive Oil to Prevent Nipple Cracking in Lactating Women. 2015. Available at:. Accessed on 02 Sep 2020
- J. RES .: FUNDAM. CARE. Medicinal plants used in wound healing by farmers in southern RS. 2014. Available at:. Accessed on 02 Sep 2020
- Use of plants in wounds by patients of the Regional Public Hospital of Betim (MG). 2000. Available at:. Accessed on 02 Sep 2020
- AGRONOMIC ACTA. Medicinal use of Copaiba oil (Copaifera sp.) By people of the best age in the municipality of Presidente Médici, Rondônia, Brazil. 2014. Available at:. Accessed on 02 Sep 2020