Ok guys, I've dusted off the old issues of ALCA (Australian Lactation
Consultant's Association) News and found the letters to the editor regarding
'Epsom salts', which some of you were interested in reading. Permission has
been granted from the Editor of ALCA Galaxy, as it now called, to post. Kind
acknowledgment to the authors too.

From ALCA NEWS Aug 1991:

Blocked Ducts and Bath Salts

As a masseuse I am aware of the therapeutic benefits of a good long soak in
an "Epsom Salts"-(magnesium  sulphate) bath.. which seems to help toxins
released during deep tissue massage move through the lymphatic system to the
large intestine. The subsequent bowel action has a characteristic odour not
present after a soak in warm water without the salts.
Recently I was consulted on a Sunday evening about a woman with a caked
breast who had been on Bromocriptine for 2 days, and found no relief in
usual treatments (hand expression, heat, massage). As an interim measure I
suggested she soak her breast in a deep dish of warm water containing a
liberal amount of Epsom Salts. This brought instant and dramatic relief.
Perhaps magnesium has a local effect on myoepithelial muscle cells, allowing
them to contract where their ability to do so may be impeded by pressure
from distended ducts?

I would welcome any correspondence from LC's who may like to comment on the
use of  this technique, with a view to documenting several case histories
for later publication.

Tricia Hatherly, QLD

ED: The safety and efficacy of all new interventions needs to be established
before we recommend them generally. This seems like a harmless enough
practice. It could easily be tested for efficacy by setting up a trial
comparing the effects of warm water alone and water with Epsom Salts. Of
course warm water alone can be beneficial in this situation: We would be
looking to see if the addition of Epsom Salts made a difference. I guess too
we'd need to look for the effect of different osmotic pressures by having a
third trial group using another mineral compound (say, sodium
chloride/salt). Any scientists out there who'd like to Comment?

From ALCA NEWS March 1996:

In the August 1991 Issue of ALCA News there was an article about Epsom salts
being used in the treatment of a women with a caked breast. The Editors
comment on that article was to suggest that the safety and efficacy of all
new interventions be established before recommending them in
general, as well as asking any scientists for their comments. Since 1991 I
have been suggesting to women with persistent or hard to clear blocked ducts
in their breasts to soak the breast in very warm water with Epsom salts
before each feed for approximately ten minutes. I have advised them to do
this for 24 hours until the blockage is resolved and have given them a copy
of the Article in the ALCA News to read.The women in every case have had
success in clearing the blocked area, but as the article says is it the
Epsom salt or is it just the heat from the water. The commitment to immerse
the breast in the warm to hot water before every feed for those 24 hours
makes a difference. The women who only used the Epsom salt soaks for a
couple of feeds did not resolve the blockage as quickly as the women who
used the soaks before every feed. I suggest to the women that they
immerse their breast in the warm to hot water in a large bowl (a 4 litre
ice-cream container is a good size) with two tablespoons of Epsom salts. The
Epsom salts is only about $2. a packet so the whole treatment is cheap. It
can be a bit awkward leaning over into the bowl, which is much easier
for large breasted women than women with small breasts but the women seemed
to manage and were pleased with the results.
One particular client who used this method consulted me after other methods
of treatment (which did not help) had been used for persistent recurring
blocked areas in her breasts for three weeks or more. She used the Epsom
salts soak for 24 hours with great results.
Is there any body else who has;
. used the method,
. undertaken or plans to undertake any study,
. a scientific explanation.
I would be interested to hear from other IBCLCs who have used or have any
comments to make about the use of Epsom salts.
Bev Kaiser IBCLC Canberra.

From ALCA NEWS April 1996:

Dear Editor
In the March issue of ALCA News there was a letter from Bev Kaiser stating
the Advantages of Epsom Salts.
As many of the readers know, we Queenslanders have been using Epsom salts
with some success for the last 6 years or so.
I use Epsom salts for mothers with engorged breasts for fairly quick relief
of engorgement and time and time again have found like Bev that where other
methods fail the Epsom salts work. I suggest 2 tablespoons to 400 ml of
quite warm water and tend to suggest that the mothers bathe their affected
breast in this solution until the water is quite cool.
Other points to consider are:
This solution needs to be well rinsed off.
There needs to be a barrier between abrased nipples and the salty solution
(otherwise it stings).
This is a good inexpensive method but we also need to look at causes for the
blocked ducts.
Anne Hunt Queensland
********************
Regards
Karen Clements (who has never tried Epsom salts herself, but interested in
the concept!)
IBCLC Melb Australia

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