Bonnie,

You might want to run a simple test before you go to the hassle of
stocking tea bags. It might very well be that the "relief" properties are
simply from the moisture conveying the warmth. I doubt the tannic acid
has any real positive effect. If it did, then room temperature wet
teabags for 10 minutes would work the same.

For elevating the pain threshhold temporarily for painful nipples, I have
moms fold a clean washcloth in fourths and saturate it with the hottest
water they can comfortably tolerate on the inside of the wrist, and put
it over the whole nippleareolar complex till it starts to cool off. It
really does seem to elevate the pain threshhold enough so that it's very
obvious to them.

After I had been doing this for ages, I read in a reference book on
ultrasound imaging of the breasts that radiologists do the same thing
when it is necessary to insert a probe into a nipple pore in order to do
ductography. The explanation was that it relaxes the circular and
longitudinal muscles in the nipple.

My explanation is simply that it stimulates circulation, which carries
away irritating tissue wastes like lactic acid, and brings in plenty of
O2 and nutrients to the nerve tissues.

Take your pick, but give it a try on a few patients and let me know if
you find it effective.

As you say, it does nothing to alleviate the CAUSE of the problem, but it
sure feels much better to the mom who has had her nipples insulted!

Jean
**********************************
K. Jean Cotterman RNC, IBCLC
Dayton, Ohio USA

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