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Alternative medicine

By Mayo Clinic staff

Pain Management Advisor

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Vitamins and dietary supplements may lessen breast pain symptoms and severity for some women. Ask your doctor if one of these might help you — and ask about doses and any possible side effects:

  • Evening primrose oil. This supplement may change the balance of fatty acids in your cells, which may reduce breast pain.
  • Vitamin E. Early studies showed a possible beneficial effect of vitamin E on breast pain in premenstrual women who experience breast pain that fluctuates during the menstrual cycle, but research to date remains inconclusive.

If you try a supplement for breast pain, stop taking it if you don't notice any improvement in your breast pain after a few months.

Lifestyle and home remedies
References
  1. Golshan M, et al. Breast pain. http://www.uptodate.com/index. Accessed Dec. 17, 2012.
  2. Miltenburg DM, et al. Benign breast disease. Obstetrics and Gynecology Clinics of North America. 2008;35:285.
  3. Ferri FF. Ferri's Clinical Advisor 2013:5 Books in 1. Philadelphia, Pa.: Mosby Elsevier; 2012. http://www.mdconsult.com/books/about.do?eid=4-u1.0-B978-0-323-08373-7..00002-9&isbn=978-0-323-08373-7&about=true&uniqId=343863096-23. Accessed Dec. 17, 2012.
  4. Salzman B, et al. Common breast problems. American Family Physician. 2012;86:343.
  5. Pearlman MD, et al. Benign breast disease. Obstetrics & Gynecology. 2010;116:747.
  6. Rodden AM. Common breast concerns. Primary Care: Clinics in Office Practice. 2009;36:103.
  7. Pruthi S, et al. Vitamin E and evening primrose oil for management of cyclical mastalgia: A randomized pilot study. Alternative Medicine Review. 2010;15:59.
  8. Parsay S, et al. Therapeutic effects of vitamin E on cyclic mastalgia. The Breast Journal. 2009;15:510.
  9. Evening primrose oil. Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database. http://www.naturaldatabase.com. Accessed Dec. 18, 2012.
  10. Gallenberg MM (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 20, 2012.
  11. Pruthi S (expert opinion). Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minn. Dec. 20, 2012.
DS00760 Jan. 16, 2013

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