October is Breast Health Month. It’s funny to write about breasts, but I am having so many thoughts about this subject lately. I recently came across several articles talking about the health risks and danger of underwire bras! (Click here to read one of them, with lots of links and additional information).
As I read through them, it made so much sense that you would not want metal pressing against this sensitive tissue, cutting off lymphatic flow and interrupting proper functions and congesting that tissue. I felt so silly for not ever thinking about that-as a woman and as a physician. Being a buxom woman and a long time dedicated underwire bra wearer this was a revelation!
So I decided to do a test. I did a breast exam, took out the underwire from all my bras, and got a few new ones made without any wire. After 2 months I am happy to report that it has made a huge difference!! The texture of my tissues has changed completely, no more lumpy congested tissue, just soft and fluid.
I am so amazed! I never even realized that I had congestion in my breasts until now! My husband reports that, “It seems like they have softened and expanded a bit, as if they had been contained and corralled for so long, and now they can finally just exist. The connective tissue seems stronger from holding themselves, they just seem happier. “
It is also clear to me that until now, my breasts felt like these things stuck onto my chest, separate from me. Now my tissues feel integrated, I notice that they just feel like a part of me-softer and more accepting and accepted. I cannot believe how much time and energy I spent trying to keep my breasts firm and upright, instead of focusing on keeping them whole and happy.
Energetically and emotionally, breasts represent nurturing and nourishment. This is literally the place (beside her womb) that allows a woman to sustain another life. What happens when we consistently nurture, give and nourish others at the expense of our own time, energy, resources? It shows up in our cell tissue as depletion, as breast pain, cancer, and dis ease.
How would your life be different if you did not owe anyone anything? How would your life be different if you only gave what you wanted to, what felt good to you, moment to moment. Some of you have fallen to the floor laughing at this point-this is so far away from what is pounded into most women from the moment they are born. The truth is we are here to serve, but always from a filled cup, not the last 2 drops stolen from the dregs. What would be the first step you would take towards this freedom? Maybe the bra burners were right!