Can moxibustion be used for breast cysts?

Breast cysts cannot be treated simply by moxibustion, which can only play an auxiliary conditioning role. If breast cysts are found, medical examination should be the first choice and scientific intervention should be carried out according to the specific condition, such as drug treatment, lifestyle adjustment or surgical treatment.

1. Possible causes of breast cysts

Breast cyst is a common benign breast lesion, which is usually caused by a combination of factors:

(1) Genetic factors: Breast cysts may run in the family, and some women are more likely to develop cysts due to genetic factors.

(2) Hormone level disorder: Excessive estrogen or imbalance of estrogen and progesterone levels are important causes of breast hyperplasia and cyst formation. Hormone fluctuations caused by menstrual cycle, pregnancy, breastfeeding, etc. may also induce cyst formation.

(3) Psychological stress and eating habits: Continuous psychological stress and high-fat diet may indirectly affect endocrine balance and increase the risk of cysts.

(4) Environmental factors: Long-term exposure to carcinogens in the environment and excessive use of hormone drugs may also induce breast cysts.

2. Effects and limitations of moxibustion on breast cysts

As a traditional Chinese medical treatment, moxibustion can improve blood circulation and relieve local pain by stimulating acupuncture points with heat. It has a certain auxiliary effect on mild and functional breast hyperplasia. However, its effect is relatively limited and it has no direct therapeutic effect on solid cysts. The acupuncture points commonly used in combination with moxibustion are:

(1) Guanyuan acupoint – helps regulate female hormone levels;

(2) Zusanli: Improves Qi and blood circulation and enhances immunity;

(3) Tanzhong point - dredges the chest meridians and relieves breast pain.

If the cyst continues to grow, is accompanied by pain, or clinical examination shows a risk of malignancy, relying solely on moxibustion is not practical and may delay the disease.

3. Scientific treatment methods for breast cysts

The current treatment of breast cysts should be based on the size of the cyst, its development trend, and whether it has malignant characteristics, including the following measures:

(1) Drug treatment: Doctors may prescribe anti-estrogen drugs (such as tamoxifen) or vitamin E to regulate hormone levels.

(2) Puncture treatment: For larger, fluid-filled cysts, the hospital can extract the cyst fluid through fine needle puncture and perform pathological analysis to rule out the possibility of malignancy.

(3) Surgical intervention: In cases of severe cysts, malignant tendencies, or recurrent infections, the cysts can be removed through minimally invasive breast surgery.

It is also necessary to adjust your daily life: reduce high-fat, high-hormone diet, control your weight, maintain good sleep, and exercise moderately to improve your endocrine system.

Breast cysts can be managed and controlled. If you find a problem, you should seek medical attention in time and determine a reasonable treatment plan through scientific evaluation. Moxibustion can be used as an auxiliary conditioning tool, but it cannot replace medical treatment. It is recommended to take comprehensive intervention measures under the guidance of a doctor to ensure health.