Gynecomastia Use Homeopathy Safe and Effective
Gynecomastia or 'woman-like breasts'. When abnormally large breasts develop in males, it is called gynecomastia. It is due to the excess growth of breast tissue, not excess fat tissue.
It is a benign enlargement of the male breast resulting from a proliferation of
the glandular component of the breast.
Gynecomastia is defined clinically by the presence of a rubbery or firm mass extending
concentrically from the nipples. The condition known as pseudogynecomastia, or lipomastia,
is characterized by fat deposition without glandular proliferation. Although it
is usually bilateral, it can be unilateral.
It is an abnormal development of mammary glands in males resulting in breast enlargement.
It is not normal for men to have breasts and this makes this condition very embarrassing
and may causes low self-esteem especially in teenagers.
It is very common in adolescents. It occurs due to hormonal imbalance in the male
body between the age of 12 & 18 .
Causes
A number of researchers believe that in many cases an altered androgen / estrogen
ratio causes changes in cellular elements in breast tissue. This could be due to:
- decrease in production of androgen
- increase in estrogen formation
- decrease in sensitivity of breast tissue to androgens
Physiological during infancy and at puberty: Gynecomastia can occur physiologically
in neonates (due to female hormones from the mother) and sometimes at puberty.
Refeeding: Recovery from wasting diseases.
Testicular causes
- Testicular agenesis : failure of testes to develop.
- Orchitis : inflammation of testes.
- Tumor of testes.
- Klinefelter’s syndrome.
Imbalance of sex hormone: Imbalance of estrogenic and androgenic hormones causes
gynecomastia.
Drugs: Digitalis, Spironolactone, Phenothiazine and so on. Approximately 4-10% cases
are due to drugs. Spironolactone is a common cause, inducing gynecomastia in 10%
of those receiving it as a treatment for heart failure. Digoxin and furosemide are
also reported to cause gynecomastia.
Certain medications can promote breast growth. They interact with the natural levels
of testosterone and estrogen, and upset the balance in some manner. Gynecomastia
is a common consequence of estrogen treatment in patients with prostate cancer.
Drugs that may cause it include:
- Hormones (androgens, anabolic steroids, estrogen agonists)
- Antiandrogens or androgen-synthesis inhibitors
- Antibiotics (isoniazid, ketoconazole, metronidazole)
- Anti-ulcer medications such as cimetidine
- Cancer chemotherapeutics, especially alkylating agents
- Cardiovascular drugs, such as captopril and digitoxin
- Psychoactive agents, such as diazepam and tricyclic antidepressants
- Recreational drugs, such as alcohol and marijuana
- Penicillamine
Alcohol and drugs can cause gynecomastia by mimicking estrogen and stimulating androgen
production. Steroids and other excess androgens are sometimes converted by the body
into estrogens and consequently cause male breast problems.
Men over the age of 50 tend to produce fewer androgens such as testosterone or gain
fat tissue that converts androgen into estrogen. In 3 percent of reported cases,
gynecomastia can signal lung, liver, or adrenal cancer. Tumors can secrete estrogen,
upsetting the hormonal balance.
Breast prominence due to excessive adipose is often termed pseudogynecomastia or
lipomastia.
Cirrhosis of liver, rheumatoid arthritis, leprosy is associated with it.
Any of the conditions that interfere with normal testosterone production, such as
Klinefelter’s syndrome or pituitary insufficiency, can be associated with gynecomastia.
Aging: Hormone changes that occur with normal aging can cause it, especially in
men who are overweight.
Tumors: Some tumors, such as those involving the testes, adrenal glands or pituitary
gland, can produce hormones that alter the male-female hormone balance.
Hyperthyroidism: In this condition, the thyroid gland produces too much of the hormone
thyroxine.
Kidney failure: About half the people being treated with regular hemodialysis experience
gynecomastia due to hormonal changes.
Liver failure and cirrhosis: Hormonal fluctuations related to liver problems as
well as medications taken for cirrhosis are associated with it.
Malnutrition and starvation: When the human body is deprived of adequate nutrition,
testosterone levels drop, but estrogen levels remain constant, causing a hormonal
imbalance.
Gynecomastia in bodybuilders
Some bodybuilders who abuse steroids develop it. It is often hidden behind the well
developed chest muscles, but in later life, when the athlete becomes less active
and the muscles become less prominent, the gynecomastia effects show up.
Signs & symptoms
- Enlargement of breast
- Pain in breast
- Tenderness
- Severe embarrassment or
- Emotional disturbance
Classification
- Puffy nipples is among the most common forms of gynecomastia. This glandular tissue accumulation is concentrated under and typically confined to the areola, or can be slightly extended outside the areola forming a dome shaped appearance to the areola.
- Pure glandular gynecomastia is common in bodybuilders and is thought to be a result of the use of anabolic steroids. In this case it is known as anabolic-androgenic steroid (AAS) induced gynecomastia. Due to excess testosterone levels from steroids, which is converted to estrogen, bodybuilders and other athletes are sometimes afflicted with gynecomastia in its purest form. Gynecomastia in lean men is usually only a breast tissue gland with little to no adipose tissue.
- Congenital or hereditary gynecomastia is typically evident by the ages of 12 to 18 in boys. Thirty percent to sixty percent of young boys suffer from large male breasts. As many as thirty percent may live with enlarged male breasts for the rest of their lives, but in other cases it will recede with age. However, severe forms of adolescent gynecomastia may require an intervention, in consultation with the patient, the parents, and child development professionals.
- Pseudogynecomastia is typical of enlarged diameter and or excessive areola projection. However, it is not composed of glandular tissue, but of adipose tissue. It looks much like typical gynecomastia but requires different treatment. Exercise and diet may be effective in combating pseudogynecomastia.
- Unilateral / asymmetrical gynecomastia occurs when only one breast is larger due to gynecomastia, the other breast is typically normal in both size and shape. Bilateral asymmetry occurs when it is present in both breasts.
Exercise
Gynecomastia is a problem affecting more men in society today. There are several
causes of man boobs which could include hormonal imbalance and excess body fat.
In addition, medical studies have shown that breast enlargement can be due to certain
health issues or medical drugs. Diet and exercise along with homeopathy is one way
to treat gynecomastia and in most cases are excellent alternatives to surgery.
If you have gynecomastia or man boobs, then it means that you have chest fat. Some
people think that surgery is the only cure for the problem, but there are a couple
of great chest exercises for gynecomastia. Most likely, the fat will be on your
lower chest, so it is best to perform a chest exercise that will target your upper
chest.
An exercise recommend for this is the incline bench press exercise. In this exercise,
you need an incline weight bench. Most flat benches can be made to incline in case
you didn’t know. To perform the exercise, you should lie on the incline bench and
raise the weight bar vertically towards the ceiling. To complete one repetition,
lower the weight to your upper chest and then raise it again. Try to complete 6
to 8 repetitions with each set, and try to perform 3 sets whenever you do the exercise.
You should also adjust the weight such that 6 to 8 repetitions are achievable in
each set.
A modification of this exercise is the incline dumbbell press in which dumbbells
are used instead of a weight bar. Dumbbells have the advantage of allowing you to
work each side of your body independently. When we use weight bars, our body’s stronger
side tends to do more work while the other side gets shortchanged.
A treatment doesn’t get any more natural than this. Performing these exercises a
couple times per week will have the effect of making your gynecomastia decrease
over time along with homeopathy remedies.
Treatment -
Allopathic or conventional treatment of gynecomastia involves medical and surgical
approach. Medical therapy includes Clomiphene an antiestrogen, is used to reduce
breast size but with adverse effects which include visual problems, rash, and nausea.
Tamoxifen, an estrogen antagonist, is effective for tender gynecomastia. Tamoxifen
is typically used for 3 months before surgery is advised; nausea and epigastric
discomfort are the main adverse effects. Danazol, a synthetic derivative of testosterone,
inhibits pituitary secretion of LH and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which
decreases estrogen synthesis from the testicles. Adverse effects include weight
gain, acne, muscle cramps, fluid retention, nausea, and abnormal liver function
test results. Testolactone, a peripheral aromatase inhibitor, has been used with
varying success rates in doses of 150 mg 3 times per day for 6 months. Nausea, vomiting,
edema, and worsening and complaint of hypertension have been reported with its use.
Reduction mammoplasty is considered for patients with long-standing gynecomastia
or in persons in whom medical therapy has failed. It is also considered for cosmetic
reasons.
Liposuction, gland excision, reduction mammoplasty are surgical techniques.
Complications of surgery include sloughing of tissue due to a compromised blood
supply, contour irregularity, hematoma or seroma formation and permanent numbness
in the nipple areolar area.
Radiation therapy is sometimes used to prevent gynecomastia in patients with prostate
cancer prior to estrogen therapy.
Prognosis
Gynecomastia is not physically harmful, but in some cases can be an indicator of
other more serious underlying conditions, such as testicular cancer.
Growing glandular tissue, typically from some form of hormonal stimulation, is often
tender or painful.
Furthermore, it can frequently present social and psychological difficulties for
the sufferer.
Weight loss can alter the condition in cases where it is triggered by obesity, but
losing weight will not reduce the glandular component and patients cannot target
areas for weight loss. Massive weight loss can result in sagging tissues about the
chest, chest ptosis.
Homeopathic Approch -
Homeopathic treatment for gynecomastia is strongly recommended in following cases:
- Marked pain
- Tenderness
- Severe embarrassment or
- Emotional disturbance
In homeopathy we treat the underlying cause which leads to permanent improvement
in the condition.
How homeopathy helps
- Medicine has the capacity to correct the hormonal imbalance (estrogen levels) responsible for the development of gynecomastia.
- The treatment helps to reduce pain.
- Medicines help to reduce tenderness.
- Remedies also act on emotional plane of the patient.
- Homeopathy helps to alleviate breast enlargement.
- The treatment also helps to treat bad effects of allopathic medicines.
- It helps to reduce fatty infiltration in the cells of the body.
PHYTOLACCA
Aching, soreness, restlessness, prostration, are general symptoms guiding
to Phytolacca. Pre-eminently a glandular remedy. Glandular swellings with heat and
inflammation. Has a powerful effect on fibrous and osseous tissues; fasciæ and muscle
sheaths; acts on scar tissue. Syphilitic bone pains; chronic rheumatism. Sore throat,
quinsy, and diphtheria. Tetanus and opisthotonos. Decrease of weight. Retarded dentition.
BARYTA CARB-Tumors in general Generally fatty tumors, Pain .
ANATHERUM(Cuscus grass)-Breasts swollen indurate nipples excoriated. Heat and pain in the breasts as if they had been
gashed with a penknife. Inflammation and swelling. Cancer of the breast
BARYTA IOD. (Iodide of Baryta)
Mainly acts on lymphatic system. Indurate glands esp. Breast.
Useful in hard cancerous tumors of the breasts. 3x every three hrs. is recommended.
Baryta iod.has been used in
Breast cancer, enlarge glands, tumor of breast. Breast cancer
after trauma, compare with Arnica, Bellis-per, Calendula and conium. Tumor and cancers
following blows or other injuries, cuts, punctured wounds, abrasions.acts
BUFORANA--Induration in breast glands.Violent pain in breasts, < at night. Bloody
oozing from nipples. Bloody milk
CISTUS CANADENSIS - Diseases of glands. Indurations and inflammation of mammae Carcinomatous sensitive to cold air
source- sodhganga research.
