Dealing with Clogged Ducts or Mastitis? Let’s Get You Some Relief.

As someone who runs a postpartum support group, invariably there are questions that come up often about breastfeeding issues, particularly mastitis and clogged ducts. It’s such a common issue during lactation, so if you’re reading this while shivering under a blanket, nursing through tears, or carefully touching a hot, painful lump in your breast, I see you.

Breastfeeding, for me, was the hardest and most rewarding thing I’ve ever done and I know first-hand how mastitis and clogged ducts can be incredibly draining, physically and emotionally. When you’re already navigating sleep deprivation, hormonal shifts, and the constant demands of caring for a baby, this can feel like more than your system can handle.

Breastfeeding issues can show up from pressure from clothing, supply issues, cracked nipples, missed feeds, weaning or sheer exhaustion. The body throws out these uncomfortable symptoms as a plea for support.

The good news is this: when we can support lactation issues early and appropriately, the body often responds beautifully.

Looking out for early signs

Mastitis often begins quietly. A tender spot. A stubborn lump. A bit of heat. One breast that just doesn’t feel quite right.

If milk doesn’t move, inflammation follows. You may notice warmth, redness, swelling, or pain. Some mothers feel flu-like, achy, chilled, or deeply fatigued and it can get worse the longer it continues.

As a homeopath, I want to know a lot of details. I ask a lot of questions because it’s not just about the breast and which side you are experiencing issues, I want to know exactly how you are experiencing the symptoms. The quality of the pain, the exact location, what makes it better or worse, how quickly it came on. These patterns guide me toward the remedy your body may need.

Which Pattern Fits You?

When supporting clogged ducts or mastitis, I most often see one of the following patterns.

Sudden and intense pain that comes on fast and strong

Breast is red, hot, swollen, and throbbing

Pain is pulsating and intense

Worse from touch, jarring, or lying down

Fever may rise quickly

This pattern often points to Belladonna, especially in the early inflammatory stage when symptoms escalate rapidly.

A different type of pain is the radiating, glandular pain that feels like a deep ache.

Here, the pain feels as though it shoots inward from the nipple or radiates through the body during nursing.

Breasts feel hard, lumpy, or nodular

Stinging or shooting pains

Nursing itself is extremely painful

Nipples may be cracked or sore

Breast tissue may appear darker or purple looking

This picture frequently calls for Phytolacca, one of the most commonly used remedies in mastitis involving deep glandular tissue - and one all moms should know about.

Then we have a mostly under-utilized remedy in mastitis and that is the Bryonia remedy picture.

Everything feels full, heavy, and difficult to move

Breast feels stony hard and very painful

Pain is worse with any movement and better with rest or firm support

You may feel thirsty, dry, irritable, and want quiet and stillness

Redness is often less dramatic than in Belladonna

And what about those recurring or stubborn clogged ducts?

This picture often shows up before full mastitis develops or in mothers who experience repeated clogging in the same area.

Lumps feel deep, firm, and slow to resolve

Milk doesn’t seem to move despite feeding and massage

Healing feels sluggish or incomplete

You may feel run down, chilly, or depleted

This pattern often points toward Silica. Silica supports the body’s ability to resolve stagnation and is often considered when clogged ducts keep returning or mastitis threatens but hasn’t fully declared itself.

In the event of a possible abcess threatening…

This picture is sharper and more uncomfortable

Extreme sensitivity to touch

Pain feels raw, sore, or splinter-like

Chills or a strong sense of internal cold – you just can’t get warm

Inflammation feels as though it may suppurate

This pattern often aligns with Hepar sulph, especially when warmth brings relief and cold makes symptoms worse.

A little note on safety

I always encourage seeking professional support from a homeopath, especially if there is a concern for an abcess or a fever that feels unmanageable. It’s a lot to manage mastitis and clogged ducts on your own while also tending to your little one.

Homeopathy is a wonderful partner to conventional care. If you are not having success with homeopathy, or fever remains high, symptoms worsen suddenly, red streaks appear, or you feel unwell in a way that concerns you, please contact your OBGYN or medical advisor. I always advise working with a Lactation Consultant for breastfeeding concerns also.

Potency and Dose

For home prescribers, I recommend starting with 30C, two to three times a day, until you begin to see some improvement; then observe progress without taking further remedy as long as improvement is sustained. If symptoms improve then relapse again, the remedy can be repeated, or if there is improvement but it doesn’t hold very long, you can try going up in potency and try a 200c before jumping to a new remedy – but you should not need to keep repeating remedies at either potency. If you are not seeing improvements after a few doses of a remedy or improving in a timely manner, do not keep dosing – contact a professional and get some help - mastitis can become problematic quickly so don't hesitate to seek assistance.

Gentle Home Care Tips

While the remedy supports the body internally, practical care helps remove ongoing stress on the breast:

Nurse or pump frequently to keep milk moving

Start feeds on the affected side

Vary nursing positions to encourage full drainage

Use gentle massage toward the nipple during let-down

Avoid tight bras or pressure on the breast

Prioritize rest, hydration, and nourishment

Breastfeeding is usually encouraged during mastitis unless otherwise advised by your healthcare provider.

With early attention, well-matched remedies, and practical care, many mothers find relief quickly.

If you’d like support narrowing down which remedy best matches your specific symptoms right now, help is available. Reach out for acute care at https://leaphomeopathy.com

If you're not already in the Homeopathy for Postpartum and Beyond Facebook Group - you can join HERE.