Thoracic Outlet Syndrome

The act of holding a child causes the shoulders to roll inward and places continuous load on the arms, making it a common trigger for Thoracic Outlet Syndrome. Regarding the safety of treatment during breastfeeding, acupuncture does not involve medication, so it does not affect breastfeeding. Pharmacopuncture involves applying a minute amount of purified herbal ingredients locally, so systemic transfer is minimal; however, for breastfeeding mothers, we conservatively select low-irritation formulations. For bee venom acupuncture, an allergic skin test is performed first for everyone, and for breastfeeding mothers, it is used at the minimum dose only when the necessity is clear. It is important to disclose the fact of breastfeeding before treatment, taking into account the possibility of using medications such as antihistamines.

Perspective of a Korean Medicine Clinic

In Korean medicine, the postpartum and breastfeeding period is a time when Qi and blood are significantly depleted; consequently, numbness can easily occur even with the same pressure, and recovery is slow. Therefore, the principle of treatment during this period is to facilitate gentle circulation rather than forceful treatment. At Dongjedang, we base our approach on low-stimulation external treatment for breastfeeding mothers, using acupuncture to relieve tension in the scalene and pectoralis minor muscles and thermal stimulation to aid circulation. Invasive procedures, such as moxibustion, are carefully decided upon after considering both the breastfeeding situation and the severity of symptoms. Internal treatment also involves formulating prescriptions tailored to the patient's constitution using medicinal herbs safe for breastfeeding to replenish Qi and blood while dissolving blood stasis. Combining this with correcting the posture of holding the baby (supporting with the torso rather than the arms, adjusting the height of the baby carrier) significantly prolongs the treatment's effectiveness.