Some of the main natural breast enlargement methods in use today are:

1. Breast enlargement pills


2. Breast enlargement lotions, creams and sprays


3. Breast pumps


4. Exercise and Breast Massage


5. Hypnosis

Breast Enlargement Pills

The female gender achieves puberty around the age of ten or twelve. An increased production of hormones like estrogen, progesterone and prolactin stimulate the growth of the cells of the breast.

Breast enlargement pills use the same concept. Mankind has known such herbs which stimulate growth since ages. These herbs are known to increase the bulk of the breast growth. These herbs contain the plant estrogen, called phytoestrogen. This phytoestrogen has the same function human estrogen has. They stimulate the growth of the adipose tissue, i.e. breast.

Phytoestrogens are found in the following natural herbs:-

• Pueraria mirifica


• Blessed thistle


• Dong Quai


• Saw palmetto


• Fennel seeds


• Fenugreek


• Dandelion root


• Damiana


• Wild Yam

Breast Enlargement Creams, Lotions, Sprays

There are other breast enlargement creams, lotions and sprays which contain natural ingredients. These ingredients work towards firming the tissues and ligaments of the breasts. Further, these creams work as moisturizing cream for the breasts. While the creams supply breasts with additional water and moisture, they make the breasts look firmer and livelier.

These breast enhancement and enlargement herbs and ingredients are available in various forms, like creams, lotions, sprays and pills. Mostly, breast enlargement pills are used along with the creams, sprays and lotions.

Breast Pumps

Breast pumps are another method of enhancing breast size. The concept used is the same which is used to remove excess milk from the breasts of a lactating mother; however, these pumps are different in shape and structure.

Breast pumps consist of two cups attached to a vacuum generating device. These cups are meant to be placed over the breast. Pressure is generated when the air is sucked out of the cups, due to the partial vacuum. This pressure enhances the blood circulation in the breasts.

Therefore, these pumps enhance the health of the tissues and ligaments within the breasts. Further, breast pumps help in flushing out any toxic materials that settle into the breasts from time to time. This is especially helpful when the woman is lactating.

Exercise and Massaging

We all know that exercise is good for the body. In fact, there are various exercises set for various parts of the body, like the back, the arms and the legs. In the same way, there are various exercises for the enlargement of breasts. Apart from such exercises, massages are also very helpful in the enlargement of breasts. These exercises are just part of the stay fit regime more and more people are embracing all over the world.

Basically, breast exercises are aimed at firming up the pectoral muscles below the breasts. Once the pectoral muscles become firmer, the breast tissues follow suit, which make the breast tissues stronger and suppler.

Therefore, breast enlargement exercises are chest expansion exercises. These exercises are part and parcel of an athlete's life. Along with these exercises, women use yoga to enhance their physical as well as mental state of life. Breast massages are easy, and don't require any special equipment. These massages consist of different pressures applied on the breasts a set pattern. Breast massages provide better circulation of blood in the breast, and flush out any dangerous toxins that may collect.

Hypnosis

Perhaps the most conventional method of breast enhancement is hypnosis. In this process, the woman actually doesn't undergo any surgery, nor does she take any medicine - natural or otherwise. It is a known fact that hypnosis can be used to make a person believe some things. Using the same logic, the woman is hypnotized into thinking that the natural size of her breasts is good enough.

Therefore, the woman feels satisfied with herself - which may have a positive stimulation of the correct hormones and facilitate the growth of the adipose tissue.

Cynics maintain that hypnosis is not a breast enhancement technique at all, and have also criticized the morality of making a person believe something that is simply not true.

There are various other methods of breast augmentation and enhancement. More women are today opting for these methods. Some of the main reasons for this are:

1. These options are relatively safe.


2. There seem to be no side effects.


3. The woman doesn't have to undergo any surgery.

Breast cancer is the abnormal growth of cells within the breast. These cells would aggregate like a lump, which would be called as the breast tumor. The tumor can be felt from the outside of the breast even when it is still harmless. At this harmless stage, it is called as a benign tumor. Benign tumors can be surgically operable. If that is done, the risk of the advancement of the breast cancer is very negligible. But if the tumor is allowed to go on, then it would continue to the malignant stage. During this stage the cancer would proliferate to such an extent within the surrounding tissues that it would be impossible to remove it completely. When the cancerous cells enter the bloodstream, there is no way out. The result is certain death.

Hence it is important to snuff out the breast cancer while it is still benign, and perhaps that is the only way to keep the cancer at bay once it occurs. But most women do not know that there are various ways to reduce the risk of contracting breast cancers. Since breast cancer can strike just about any woman, it is extremely necessary to pay attention to these methods that can help to prevent the disease. The following are the precautions that women must take to prevent the onset of breast cancer:-

(1) If you are overweight, then seriously work at reducing your weight. Science has proved a direct relation between obesity and breast cancer. At the same time, lean women have a significantly lesser chance of contracting the disease.

(2) Do not introduce any supplements in your body that could change the internal hormonal balance of the body. In women, the two main feminine character deciding hormones are progesterone and estrogen. These hormones maintain the proper balance of the female characteristics, including the shape and the function of the breasts. An alteration in this balance could bring on several female health related diseases, among which breast cancer is just one of them.

(3) Smoking is extremely hazardous in women as it can play havoc with the biological rhythm of the body. Excessive smoking could cause sterility in both the male and the female. But in women, smoking has been found (by statistical analysis) that women who smoke stand at a much higher risk of breast cancer than others. The same can be said about women who consume too much of alcohol.

(4) Walking is considered to be effective in keeping breast cancer away. Walking is a simple exercise, but it can keep the woman';s body fit. Also walking stimulates proper blood circulation in all parts of the body without making the person excessively tired. Apart from walking, other simple exercises like running, jumping, swimming, etc. are also effective.

(5) All women over the age of 40 are at a risk of breast cancer. Hence they should keep their lifestyle healthy. The diet should be kept as natural as possible, and artificial spices and preservatives must be avoided. Elderly women should not lead sedentary lifestyles; they must involve themselves in some kind of physical activity or the other, depending on their lifestyles.

(6) There has been a kind of an association established with high fats and breast cancers. Women whose diet consists of a lot of fats are more susceptible to getting breast cancers than others. For this reason, it is necessary to minimize fats in the diet as much as possible. Instead of high-calorie fats, a low fat diet is preferable. This will also help to keep obesity and cardiovascular problems in check.

Breast cancer prevention is more important than the treatment of the cancer itself, because prevention is always better than cure. The above precautions will greatly reduce the risk of having a cancer, but then they are not sure-shot methods. Medical science has not yet been able to come up with a good explanation as to why some women get breast cancers and some don';t. Hence at the slightest sign of any abnormality with your breasts, it is necessary to seek urgent medical attention. Your vigilance might save your life.

Though the causative factors are not known, some risk factors have been identified. There is no medical proof why these factors make the disease more probable, but this is a study of observation. In a vast cross-section of women with the observed risk factors, it has been found that the chances of getting breast cancers are very high.

The various risk factors for breast cancer are as follows:-

(1) Family History of Breast Cancer

If a near relative like a mother or a sister has had breast cancer, then there is a very high chance that the cancer will occur sometime in life. This propensity is observed even if far relatives such as cousins and aunts have had breast cancer, though the chances are lesser as the relatives are more removed. Even if a male relative has had breast cancer or prostate cancer, then there is a chance of getting breast cancer. This clearly indicates that breast cancer runs through family lines through inheritance. Certainly the chances are very high if more than one family member has had breast cancer.

(2) Personal History of Breast Cancer

If a woman has had breast cancer in the past, then there is a great chance that the breast cancer may recur. This is true even if the cancer had been removed in its benign stage itself. Sometimes the cancer cells spread into the nearby lymph. This makes a possibility that the cancer will occur in the opposite breast. In fact, women who have had cancer in one breast have 50 to 75% more chances of developing the cancer in the other breast.

(3) Diseases of the Breast

Several breast diseases can increase the chances of having breast cancer. Changes in the cells of the breasts can lead to atypical hyperplasia. This condition can cause a three to fourfold increase in the possibility of getting breast cancer in the later years. This risk also exists if the atypical hyperplasia has occurred in other women of the family. Another such condition is the benign breast tumor condition known as fibro adenoma. However, women with fibrocystic breasts generally do not have any added vulnerability to breast cancer. Yet, such conditions could make the breasts lumpy and hide the real tumors (if any) during mammography.

(4) Lifestyle

In today's world, lifestyle is the single largest contributing factor for the proliferation of breast cancer among women. Several elements of the lifestyle have been found to be directly accordant with the prevalence of breast cancer. Smoking and alcoholism in women are among the chief factors. Even diet has been pointed out as an important risk factor. Women who consume a diet with more high-cholesterol fats in them have higher chances of breast cancer. At the same time leading a sedentary lifestyle without indulging much in physical activity are also potentially dangerous.

(5) Radiation

It has been found that women who undergo radiation therapies in their chest region at a young age have an increased risk of developing breast cancer in their later lives. Radiation therapy is generally prescribed for women with conditions like Hodgkin's disease or non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. So women who have undergone such treatments may get breast cancer in their later years.

(6) Hormonal Imbalances

There are several factors that can change the hormone balance of the body. Some of them are:-

a) Beginning the menstrual cycle early, i.e. before the age of twelve years,

b) Having the first pregnancy after the age of thirty years,

c) Having no pregnancy at all,

d) Having a late menopause.

All these conditions can increase the level of estrogen in the body. This increases the risk of getting breast cancer to a mild extent. Apart from that women who take regular birth control pills, breast enhancement supplements, antidepressants and antihistamines and hormone modifying supplements stand at a higher risk to get breast cancers.

The above are the major risk factors for breast cancers. But since the study on breast cancers is not yet complete, the above is by no means a complete list. There are several other indications of breast cancers, like breast implant operations; but these have not yet been confirmed. The implants used in the earlier days were made of silicone gels. These were riskier in terms of breast cancer. However, nowadays the silicone gel implants have been replaced by saline implants. This has reduced the risk to a great extent.

It must be also noted that women have much higher chances of getting breast cancer than men. In fact, most people think that breast cancer is a disease that affects only women. This is not true. Men also get breast cancers, but to a much lesser degree than women. Also, age is a very important factor. The chances of getting breast cancer are much higher when the woman has crossed the age of 50 years.

Breasts could sag due to various reasons. In most women the sagging is simply an indication of advancing age. As the woman grows older, the tissues that hold the breast upright lose their strength, which makes the breasts to droop downwards. Women who have undergone a pregnancy and childbirth also may have sagging breasts. During pregnancy, the size of most women's breasts increases. Due to the extra weight in the breasts, the sag could develop. This also happens when the woman feeds her baby after the birth. When the baby suckles on the breast, it has a tendency to pull the breast downwards. This could make the breast droop permanently downwards, causing sagging breasts.

Sagging of breasts is a very common condition in women with big breasts. Due to the sheer weight of these breasts, they may droop downwards and cause very prominent sag. It is seen that women who have undergone breast augmentation surgeries and increased the size of their breasts by more than two cup sizes could find the breasts too big for their bodies. Gravity could pull the breasts downwards.

However, the sagging of breasts is not such a big problem as it once used to be. With the advancement of cosmetic medical techniques, today there are several options to get the sagging condition of breasts remedied. The breast uplift surgery is one of the common enhancement surgeries being used by women all over the world. In this surgery, the surgeon would try to bring the nipple back to the center position on the breast and then reassign the correct position to the tissues of the breast. The skin around the breast is tautened in order to give the breast a firmer and well-toned look.

However, just going in for breast uplift surgery would be hardly enough for a woman who seeks better breasts. Breast uplift surgery could bring the breasts back into position, but it would not make the breasts any bigger. For this reason, most women who go for breast uplift surgery supplement it with a breast augmentation surgery also. The surgeon inserts implants into the breasts in order to increase their bulk and then performs the breast uplift. The result is bigger and better breasts, something that the woman might not have had even in her youth.

There are some common problems with the breast uplift surgery. The breasts do sit in within a day or two, but the intermediate period could be a very uncomfortable one for most women, as this is the time when they will be adjusting to the change in their anatomies. The implants would make the chest feel heavier and somewhat awkward for a couple of days. Also, women are forbidden from indulging in any sort of activity that involves the chest for several weeks after the surgery. There could be undue exertion on the newly dislocated muscles, which could also lead to internal bleeding. However, once this phase of adjustment is past, women could see themselves in a new light and feel sexier and a whole lot younger.

If you are looking out for getting some remedies for your sagging breasts, then you need to be warned about some of the ineffective methods in the market. One of them is the various creams, sprays and such supplements which promise to give you better breasts. Though these methods are not harmful to the breasts, there is no guarantee that they would cure the sagging breasts. Such supplements might work for toning the breasts, but it is not proven whether they would correct the sagging of the breasts.

Similarly, exercises don't work with sagging breasts. Breasts are largely composed of fatty tissue. Exercise can help building up the muscle, but it cannot do anything with fatty tissue. Chest exercises can improve the chest muscles and hence make the breasts sit better on the chest. This will make the breasts settle better on the chest. However the effect will not be that much. But it is advisable to perform chest improvement exercises before the breast uplift surgery as that could show better effects.

So if you are suffering from sagging breasts, do not despair. A vast majority of women all over the world are suffering from this problem. Keep in mind that there is a way out of the problem if you ever need one. In the meantime, indulge in good sexual activity, have a good diet and do chest improvement exercises. You will be on your way to getting a better bust and a better life.

One important factor that is in favor of breast self-examination is that no one will know her breasts as accurately as the woman herself. Doctors are encouraging women to become more familiarized with their own breasts so that they can immediately find out any abnormalities. Women should know the contours, the feel, the texture and the color of their breasts perfectly. This is an important part of the breast self-examination technique.

How to Self-Examine the Breasts

The first part of self-examination of the breasts is pure observation. The woman must remove her upper body garment and stand in front of a mirror. Then she should place her hands by her sides. The next step is observation of the breasts. For this, the woman must first observe her breasts in their frontal positions, then turn to the left and right sides and observe the breasts from those sides in the mirror. This observation must be repeated with the hands on the hips and finally with the hands placed over the head. Any abnormality in the breast must be noted.

The next stage of breast self-examination is actually touching the breast to find out any abnormalities. There are two methods to carry out this part of the self-examination.

(i) Circular Sweep Method

For this method, the left hand is to be placed behind the head and the right hand is used to touch different parts of the breasts. Women who are more comfortable with the right hand behind the head and the left hand touching the breasts may do so. The free hand must be kept on the top of the breast region, just where the bulge begins. Then the hand is to be moved gradually in a clockwise manner, feeling the breast carefully at each point for lumps or any other kind of deformities. When one circle is completed, the hand must be taken a little inside the breast and the circular sweep must be done again. In this way, the circle must be progressively decreased until the hand reaches the nipple area. At every point gentle but steady pressure must be applied to check that there are no anomalies in the breasts. Finally, when the hand reached the nipple tissue, the fingers must be used to squeeze the nipple in both vertical and horizontal positions to check if there is any secretion.

(ii) Pie Chart Method

Here too, the woman self-examining her breasts needs to keep one hand behind her head and examine the breasts with the other hand. The hand is to be placed on the top region of the breast and then swept downwards, towards the protuberance of the nipple. Along the way, the fingers must be used to check if there are any lumps in the breast. When the hand reaches the nipple after one sweep, then it must be taken to the top again, placed a little to the left and swept downwards again. In this manner, the whole breast must be covered, even from the lower region, checking every point. If a firmer touch is required, then the fingers can be moved in a walking type of motion over the breast. Again, this examination must be ended with a pinching of the nipples in both vertical and horizontal directions to check for any abnormal secretion.

Age to Begin Breast Self-Examination

Hormonal changes begin occurring from the onset of puberty, i.e. when the girl reaches twelve years of age in normal circumstances. When the girl is in her post-puberty, which is roughly twenty years, the estrogen amounts have generally built up to their maturity levels. This is when breast self-examination must begin.

The breast self-examination must be carried out as a routine procedure. In fact every woman who has crossed the age of twenty years must carry out the examination once a month while in the shower. When the woman has crossed the age of forty years, then only breast self-examination is not enough. At that time, the woman must have a mammogram taken at least once a year.

The Best Time to Self-Examine the Breasts

Breasts are prone to undergo several changes within the menstrual cycle of the woman. At some times during the cycle, the breasts are soft; while at some other times, they may be firm. This happens generally in the later days of the menstrual cycle. When the breasts are firm, it is more difficult to check them for any lumpy growths. Therefore, the ideal time for carrying out breast self-examination would be one week after the menstrual flow has occurred.

Babies have a natural talent to suckle at the mother's nipples. They do so by pushing the nipples with the palate of their mouths. For some women, especially who are breastfeeding their babies for the first few times, this could be a very painful process. Babies could sometimes clamp the nipples very hard causing the nipples to become sore and cracked.

Milk let-down is a naturally occurring phenomenon during lactation. When the baby suckles at the nipples, then the milk is drawn into the baby's mouth through them. As a result, more milk runs towards the nipple area from the milk ducts situated within the breasts. For most women, this process occurs quite normally. But if there is a problem with the milk let-down process, then the baby would need to suckle harder at the nipple in order to draw milk. This would cause pain in the nipples. Such difficulty for the baby to draw out milk could also occur if the woman has inverted nipples, i.e. nipples which point inwards.

Women who are breastfeeding for their first baby would mostly not know the correct breastfeeding technique. They may not be holding the baby properly, due to which the baby would have to press at the nipples in order to get at them. Wrong breastfeeding techniques are the prime causes of women having sore and cracked nipples. Wrong breastfeeding techniques could include not keeping a support under the baby (due to which the baby becomes uncomfortable in its position and wriggles a lot), sitting in an incorrect posture while feeding the baby, pulling the baby away from the nipple quite suddenly, etc.

Sometimes the fault is with the baby itself. There is a congenital condition known as ankyloglossia, which is commonly called as tongue-tie. Babies with this condition have tight frenulums (this is the membrane attaching the tongue to the base of the mouth). Such babies would find it very hard to suckle at the nipples as their tongue movement is highly restricted.

If you have sore and cracked nipples, then you would need to stop giving the baby that breast for feeding for a while and meet your doctor urgently. If the baby continues to feed on that breast, then the pain would also continue, eventually leading to bleeding from the baby. A bleeding nipple could be very dangerous to the baby if it is fed on it. Almost all cases of sore and cracked nipples occur when the woman is breastfeeding a baby. But if you are getting sore and cracked nipples even though you are not breastfeeding, then it could be some very serious problem with the breast, including breast cancer. You must rush to the doctor to seek medical attention.

Sore nipples caused by poor breastfeeding techniques can be easily treated by simply getting more educated on the right method to breastfeed. It is best to sit in a cross-legged position on a bed if you are finding holding the baby during breastfeeding uncomfortable. Sitting on a chair could compound the pain in the nipples. It is also advisable to keep the baby in your lap on some support. You can use a pillow on your lap and keep the baby on it. This way the baby will be comfortable and would not need to suckle hard at the nipples. Also do not encourage the baby to suckle on the same breast for a long time. Take turns with both the breasts.

If you have any problems with letting down the milk properly, then do not let the baby suckle much on it without seeking medical help first. The doctor could provide some supplements in order to increase the amount of milk produced in the breasts. One such commonly prescribed supplement is the supplement containing Asparagus racemosa. There are also counselors in all maternity hospitals who could help you in learning the correct method to breastfeed the baby so that it would not need to pull hard at the nipples.

Women having inverted nipples would also need to talk to the gynecologist before the child is born. There could be methods to correct this problem with the nipples.

Some preparation before the breastfeeding could be very helpful in preventing sore and cracked nipples. If the breast is too engorged, then try letting out some of the milk using a pump, or simply by squeezing by hand. This will loosen the pressure in the breast a little. Also, removing a little milk before the breastfeeding would allow the milk to flow naturally when the baby begins to suckle. Using some creams like lanolin could reduce the pain during feeding, but you would need to ask the doctor whether they would be safe for the baby.

Foods that Help Preventing Breast Cancer

(i) Vitamins of the B-Complex

Independent researches have shown that Boston and Shanghai have shown that a diet that is rich in vitamins of the B-complex is very ideal in keeping breast cancer at bay. The most powerful of the B-complex vitamins for the prevention of breast cancer are the vitamins B 6 and B­ 12 or folic acid. Folic acid has been linked with breast cancer prevention in women who are regular consumers of alcohol. Higher levels of vitamin B ­12 are more effective in preventing breast cancers in women who have not yet had their menopause.

(ii) Carrots

Carrots contain beta-carotene which is a precursor for the formation of vitamin A, chemically known as retinol. A research in New York has proved that women who include carrots on a regular basis in their diet have low chances of getting breast cancers. It has been found that a regular intake of carrots in the form of salads reduces the risk of breast cancers by half in women who have crossed their menopausal age.

(iii) Fish and fish oils

Fish could be the most important foods in the prevention of breast cancer. It has been found that fish oils are very beneficial in keeping breast cancer away in women who have crossed their menopause. Fish oils are effective even with risk factors such as age during the first full term pregnancy, age at first menses, age at menopause, other breast disorders, etc. Moreover, a diet that contains of a combination of fish and carrots is found to be much more highly effective than fish alone. Fish contain the omega-3-polyunsaturated fatty acids which are good combatants of breast cancer, as they reduce the levels of the harmful omega-6 fatty acids, which in fact promote the growth of the cancerous tissues. Thus people subsisting on a fish diet are also consuming a low fat diet. Fish is known to reduce the cases of obesity. This has been seen in people living near coastal areas whose diet consists predominantly of fish. Obesity is one of the major risk factors of breast cancer.

(iv) Vegetables

Several vegetables are identified to be anti-cancer agents. Vegetables such as parsley, cilantro, cabbage, soy, celery and parsnip have anti-cancer properties. Garlic is known to be effective in breast cancer prevention as well. Tomatoes and onions may have mild cancer preventing properties.

(v) Fruits

Many fruits have anti-cancer properties. Some of these are papayas, oranges, mangoes, apricots, blueberries, persimmons, grapes, lemons, peaches, strawberries, tangerines, etc.

(vi) Flax

Flaxseeds are slowly becoming very popular in cancer prevention. They have two important ingredients that are known to fight cancer. One is the omega-3 fatty acids and the second is lignan. Flaxseeds in ground form are better than the flax oil, because they contain the necessary fibers which help in easy digestion.

Foods that can Promote Breast Cancer

There are several foods that have been identified to be responsible in promoting breast cancer. The following is a list of some of these foods:-

(i) Fatty Acids

There are some fatty acids that promote the growth of breast cancer, while some others retard it. Generally, the omega-6-polyunsaturated fatty acids are proven to increase cancer risks. Such fats are present in coconut oil and butter. At the same time, oils such as castor oil, sunflower oil, cottonseed oil or corn oil contain the omega-3 acids which in fact retard the formation of tumors. Hence, the diet must contain more of the omega-3 acids and less of the omega-6 acids in order to prevent breast cancer.

(ii) Red Meats

Red meats are known to cause almost all types of cancers if taken in excess. Hence, in the diet the amounts of red meats must be reduced and white meats must be increased. Red meats are mutton, beef and pork; while white meats are chicken and poultry.

(iii) Smoking and Alcoholism

Smoking is the single largest risk for breast cancers today. Women who begin to smoke early in their lives and continue on a regular basis stand at a much higher risk. Similarly, alcohols are also to be avoided. Yet, recent researches have shown that alcohol taken in conjunction with a folic acid diet may actually help in the prevention of breast cancer.

Sticking to a good dietary regime could be very well the best way to prevent breast cancer. But the importance of physical activity should not be ignored. A woman can go a long way in preventing breast cancer if she takes a healthy diet and couples it with a physically active lifestyle.

When a woman is performing breast enlargement exercises, what she is actually doing is toning up the muscles of the chest. Breasts are made up of tissues; and to say the truth, no amount of exercising can increase the amount of tissue. So what actually happens in breast enlargement exercise is that the chest muscles on which the breasts lie get firmed up. This in turn helps to improve the firmness of the breasts. In most cases, there is a breast firming and toning. Whether actual enlargement takes place by breast enlargement exercises or not, is a highly debatable issue.

Some of the methods that are being used by women to increase the size and quality of their breasts are described below

(1) The common pushups - Pushups helps to tone up the chest muscles to a great extent. When doing pushups, the palms must be kept fully on the floor and the knees must be kept touching each other. This provides the right amount of pressure on the chest muscles.

(2) Side swerves - This exercise requires the woman to sit upright on a chair and place her arms at her hips. Then, keeping her spine as straight as possible, she is supposed to turn as much to the left as possible. Holding herself at the far left for a couple of moments, she must reverse her position to the far right. This helps to tone up the underarms and the sides of the breasts.

(3) The kneeling dip - Here the woman kneels on the floor with her knees suitably apart. Then she lowers herself so that her head comes in the region between her thighs. The exertion must be felt over the breasts. This is good for frontal development of the breasts, which includes the region where the nipples and the areolas lie.

First and foremost, it is necessary to understand the difference between breast enlargement and breast enhancement. Enlargement refers to simply an increase in the size of the breasts; but enhancement means improving their overall look, which includes working on their shape, size, texture and firmness. Breast enlargement is much simpler and quicker to achieve; but for breast enlargement, constant care and maintenance of the breasts is required.

To achieve breast enlargement, women prefer the breast augmentation surgery. This is the quickest method and the results are very quick and obvious. In breast augmentation surgery, the surgeon will place implants in the breasts. There are two types of implants that are commonly used:

Silicone gel implants - These implants are composed entirely of silicone gel. Silicone is a material that provides the necessary elasticity to the breasts. Though once commonly used, today the use of silicone gel implants is banned. This is because clinical tests have proved that silicone gel can cause cancers in some women if used as a transplanting material.

Saline implants - With the silicone gel implants coming under fire, the saline implants are the ones that are being widely used nowadays. These implants also contain a silicone shell, but they are filled inside with saline gels, which are harmless to the human body.

There are two basic shapes in which implants are designed. The round implants are the much too common ones; they are round in shape as their name suggests. But the more popular ones are the teardrop shaped ones. The teardrop shaped implants perfectly complement the natural shape of the breasts. But they are more expensive than the round implants.

In order to insert the implant, the surgeon begins by making an incision at the base of the breast. Then the implant is very carefully placed between the muscles of the pectoral girdle and the overlying adipose layers of the breast. A great deal of skill in required in making the implants. Any mistake could lead to the breasts becoming asymmetrical, and it could be difficult to repair the situation. The problem is graver if teardrop implants are used. Therefore, teardrop implant surgeries are much costlier than round implant surgeries.

Despite the cost, women prefer augmentation surgeries - known scientifically as augmentation mammoplasty - because of the quick effects they show. These surgeries do not take much time, and the recuperation is also very quick. The woman can resume her job within a week. Earlier surgeries used to be a bit risky, but with saline implants they have become much safer. It is mostly in the celebrity circles that one finds women who have undergone breast enlargement surgeries.

One argument against breast enlargement surgery is that women who have undergone the surgery could lose their sexual sensations in the breasts, or may lose some of their physiological functions such as lactation. Though these arguments are unfounded medically, they are prime deterrents for women who wish to get their breasts enlarged the surgical way.

This is where natural methods of breast enlargement come in. Natural breast enlargement can be done by either using herbal remedies or by massaging techniques.

Several herbs like fennel, ginseng, ashwagandha, fenugreek, etc. have been prepared by experts and are being used by women all over the world to get their breasts enlarged. These could be in the form of pills, creams and sprays. The advantages of using herbal supplements are that they are very convenient to use. They are packaged in the form of small bottles, which can be carried easily wherever the woman goes without anyone knowing about her using them. Also it is ideal for women who are paranoid of going under the surgeon's knife. Though slow-acting and not medically proven, several women are using herbal methods in order to get a more enviable bust line.

Massaging is done by different kinds of pressures applied on the breast so as to provide better circulation within. Circular motions are the most preferred ones. The nipples are pulled to their outermost limit in order to make the breasts suppler.

Even with massage techniques, there is widespread apprehension. Women using these methods do stress the need of regular massage so that the effects could be seen.

As a final word, it is necessary for women to first gain confidence in themselves and then to think about going in for breast enhancement. Most times, women have good busts but they lack the needed confidence with their own bodies.

In this article we try to see some of the very commonly used alternative methods for breast enhancement.

(1) Breast Enhancement Exercises

There are several exercises that could have an effect in bettering the tone of the breasts. These exercises are actually common chest expansion exercises. The exercises aim at improving the strength of the chest muscles, on which the fatty tissues of the breasts lie. The improved chest enables the breasts to settle better on them. This provides the breasts with a firmer and better-perked look.

Here it must be said that breast enhancement exercises do not actually increase the bulk of the breasts. Breasts are largely composed of fatty tissues, and no amount of exercise can ever improve fatty tissue. Hence the exercises work on the underlying muscle layers and provide the required firmness to the breasts.

Commonly used exercises are the pushups, chest extension exercises, bench presses, breast presses, arm swings, etc. In fact any exercise that works for the chest can be used. While exercising, one must feel the pressure being exerted on the tissues of the breasts.

One contention with the breast enhancement exercises is that they are very slow to show results, if at all they show any results. Also, skeptics argue that breasts cannot be improved at all by any amount of exercise. This point has already been elucidated before. Breast enhancement exercises are not meant to improve breasts, but they improve the chest which makes the breasts look better in return. And one thing must be remembered, even if the breast enhancement exercises do not show their desired results, there is no harm in trying out. Exercise can only benefit in improving the capacity of the chest; so the woman loses nothing.

(2) Breast Herbal Supplements

Alternative therapies like Ayurveda have come up with several natural herbal remedies for improving the shape and size of the bust. Commonly used herbs are pueraria mirifica, ashwagandha, kawa kawa, fennel, blessed thistle, wild yam, oats, ginkgo, etc. These are the main ingredients for a wide array of products that are thronging the breast enhancement market today. All these herbs have been used since centuries especially in India by women in order to improve their breasts. What modern science has done is to take the best essences of each herb and market them as individual products.

The herbal preparations are sold in the form of pills, creams, sprays, etc. Out of these the breast enhancement pills are the most popular. Women need to pop these pills in their mouth with water or milk, as the dosage suggests. The pills are generally taken after meals keeping a gap of one hour. Women love these pills because they come in conventionally sized bottles, which easily fit in the handbag of the woman. Creams and sprays are for external application. The frequencies and the times for which the breasts should be kept open after the exposure vary from brand to brand.

All these herbal supplements work by bringing about changes in the hormonal constitutions of the body. The female sex hormones are the estrogen and the progesterone. During puberty, these hormones play an important role in giving the final shapes to the breasts. Most of these herbal supplements introduce plant hormones into the body, which perform a similar improvement of the breasts. But this is in fact the main argument against herbal supplements. Doctors do not like the idea of tampering with the natural hormonal balance of the body.

(3) Breast Massage Techniques

The breasts can be massaged in order to bring an increase in their sizes. There are different techniques to massage the breasts. Massaging frees up the blood canals in the breasts, facilitating a better blood circulation. This may be an important factor in shaping up the breasts. Some women have toxic buildups in their breasts due to milk that remains in them after the baby is weaned from the breast milk. Such toxic wastes can be properly canalized into the blood stream by massaging the breasts.

The biggest advantage with breast massage is that it can be incorporated into the foreplay during sexual intercourse. The male partner can massage the breasts of the female before the actual penetration. This would not only serve as an important natural method of breast enhancement, but it would also build up the sexual frenzy.

In this manner, there are many ways in which a woman can improve the shapes of her breasts without having to undergo expensive cosmetic surgeries, which could be harmful to the body. Our advice to women is to try out these slow but steady methods before contemplating on surgery.