Gynecomastia Treatment in Ayurveda: Medicines and Herbal Remedies

What is Gynecomastia?

According to Ayurveda, gynecomastia is a condition that is part of another major condition- obesity. It defines that increased breast size doesn’t occur independently. Moreover, the breasts enlarge due to ati sthooltha  or sthaulya (Obesity).

Know more: Causes of Gynecomastia

Apart from breast enlargement, Ayurveda identifies the following signs and symptoms of Gynecomastia-

• Asymmetry in the areola diameter and chest tissue
• Tenderness of the male breasts
• Milk discharge secreting tumor 
• Enlargement of any of one of the breasts 

Know more: Stages of Gynecomastia

Ayurvedic Treatment for Gynecomastia 

The ayurvedic treatment for gynecomastia involves reducing the weight and balancing the impairment of fat metabolism. This is primarily done through Aahar, i.e., diet and Vihar, i.e., lifestyle changes. To achieve this, you need to follow the recommendations below:

Diet Recommendations- 

The food we eat on a regular basis makes a huge difference in our health. Therefore, by eating healthy food with lower estrogen levels and enough nutrients, you can treat gynecomastia to a certain extent. Try the following dietary changes: 

• Consume non-slimy and heavy food.
• Eat unpolished rice, oats, barley, etc. 
• Increase the intake of vegetables like carrots, radish, cucumber, ginger, brinjal, etc. 
• Eat red lentils, Bengal gram, green gram, or horse gram more. 
• Use spices like cardamom, pepper, or black pepper while cooking food. 
• Eat citrus fruits like oranges and lemons. 
• Drink honey, spiced buttermilk, and warm water. 

Lifestyle Changes Recommendations- 

Without a healthy and active lifestyle, you will become vulnerable to many conditions, including gynecomastia. To avoid this from happening, make the following changes in your lifestyle: 

• Start following a system in your daily routine that includes improving your sleeping and waking patterns too. 
• Avoid exhausting yourself to the extreme through exercises. 
• Avoid activities that may lead to stress. 
• Do not suppress your urges. 
• Perform yoga and light exercises regularly. 

Apart from the diet and lifestyle modifications, the ayurvedic treatment for gynecomastia also involves the use of certain medicines and herbs. 

Ayurvedic Medicines for Gynecomastia

Gynecomastia causes a massive impact on the psychological as well as social aspects of an individual. Furthermore, it dampens an individual’s self-esteem as well as interferes with his morale. Here are some medicines that Ayurvedic doctors recommend to reduce gynecomastia fast- 

• Tribulus Power

One of the major causes of developing gynecomastia is a hormonal imbalance in the body. Sometimes, there can be an overproduction of estrogen in the bloodstream that leads to the puffiness of the nipples. In such instances, taking Tribulus Power capsules can help. 

The main ingredient of this ayurvedic medicine is Gokshura (Tribulus terrestris). The ingredient encourages testosterone production as well as improves premature ejaculation. Not only premature ejaculation, but it also cures erectile dysfunction. These are available in the form of capsules. The usual dosage of Tribulus Power for adults is taking two capsules two times a day after meals.

• Arogyavardhini Vati

In gynecomastia, there is growth excess tissue around the breasts that leads to overall enlargement of the chest area. This mainly occurs when the body is unable to metabolize food properly which leads to deposition. Arogyavardhini Vati boosts up digestive health and helps to absorb the nutrients properly. Hence, this Ayurvedic medicine ensures that there is no fat accumulation.

The ingredients of the Patanjali Arogyavardhini Vati include-

• Shudha Mercury 
• Shudha Gandhak 
• Louh Bhasma 
• AbhrakBhasma 
• Tamra Bhasma 
• Shudha Shilajatu
• Shudha Guggul 
• Chitrak Mool 
• Kutki 
• Neem Patra Ras 
• Harad 
• Baheda 
• Amla 

Moreover, this medicine also contains Shilajatu that also increases testosterone production. In addition to all these benefits, this medicine also treats constipation, bloating, digestive issues, liver ailments, skin diseases, etc. 

• Hakam Churna 

Ayurvedic doctors recommend this medicine for the overall enhancement of the body. This medicine works by curing all the three doshas hence, it is also known as “Tridoshin Rasayan”. Talking about its benefits for treating gynecomastia, this medicine works similarly to the Arogyavardhini Vati. This medicine also stimulates better digestion and maintains liver health. As it cures all the three doshas, it ensures proper functioning of the entire body including hormone production. Some of the key ingredients of Hakam churna include-

•  Kalonji 
• Methi
• Ajwain 
• Chandershoor 

One should take 3-5 gm of Hakam Churna powder with hot water twice a day to reduce the enlargement. 

• Guggul capsules 

Guggul is found from the guggul trees which are very common in India, Pakistan, Bangladesh, etc. In Ayurveda, guggul is used widely for the preparation of various medicines. Guggul is a plant extract that can be very effective in losing weight as well as lower the risk of cholesterol. These capsules act as lipid regulators and hence can normalize hormonal imbalance. Doctors also prescribe this medicine to reduce dark spots on the skin. 

Ayurvedic herbs for Gynecomastia 

There are various herbs that are effective in treating gynecomastia. Furthermore, the combination of these remedies reduces the puffiness around the nipples. 

Herbal Remedy 1:

Gather the following herbs-

Grind these ingredients and mix them. Store it in a cool place. The dodge is taking 3 pinches of this powder twice a day with a teaspoon of honey.

Herbal Remedy 2:

Some doctors recommend the following medicines for 4-6 months in order to treat gynecomastia.

• A person can take Rohitakarishtha 15 ml twice a day after eating food.
• Can also consume Hepato corrective drugs such as Tab. Livomyn2 t.d.s
• After taking food, gynecomastia person can also take Kaishor Guggula 500 mg
• Prepare a paste by mixing dry ginger powder, 1 ml of Castor oil and 1 ml of glycerine. Apply this paste on both sides of the breast area before going to bed.

Herbal Remedy 3:

Another set of doctors urge their patients to follow the below mentioned set of instructions to help them get rid of gynecomastia-

• Mix Haritaki, Yashtimadhu and turmeric in equal parts in water and drink it three times a day.
• Take 2 Kanchnas Guggulu tablets three times a day
• Massage with mustard oil from the nipple area to the shoulder once a day
• Practice Dhanurasan daily 

Herbal Remedy 4:

Warm some mustard oil with 20-30 g of camphor, 10 g of powdered black pepper and 10 g of long pepper. Two hours prior to bath, take this mixture and apply it around the nipples to the back.  

Side effects and risks of ayurvedic medicine and treatment for Gynecomastia 

Ayurvedic medicines for treating Gynecomastia are prepared with the combination of various herbs. Hence, these herbs can cause some side effects. Although rare, people have reported some side effects from these herbs. 

• Arogyavardhav Vati in excess amount leads to the burning sensation, ulceration in the mouth and vertigo. In rare instances, it can cause bleeding. 
• Guggulu capsules can cause stomach upset, headaches. Some people reported nausea and vomiting while some other people complained of diarrhea, belching and hiccups after taking this medicine. It can also cause skin rash and itching.

How To Get Rid of Gynecomastia Fast?

There is a lack of evidence regarding the effectiveness of treating gynecomastia with Ayurvedic medicines. Moreover, there are so many side effects that can occur after taking this medicine. These can also interact with medicines that a person takes for another health condition. Also, the results are not long-lasting. Hence, a patient has to be completely dependent on these medicines. All these factors indicate that choosing Ayurvedic treatment for gynecomastia may not be very fruitful. 

Read more: Gynecomastia Treatment Without Surgery!

People can consider options such as liposuction and gland excision surgeries for gynecomastia treatment. With the advancement of the latest surgical instruments, both these procedures have become very popular. They incur minimum pain and bleeding. One of the major reasons for its high popularity is minimum visible scars after the procedure. Also, people claim that after these surgeries they recovered fast and the results are also very satisfying. At Pristyn Care clinics, our surgeons can help you with the treatment of gynecomastia. Book an appointment with us today!

Read more: True Gynecomastia VS Pseudogynecomastia