WHAT is the first place on a woman that a man notices? Is it her beautiful hair or her natural curves?

Research conducted at the Victoria University of Wellington showed that the breasts are often the first body parts men look at when looking at a woman. And, as you can imagine, with this quick look, the size doesn’t matter.

Interestingly, the breasts are also looked at for a longer time than any other body parts.

For many, the breasts play a major role in human sexual activity, as they are commonly pressed and massaged with the hands or gently bitten with the mouth before or during sexual activity.

The breasts, and especially the nipples, are among a woman’s erogenous (love) zones that, when stimulated correctly, may evoke musical orgasmic notes, sending shivers down her partner’s spine. It is a sure tragedy when men fail to master the art of nipple stimulation because a stimulated nipple may trigger uterine contractions, which then produce spiral sensations in the brain and genital areas such as cervix, vagina and clitoris.

No one can deny that the breasts are very important to a woman’s sexual attractiveness. It is her sign of femininity and maturity, as it often influences her self-esteem. My earliest appreciation for the breasts was the warning my mother gave that I should always behave myself, because her breasts were sensitive to my aches and pain.

We all can agree that from the cradle to the grave, ‘the breast is still the best’. It is interesting to know that women continue to produce a clear, milky, antibody-rich secretion that can boost the immune system of a man for the rest of his life if he but only remains and drinks freely from her fountain. Sadly, more men do not know about this wonderful source of healing and it is washed into the sea of forgetfulness.

TAKING CARE OF YOUR BREASTS

Not much is taught about breast care — unless there is a disease, discomfort or trouble breastfeeding — most of us probably don’t really give our breasts a lot of attention. The truth is that the breasts need care and attention, so here are some useful recommendations:

1. The nipple of the breast should be cleansed with a daily shower. It should be noted that all women produce a very small secretion that dries and becomes a crust on the nipple, that should be removed daily.

2. Increase normal secretion flow through the breasts with herbs and a healthy diet, and avoid toxic alkaloids present in coffee, tea, colas, and chocolate, as well as a diet high in fats, meats and milk. Please remember to investigate all abnormal discharges from the breast.

3. An injury to the breast should be treated by alternating hot and cold compresses. Apply the hot compresses for four minutes and a cold compress for 45 to 60 seconds — the alternating compress should be repeated.

4. Do not wear brassieres for more than 12 hours per day. Wear comfortable brassieres that allow free passage of air and that keep the temperature of the breast a few degrees lower than that of the rest of the body to encourage proper circulation of blood throughout the body.

5. In caring for your breasts, avoid contact with environmental and household chemicals, such as fertilisers and hair dyes.

The breasts, a major source of comfort and pleasure, are often plagued by diseases such as cancer. The best way to keep them healthy and always producing their natural medicine is with herbal remedies.

During sexual arousal, more blood flows into the breasts, causing it to increase in size and the nipples to harden. This experience can be felt with herbs such as fennel, vervine and sage, preserving the health of the breasts — blood vessels, fatty tissues, cells, and especially nipple-areola complex — keeping it sensitive to the touch.

This is a the only sure, God-given way of maintaining firm, youthful-looking breasts.

Maureen Minto is the chief naturopathic consultant at the Healthy Living Herbal Clinic and president of the Caribbean Natural Remedies Association. Contact her at 940-1197 or e-mail healthylivingjamaica@gmail.com