Herbs/natural treatments - KellyMom.com

Fenugreek Seed for Increasing Milk Supply

KellyMom — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 18:19:40 +0000

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) appears to be the herb that is most often used to increase milk supply. It is an excellent galactagogue, and has been used as such for centuries. In one study of ten women, "the use of fenugreek significantly increased volume of breastmilk"

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Herb Safety Categories

KellyMom — Thu, 28 Jul 2011 22:20:12 +0000

A No contraindications, side effects, drug interactions, or pregnancy-related safety issues have been identified. Generally considered safe when used appropriately.
B May not be appropriate for self-use by some individuals or dyads, or may cause adverse effects if misused. Seek reliable safety and dose information.

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Herbal safety for nursing moms

KellyMom — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:53:22 +0000

It is possible for anyone (mother or baby) to have an allergic reaction to just about anything. Watch your baby closely for any adverse reactions if you take any herb or medication.

Keep in mind that most herbal treatments have not been thoroughly researched, particularly in regard to lactation. "Natural" substances are not automatically safe! Herbs are drugs, so it is necessary to use caution when using them.

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Herbal weight loss products and breastfeeding

KellyMom — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 17:50:44 +0000

Many herbal weight loss products contain some form of ephedra. It might be listed in the ingredients as Ma Huang, Ephedra sinica, Sida cordifolia, ephedra, ephedrine group alkaloids, ephedrine, etc. Some of the weight loss products that have contained ephedra include Metabolife, Herbalife, OmniTrim, Trim Easy, Diet Pep, MetaboSafe, geniCiL, AM-300, power drinks like Ultimate Orange, etc.

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Herbs and Breastfeeding: References

KellyMom — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 17:56:14 +0000

Most herbal treatments have not been thoroughly researched, particularly in regard to lactation. Herbs are drugs, and some caution is necessary. It is possible for anyone (mother or baby) to have an allergic reaction to just about anything. Watch your baby closely for any adverse reactions if you take any herb or medicine.

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Herbs to avoid while breastfeeding

KellyMom — Fri, 29 Jul 2011 18:00:32 +0000

Using large amounts of the following herbs and other natural remedies should be avoided while nursing because they have been known to decrease milk supply. The amounts of these herbs normally used in cooking are unlikely to be of concern; it's mainly the larger amounts that might be used therapeutically that could pose a problem. However, some moms have noticed a decrease in supply after eating things like dressing with lots of sage, sage tea (often recommended when moms are weaning), lots of strong peppermint candies or menthol cough drops, or other foods/teas with large amounts of the particular herb. These herbs are sometimes used by nursing mothers to treat oversupply, or when weaning.

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Natural treatments for nursing moms

KellyMom — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:06:06 +0000

Although many medications are compatible with breastfeeding, it's always a good idea to minimize the use of medications when nursing. Following are various natural treatments for nursing moms that I have collected.

Keep in mind that herbal and other "natural" treatments in general are not without risk for nursing moms - herbs can be just as pharmacologically active as meds from the pharmacy. Before using any herbal treatment, investigate whether it is safe for nursing moms.

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Oil of Oregano for thrush?

KellyMom — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:09:49 +0000

I do not recommend that breastfeeding mothers use oil of oregano to treat thrush...

Oil of oregano (Origanum vulgare L.) is sometimes suggested for treatment of thrush (candida/yeast). The recommendations I have seen for the use of oil of oregano for thrush treatment include topical use of the oil on baby's feet and mother's nipples and internal use of the oil by the mother.

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Too much milk: Sage and other herbs for decreasing milk supply

KellyMom — Mon, 01 Aug 2011 18:25:51 +0000

This is best used only if you are in the process of weaning, though it may also be used in extreme cases of oversupply when the usual measures are not effective. Be careful with this if you are not in the weaning process! Don't overdo it once you're seeing some results.

To use dried sage (Salvia officinalis) for reducing milk supply, take 1/4 teaspoon of sage 3x per day for 1-3 days. You can mix the sage in vegetable juice (for example, V-8), but it won't mix well into other juices. You can also mix it into other foods. If you don't like the taste of sage, try putting it into a tiny piece of sandwich and swallowing it whole - peanut butter or something else a bit sticky seems to work best for holding the sage in place. Tear off the corner of the sandwich containing the sage (it should be a very small section) and swallow it without chewing (that's why you need a very small section).

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What is a galactagogue? Do I need one?

KellyMom — Thu, 04 Aug 2011 18:22:36 +0000

A substance that increases milk supply is called a galactagogue. Some of the most commonly used herbal galactagogues are fenugreek, blessed thistle, and alfalfa. There are also several prescription medications that can increase milk supply.

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