{"id":5366,"date":"2019-06-24T02:50:24","date_gmt":"2019-06-24T02:50:24","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.vivehealth.com.au\/blog\/?p=5366"},"modified":"2019-06-24T02:53:00","modified_gmt":"2019-06-24T02:53:00","slug":"herbal-medicines-increase-breast-milk-supply","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/www.vivehealth.com.au\/blog\/2019\/06\/24\/herbal-medicines-increase-breast-milk-supply\/","title":{"rendered":"Herbal Medicines that Increase Breast Milk Supply"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"<\/a>Galactagogues are a group of medicines or agents that are believed to or have been proven to help breast milk production at the beginning of breast feeding or for the continuation of feeding.<\/p>\n

Herbs have a long history, in many cultures, of being recommended and used to stimulate breast milk production.<\/p>\n

Studies have been conducted on several of the herbs commonly recommended but there is still the need for more clinical studies as results achieved have either been too small of a study or had inconclusive outcomes.\u00a0 A review done by Bazzano et al. (2016) found that studies done on pharamaceuticals also needed more robust evidence.<\/p>\n

An article written by Abascall & Yarnall (2008) wrote of the importance of breastfeeding and the necessity of support for the mother at a time when she is experiencing an inadequate supply of breast milk.\u00a0 Breastfeeding gives a newborn and infant the optimum nutrition, combined with immune support and many health benefits that are enriching and long lasting for the mother and baby.<\/p>\n

Breast milk supply can be compromised if; mother is obese, it is an older mother, the labour was difficult and, in some cases, caesarean sections. The physiological challenges for breast feeding can need more than counselling and can increase the demand for galactogogues to help increase breast milk production.\u00a0 The author reported the complications of childbirth can delay lactation for up to 72 hours after delivery and this can contribute to breastfeeding being stopped early and result in formula supplementation.<\/p>\n

There is anecdotal evidence on the use of herbs but it is important for the herbal community to have studies showing the safety and effectiveness of herbs in order to bridge the gap between herbal practitioners and conventional health care practitioners.<\/p>\n

An insufficient supply of breast milk can be the result of many factors and therefore further investigation is always required.\u00a0 Factors that can contribute to low supply:<\/p>\n

    \n
  1. Social & physiological factors<\/li>\n
  2. Delayed lactation<\/li>\n
  3. Diabetes<\/li>\n
  4. Hypothyroidism<\/li>\n
  5. Obesity<\/li>\n
  6. Thecalutein cycts (ovarian cyst)<\/li>\n
  7. Polycystic ovarian syndrome<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Herbs used as Galactagogues<\/h1>\n

    Systematic review reported by Bazzano, et. Al (2016)<\/span><\/h2>\n

    The above authors reported there is a huge and increasing demand for information on galactogogues.\u00a0 The authors reported; in a 10 year period there had been more than 1.16 million google searches with reference to breast-feeding and herbs.\u00a0 The authors concluded from their review that most woman doing searches avoided conventional medicines because of concern for the safety of their baby and they searched for evidence-based information on the herbal products they were using.<\/p>\n

    Bazzano et al. (2016) conducted an extensive review on galactogogues and the herbal studies used were blinded and placebo controlled trials. Only studies with relevant outcomes in milk production, infant weight gain and a change in serum prolactin levels were included.\u00a0 They also reviewed pharmaceutical galactogogues.<\/p>\n

    Three herbs were reported to have clinical trials with results in support of the herb having galactagogue properties.<\/p>\n