It varies. Although herbs and herbal products are sometimes referred to as “natural,” they are not always secure. Before utilizing herbs, especially herbal teas and essential oils, it’s crucial to consult your healthcare practitioner because they can be highly potent.
Herbs can enter breast milk, just like prescription drugs do, and may have an impact on both you and your baby’s milk production. (The idea that sage, parsley, or peppermint will make you produce less milk is a hoax.)
Herbs are not subject to FDA regulation, unlike over-the-counter and prescription medications, thus there is no assurance of their safety, potency, or purity. Even professionals are unsure of which herbs are safe for nursing infants because very few have been thoroughly researched to determine their impact on nursing infants.
There isn’t much evidence to support the safety (or efficacy) of these herbs in nursing mothers and infants, despite the fact that they have been used for centuries to increase a nursing mother’s milk production. Examples include fenugreek and fennel.
Another popular plant to take with caution is echinacea, which is believed to prevent or treat colds. Some specialists advise mothers to stay away from it when breastfeeding due to a lack of safety data. Additionally, goldenseal, which can be poisonous in even moderate dosages, is frequently used alongside echinacea.
Before using any herbal therapy, be prudent and speak with your doctor.
The majority of herbs that are used to season food, such cumin, rosemary, and cilantro, are safe to incorporate in your diet on a regular basis in moderation. However, some, such as sage, can be harmful if you ingest them in high or concentrated doses, such as when taking medicine or drinking tea.
You should be aware of some interactions between plants and medications as well as between herbs and other substances. For further information, speak with your physician or pharmacist.
Instead of sites that are marketing herbal products, look for trustworthy, impartial websites while studying herbs online. Good sources include the National Institutes of Health, the U.S. Department of Agriculture, MedlinePlus, and LactMed.
All herbal teas should only be consumed moderately and with caution. Teas include concentrated herbs. Choose teas that have a complete ingredient list. For instance, ginger or German chamomile tea are regarded as safe options; nevertheless, avoid any teas containing goldenseal.
Can I use echinacea while nursing?
Because not enough study has been done on them, some complementary and alternative medicines have extremely good information about their safety and effectiveness while nursing, while others have very little.
Plants are used to make herbal remedies, which are based on traditional knowledge. They are classified as complementary and alternative therapies (CAM). Acupuncture, nutritional supplements, massage, aromatherapy, homeopathy, and relaxation therapy are examples of CAM therapies.
Pharmacy, grocery, and health food stores are common places to purchase herbal and traditional medications. They might have been prescribed by a Chinese physician, a naturopath, or another type of medical professional. Many complementary medications are utilized for sustaining health and wellness, even if the majority of them are used to treat symptoms of minor, self-limiting diseases.
Certain herbal and traditional medications can pass into your breast milk in the same way that conventional medications do. Some herbal and conventional medications may harm your infant, while others may reduce your ability to produce breast milk. It is crucial that you avoid using a product until you or your doctor are certain about how it will affect nursing babies.
The best nutrition for your newborn is breast milk, which is also very healthy for both you and your kid. If your infant is a newborn or was delivered prematurely, you should be extremely cautious regarding the herbal and conventional medications you use while breastfeeding.
Things to consider
The uncontrolled use of traditional and herbal medications during nursing raises issues.
All conventional and herbal medications have the potential to enter breast milk and have an impact on your baby.
There isn’t enough evidence to evaluate the safety of most traditional and herbal medicines during nursing.
Science has not established the efficacy of all herbal and conventional treatments.
Some herbal and conventional pharmaceutical goods have not undergone the necessary regulation to guarantee their high caliber.
Aloe vera
Cracked nipples can sometimes be healed using aloe vera gel. Before feeding your infant, clean the nipple areas of aloe gel since the harsh taste of the aloe vera gel can interfere with feeding.
The inner epidermis of the aloe leaf produces a yellow liquid known as aloe vera latex. Both the dried and liquid forms of it are consumed orally. As aloe vera latex has a potent laxative impact, avoid consuming it.
Cranberry
Cranberries can help nursing women avoid urinary tract infections. Although there is no research on the medication’s safety and effectiveness when used during nursing, it is thought to be safe when taken at the suggested doses.
Echinacea
To treat or prevent upper respiratory tract infections, echinacea has long been utilized. The effectiveness and safety of echinacea during nursing are unknown. Watch for potential negative effects in your infant, such as diarrhea or constipation, poor feeding, and skin rashes, if you use echinacea while breastfeeding.
Fenugreek
Fenugreek has long been used to improve milk production. Unusual adverse effects in newborns include allergies, colic, abdominal discomfort, and diarrhea. It is unknown whether fenugreek passes into breast milk. Fenugreek may also interact negatively with other medications.
Garlic
In the quantities typically used in food preparation, garlic seems to be safe. Breast milk flavored with garlic may not taste as good to your baby, who may stop eating. On the safety of garlic supplements while nursing, there is no information.
Ginger
In the quantities typically used in food preparation, ginger seems to be safe. As there isn’t enough data on the safety of ginger while breastfeeding, stay away from using huge doses.
St John’s Wort
Almost less is known about St. John’s Wort’s effectiveness and safety in nursing mothers. Alternative medicine is advised to be taken into consideration. Before beginning St. John’s Wort, seek counsel from your physician or pharmacist.
Which herbs should nursing mothers avoid?
Herbs Not To Use While Breastfeeding
- Alder Buckthorn (Rhamnus Frangula) is a berry and bark with laxative, intestinal irritant, and anthroquinones glycosides secreted in breast milk properties.
- Hepatotoxic phyrrolizidine alkaloids produced in breast milk; alkanet (Alkanna tinctoria).
Elderberry and echinacea are safe to take while nursing.
- Safety: More trustworthy medical research is required before recommendations on dosage and potential effects on nursing infants can be made. There is insufficient data to tell if breastfeeding mothers are safe. While some medical studies claim it’s safe, others advise against using it. Before taking echinacea, see your doctor.
- No recommended dosage for echinacea when breast-feeding exists.
- Echinacea may help strengthen your immune system by fending against viruses and infections, which is how it strengthens immunity. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) claim that echinacea may marginally lower your risk of contracting a cold.
What can I do to strengthen my immune system while nursing?
You need all the energy you can get as a nursing mother, and if you can avoid becoming ill, all the better.
A healthy lifestyle is your (not so) secret weapon for increasing immunity, especially when breastfeeding, despite the fact that there is no miracle cure.
Research has shown that nursing is the most effective strategy to strengthen your baby’s immune system. For mom’s health as well, it’s very great. According to research, nursing can hasten your return to your pre-pregnancy weight and speed up your uterus’ recovery following birth. Additionally, type 2 diabetes, osteoporosis, anemia, breast cancer, ovarian cancer, and other illnesses are less likely to strike breastfeeding mothers.
1. Maintain a healthy diet
A balanced diet will help your body fight off colds, the flu, and other ailments. Pick any of the following foods to boost your immunity:
What is the most important information I should know about Echinacea?
If you have any of the following conditions, you shouldn’t use this product:
an autoimmune disease like lupus, psoriasis, or rheumatoid arthritis.
If you have any allergies, particularly plant allergies, see a doctor, pharmacist, or other healthcare professional to determine whether it is safe for you to use this product (especially ragweed, mums, marigolds, or daisies).
Never give a child any herbal or nutritional supplement without consulting a doctor. Children under the age of 12 should not take echinacea.
During pregnancy, is echinacea safe?
The portion of your immune system that defends against viruses and bacteria operates at a decreased intensity when you are pregnant. Because of this, expecting mothers frequently experience more colds and flus, coughs, and sore throats than usual. 1,2
So what can be done to combat the common cold and the flu while pregnant? Pregnant women should take good care of themselves while they are sick with the flu or a cold; they should get enough rest, drink plenty of fluids, and eat a nutritious diet. A healthy diet rich in vitamins and minerals like zinc and vitamin C can enhance the immune system. 3,4 Western herbal medicine has utilized the herb echinacea purpurea (often known as echinacea) for centuries to encourage a healthy immune response. 5
Can echinacea be consumed when expecting? Echinacea is categorized as a Category A medicine in pregnancy according to traditional herbal medicine categorization, which means controlled research in healthy pregnant women have shown no risk to the fetus. 6 Echinacea is one of the few plants that is safe to use while pregnant.
How does echinacea assist? Echinacea may be beneficial to take during any early symptom of infection, exposure to infection, or as a prophylactic during cold and flu season in order to maintain the mother’s immune system during pregnancy. When taken at the first sign of infection, echinacea is a traditional herbal remedy used in western herbal therapy to help reduce the symptoms of the common cold. 7
What else might be beneficial? In addition to getting enough sleep, eating a well-balanced diet, and drinking lots of water, there are other substances that may help strengthen the immune system during pregnancy. Breast milk contains a kind of protein called lactoferrin, which may improve immune system function and increase immune cell activity. 7 During pregnancy and breastfeeding, there is an increased need for vitamin C and zinc, and zinc is crucial for the maintenance of a healthy immune system. 3,4 For more details on dietary supplements, consult your healthcare provider. Always read the label and only use as instructed. Consult a medical professional if your symptoms don’t go away.
Which nursing mothers shouldn’t pump milk?
Breastfeeding is not advised for mothers who have human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I or type II. Breastfeeding is not permitted for mothers who use illegal drugs like cocaine, PCP, heroin, marijuana, etc. This is due to the fact that these substances may have an adverse effect on the unborn child.
Which herbs reduce milk production?
Typical herbs that reduce milk production include:
- Sage.
- Peppermint.
- Oregano.
- Parsley (in large amounts)
- Spearmint.
- Thyme.
- Rosemary.
What vitamins should nursing mothers avoid?
Herbs and supplements to stay away from when nursing:
- Latex of aloe.
- Ashwagandha.
- Berberine/goldenseal (berberine is a compound found in goldenseal)
- Bilberry.
- White cohosh.
- Butterbur has ingredients that could harm the liver (Chojkier, J Hepatol 2003)
- Angelica sinensis dong quai (National Library of Medicine 2018)
How can I treat a cold while nursing?
Pamela Poe, a lactation specialist at Mon Health, and Craig Herring, an ob-gyn, offer their advice on how nursing women can battle colds while maintaining their milk supply.
To treat unpleasant cold symptoms like sneezing, coughing, and sore throat, it can be tempting to turn to over-the-counter medications.
However, treating cold symptoms may cause breastfeeding women to hesitate. You need to think about the medications that are safe for the infant as well as whether or not they will influence your ability to produce milk.
Fortunately, before turning to pharmaceuticals to relieve discomfort, Mon Health Lactation Specialist Pam Poe says there are a number of natural solutions you can consider.
Although there isn’t a miracle cure, Poe believes that nursing women can find many natural, drug-free solutions to help with symptoms.
And mothers might be relieved to learn that there are a few over-the-counter cold medicines that are thought to be safe to take while breastfeeding, according to Dr. Craig Herring, Mon Health OBGYN.
The majority of cold medications do, in fact, transfer into breast milk, but only in very, very little levels, according to Dr. Herring.
There are therefore many safe cold remedies available that nursing mothers can take to alleviate their symptoms, even though there are some drugs out there that they may want to avoid.
Poe claims that most anti-cold medications that pregnant women are permitted to take are generally safe to take while nursing, but you should always check with your doctor first.
Poe provides a list of safe natural and pharmaceutical cold cures for nursing women, including:
- To clear up congestion, take a warm bath or breathe in steam.
- Spray some saline in your nose.
- Warm broths, soups, and other drinks that are hydrating and calming for a sore throat should be consumed.
- Warm tea with lemon and honey is a soothing natural remedy.
- Use a humidifier with chilly mist.
- For a sore throat, gargle with salt water.
- Remain hydrated.
- Get lots of sleep.
- Acetaminophen (Tylenol)
- Ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin)
Use with caution, advises Poe, as pseudoephedrine and other decongestants may negatively affect milk production.
Decongestants may also make some nursing infants agitated or fussy, according to certain research.
Dr. Herring also advises breastfeeding mothers to exercise caution when using the following substances and cold remedies:
Summary of Use during Lactation
Fruit from elderberries (Sambucus nigra) contains anthocyanidins and flavonoids like quercetin. Sambunigrin, which is potentially hazardous because it can emit cyanide, is present in the bark, leaves, and root. This risk does not exist with cooked berries. [1] Elderberry is most frequently used to treat influenza and boost the immune system. It is not specifically useful during lactation. There is no information on the safety and effectiveness of elderberry in nursing women or infants, or on the excretion of any elderberry components into breastmilk. Rarely have allergic reactions been reported after using elderberry products. Regarding the administration of elderberry products at therapeutic levels while nursing, no suggestions can be provided.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration does not require substantial pre-marketing approval for dietary supplements. Before dietary supplements are advertised, manufacturers must guarantee their safety, but they are not required to demonstrate their efficacy. Multiple substances may be present in dietary supplements, and variations between the listed contents and the actual ingredients or their proportions are frequently seen. Although a company may get into a contract with a third party to verify a product’s or ingredient’s quality, this does not imply that the product is safe or effective. The results of clinical testing on one product might not be applicable to other items due to the aforementioned problems. On other pages of the LactMed website, you can find more comprehensive information regarding dietary supplements.
Drug Levels
Mommy Levels. At 1, 4, and 13 weeks postpartum, milk samples from 17 nursing moms who consumed an unrestricted diet were collected between the hours of 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. At weeks 1, 4, and 13, the average quercetin concentrations in breastmilk were 48 nmol/L, 60 nmol/L, and 51 nmol/L, respectively. The range of results among individuals was wide due to the unrestricted diet and various sample intervals. [2]
Following the administration of an onion soup containing either 0.8 or 1 mg/kg of quercetin glucosides, quercetin was detected in the milk of 11 women. After a 5-day low-quercetin diet, a baseline milk sample was collected. Seven further milk samples were collected during the course of the 48 hours following soup consumption. Breastmilk contained an average of 45 nmol/L of total quercetin (conjugated and unconjugated). An average of 11.9 hours passed after the soup meal before the average peak milk quercetin level of 68 nmol/L was reached. In breastfeeding, quercetin had an average half-life of 50.3 hours. [3]
Baby Levels. As of the modification date, no pertinent published information had been discovered.