Home · Books & Supplies · Handouts · Forums · Support kellymom · Search |
|
 |
Home > Herbs and Breastfeeding > Is This Herb Safe for Nursing Moms?A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z Herbal safety for nursing mothers
Sage is known to decrease milk supply. Not recommended for nursing moms or for internal use during pregnancy. Salvia officinalis L. (Dalmatian sage) and Salvia lavandulaefolia Vahl (Spanish sage) are the most common species. According to Hale, sage is relatively nontoxic and nonirritating. Due to drying properties and pediatric hypersensitivity to anticholinergics, sage should be used with some caution in breastfeeding mothers. Observe baby for dry mouth, stomatitis, cheilitis. I've heard a case report of a mom getting postural hypotension (she got lightheaded when she stood up) and an increase in migraine headaches when regularly drinking sage tea - the symptoms went away when she discontinued the sage tea. Do not use sage if you have epilepsy - sage contains thujone, which can trigger seizures. Info on using sage to decrease milk supply is here. Additional general info at HealthNotes and WebMD. [top]
St. Johns Wort oil can cause serious allergic reactions in infants, so it is not recommended for use on mom's nipples. See Is St. John's Wort Safe for Breastfeeding Moms? for info on using St. John's Wort for depression. [top]
No known contraindications for nursing moms. There is no known toxicity documented for sarsaparilla, however according to the German Commission E monograph, sarsaparilla may cause stomach irritation and temporary kidney irritation. Not recommended for use by persons taking blood thinning agents. Additional general info is available at HealthNotes, WebMD and rain-tree.com. [top]
On source indicates that although women are unlikely to use this herb, they should strictly avoid it during pregnancy and breastfeeding due to its hormonal effects. Extracts from the fruit of this short, scrubby palm have been used historically to treat urogential problems in men. Side effects include gastrointestinal tract upset and headache (each is rare and mild). More info on this can be found in A Review of 12 Commonly Used Medicinal Herbs. This isn't particularly relevant, but Jim Duke, in the book "Green Pharmacy," says that that saw palmetto (Seronoa repens) was best known a century ago as a breast enlarger (folk medicine). Additional general info at HealthNotes, WebMD and The Natural Pharmacist. [top]
Some reports indicate that there are no adverse effects to the breastfed baby via nursing, however the German Commission E monograph recommends avoiding this herb while breastfeeding. Riordan & Aurbach (p. 175) indicates that senna is not recommended for breastfeeding moms because it can cause diarrhea in the baby. If you use it during pregnancy or lactation, do so under the supervision of your doctor. Senna can cause diarrhea and dehydration. It can cause the colon to become dependent on it to move properly, and thus should not be used for more than ten consecutive days. People with Crohn’s disease, appendicitis, intestinal obstructions, and abdominal pain should not supplement with senna. More here on Senna and Breastfeeding. Additional general info at HealthNotes and WebMD. [top]
No harmful effects known during lactation. According to the American Herbal Products Association Botanical Safety Index, it is not to be used during pregnancy or by persons with a history of kidney stones. Additional general info can be found at WebMD. [top]
No harmful effects have been documented during pregnancy and lactation, however one source says that use of skullcap during pregnancy and lactation should be avoided due to limited information on its safety. Cases of liver damage have been reported in association with intake of scullcap; but on closer examination, it appears these skullcap products may have contained germander, an herb known to cause liver damage. More general info at WebMD, The Natural Pharmacist and HealthNotes. [top]
No harmful effects are known for pregnant and lactation women. Other than occasional allergic reactions, slippery elm has not been associated with any toxicity. More general info at HealthNotes, WebMD and The Natural Pharmacist. [top]
This is contraindicated for nursing moms becasue it can cause central nervous system depression. More here. [top]
No harmful effects known for nursing or pregnant women. More general info at WebMD. [top]
Known to decrease milk supply. Not recommended for nursing moms. [top]
Known to decrease milk supply. Not recommended for nursing moms. [top]
Page last modified:
03/03/2005
|
||||||||||||||||