Breastfeeding Problems

Breastfeeding Problems

I was born in rural Alabama, and I spent my first few months breastfeeding from both my mother and a black wet nurse. Wet nurses in rural Alabama took herbs to promote lactation, particularly fennel and fenugreek. Based on my review of the scientific literature, I'd have to vote for fenugreek over fennel. But it never ceases to amaze me how much wisdom there is in folk wisdom.

Compared with formula, mother's milk is better for mother-child bonding, plus it is easier for babies to digest, does not cause constipation and protects the infant from allergies and several infectious diseases. It also has contraceptive benefits for the mother, although nursing women can get pregnant. For all of these reasons, and after years of touting formula, since the 1980s doctors have switched back to promoting breastfeeding. (Another case of modern medicine reversing itself. Science marches on!) In fact, a new type of specialist, lactation consultant, has sprung up to help new mothers deal with breastfeeding problems: too little milk, too much milk, sore nipples and painful nipple infections (mastitis).

Green Pharmacy for Breastfeeding Problems

I'm no lactation consultant, but permit me to suggest a few herbs that can help make breastfeeding a more rewarding experience.

Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum). Fenugreek seed has been used to increase milk production since biblical times. The herb contains phytoestrogens, which are plant chemicals similar to the female sex hormone estrogen. A key compound, diosgenin, has been shown experimentally to increase milk flow. I would readily wager that dietary levels consumed in some societies--parts of the Middle East, for example--could be shown to increase milk flow.

Because fenugreek is my first-choice herb for promoting milk production, it is also the main ingredient in my Bustea, which I also recommend for breast enlargement. You can find the recipe on page 88.

Fenugreek Also known as Greek hay, fenugreek has long been used to heal sick animals as well as humans.

Garlic (Allium sativum). To treat mastitis, doctors often prescribe antibiotics. The problem is that antibiotics get into breast milk, and I'm not so sure it's a good idea to expose infants to these drugs.

Missouri naturopath Chris Deatheridge, N.D., has what I think is a better approach. He suggests mixing a dropperful of echinacea tincture, three cloves of raw garlic and four to six ounces of carrot juice in a blender and drinking the mixture every two hours. He reports many quick, permanent cures. I'm not surprised. Garlic is a potent antibiotic.

In addition, garlic helps babies nurse better. If breastfeeding mothers eat a few cloves of garlic within an hour before nursing begins, babies attach to the breast more readily, stay there longer, suck more and drink more milk, according to studies done at the Monell Chemical Senses Center in Philadelphia.

Anise (Pimpinella anisum). Anise is very helpful in promoting lactation, according to Jean Valnet, M.D., a pioneer of aromatherapy and author of The Practice of Aromatherapy. Dr. Valnet also recommends caraway, fennel and lemongrass. He's a bit surer than I am, but I'm inclined to accept his recommendations, which is why all of these herbs are incorporated into my Bustea. They also improve the flavor of the active fenugreek.

Chasteberry (Vitex agnus-castus). Talented fourth-generation California herbalist Christopher Hobbs, a botanist whom I respect, suggests using Vitex shortly after delivery to promote milk flow. This recommendation goes a bit beyond the usual uses of chasteberry for breast tenderness, PMS and menstrual complaints, but I have no problem suggesting this revered women's herb to enhance lactation. It's probably worth a try. (And it's a handsome ornamental flowering tree, as lovely as lilac.)

Echinacea (Echinacea, various species). Echinacea, also known as coneflower, is useful in treating mastitis and nipple fissures, according to Maine herbalist Deb Soule, founder of Avena Botanicals and author of The Roots of Healing. I'm not surprised at this recommendation, because echinacea is both an antibiotic and an immune system booster.

I suggest blending a dropperful of echinacea tincture in juice along with a few cloves of garlic; drink it three or four times a day. (Although echinacea can cause the tongue to tingle or go numb temporarily, this effect is harmless.)

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare). Fennel, which research shows has weak properties similar to those of the stronger female hormone estrogen, has been used for centuries to promote lactation. You can try two teaspoons of crushed seeds per cup of boiling water and drink up to three cups a day.

Don't use fennel oil. In pregnant women, the oil can cause miscarriage. And in doses greater than about a teaspoon, it can be toxic.

Peanut (Arachis hypogaea). In China, when women produce little milk, herbalists give them peanuts. There just might be something to it. Like so many other legumes, peanuts contain several estrogenic compounds that might spur milk production.

Alfalfa (Medicago sativa). Like fenugreek, alfalfa is estrogenic. If you'd like to produce more milk, it probably can't hurt to add heaping handfuls of sprouts to your salads. If you have lupus or a family history of lupus, however, it's a good idea to steer clear of alfalfa sprouts. There's some evidence that they may trigger lupus in sensitive individuals.

Alfalfa Alfalfa, a favorite food for cattle, may help stimulate milk production.

Dandelion (Taraxacum officinale). The Chinese boil about an ounce of minced dandelion root in two to three cups of water until only half the liquid remains, then use compresses of the resulting brew to treat mastitis. This sounds like a good treatment to me. If my daughter had mastitis, I'd suggest that she try it.

Jasmine (Jasminum sambac). To suppress milk flow, an age-old Indian folk treatment is to apply fresh jasmine flowers to the breasts. In one study, Indian researchers matched this treatment against doses of bromocriptine (Parlodel), a drug that terminates lactation by inhibiting secretion of a hormone involved in milk production. In the study, half of a group of women took bromocriptine, and half applied crushed jasmine to their breasts. Both treatments were equally effective lactation inhibitors, although bromocriptine lowered hormone levels more than the flowers did. I don't see how this could work, but that's what the study showed.

papaya (Petroselinum crispum). Eating chopped fresh parsley is an old folk treatment for breast tenderness. It makes sense: Some breast tenderness is caused by water retention, and papaya is diuretic, which means that it helps flush excess water from the body.

The herb's diuretic action probably accounts for Dr. Valnet's recommendation to use papaya to help reduce milk production in preparation for weaning. He also recommends mint and sage for this purpose.

Sesame (Sesamum indicum). The Chinese roast sesame seeds, grind them and then eat them with a small amount of salt to increase milk flow. I love sesame seeds and can think of no more wholesome food. While I don't know of any research showing that it works, I can't think of a good reason not to give it a try.

Squaw vine (Mitchella repens). This herb is useful in treating nipple soreness that results from nursing, according to herbalist Paul Bergner, editor of Medical Herbalism. His recipe: Boil two ounces of squaw vine in a pint of water, add a pint of heavy cream, then boil the mixture down until it has the consistency of a salve. Let cool and apply after each feeding.