Breastfeeding women who become ill or need to increase their lactation levels may have concerns about treating these health issues with prescription medications. Some breastfeeding women may opt to take Chinese herbs because they perceive that they are safer than pharmaceutical drugs. However, while herbal treatments tend to be milder than prescription drugs, there are risks that should still be considered. Unfortunately, there is scant scientific information available about the effects of herb consumption on breastfeeding infants, but mothers can mitigate the risks involved by consulting a physician, avoiding certain types of herbs and ingesting herbs according to a particular schedule, to reduce the risks to the infant, according to the Institute for Traditional Medicine.
Significance
Breastfeeding women should be careful when taking Chinese herbs to treat their health concerns or to improve their lactation levels because an estimated 1 percent of the herbs' active constituents will enter her breast milk, according to the La Leche League International. While this trace amount is unlikely to cause an adverse reaction in the infant, mothers should be aware and monitor their baby for side effects and allergic reactions during treatment. Most reports of infant adverse reactions have shown that the mother either ingested misidentified or inappropriate herbs. A qualified health provider should always be consulted before taking herbal remedies.
Time Frame
When breastfeeding mothers take Chinese herbs, the concentrations of the herbs' active constituents peak in breast milk approximately 60 to 90 minutes after ingestion. It is recommended that women take herbs immediately after breastfeeding to minimize infant exposure, according to the Institute for Traditional Medicine.
Benefits
Some women experience insufficient milk production while breastfeeding, and Chinese herbs that are traditionally used as galactagogues, or lactation enhancers, can be useful, but they should be used only as a last resort. There are several other methods for increasing breast milk production that should be initially explored, such as the mother increasing her fluid intake and increasing breastfeeding frequency, according to Dr. Jay Gordon's website. Fenugreek is one of the most frequently used galactagogues. The recommended dosage for fenugreek is three capsules three times per day. Alfalfa and marshmallow are milder Chinese herbal breast milk enhancers that can be taken is dosages as high as four capsules three times per day. A qualified health provider should be consulted prior to taking all herbal remedies.
Considerations
Side effects from Chinese herbs are rare, however, when they do occur, the most common are related to the infant's nervous system, such as irritability, insomnia and excessive sleep; the digestive system, such as colic and diarrhea; or allergies of the skin, such as a rash. Additionally, women who take Chinese herbs while breastfeeding should use the lowest effective dose, according to the Institute for Traditional Medicine.
Warning
Chinese herbs that breastfeeding mothers should avoid because they contain high levels of alkaloids that may negatively impact an infant's nervous system include coptis and phellodendron, sophora root, ma-huang and evodia, according to the Institute for Traditional Medicine. Additionally, they should also be cautious about using herbs that affect hormone levels, such as anise and fennel. Strong cleansing herbs such as senna, rhubard and aloe should be avoided because they may cause the infant to experience diarrhea or colic. Breastfeeding mothers should also avoid sage and parsley because they decrease lactation levels, and taking garlic can strongly flavor breast milk, which can deter infants from feeding.
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