Herbal Remedies To Stop Lactation

Weaning a baby for any reason can pose a variety of challenges, both emotionally and physically. Stopping lactation can be painful and embarrassing -- when clothing may be stained and breasts may be painfully engorged with milk. Various herbs provide a gentle and effective way to slow down the flow of milk, helping nursing moms more easily wean their children and dry up milk. Some herbs can cause side effects for both mother and child. Before using herbs to stop lactation, contact your health practitioner.

Salvia Mellifera

Salvia mellifea has been used for hundreds of years by Native Americans both as a seasoning and for making into meal. The seeds are flavorful and very nutritious. Tea made from the salvia plant decreases secretions of all types, including breast milk. Herbalist and author Philip A. Munz considers it one of the best herbs for reducing breast milk during lactation, as he writes in his book, "A Flora of Southern California." Drinking 1 cup of tea before each meal is recommended for drying up breast milk. Do not drink salvia tea during pregnancy or immediately after the birth of a child because it may inadvertently dry up milk needed for nursing.

Sage Leaf Tea

Herbalists have used sage leaf tea to help women dry up breast milk and help wean babies from nursing; however, there is not enough scientific evidence to state emphatically that this herb is effective, according to the NYU Langone Medical Center. That being said, it has been used in the herbal community for hundreds of years, and anecdotal evidence indicates it may be helpful in reducing breast engorgement and slow or stop the flow of breast milk, writes herbalist Rosemary Gladstar in "Herbal Healing for Women." The recommended dose is 1 tbsp. dried sage leaf infused in 1 cup boiling water. Steep for five to15 minutes. Strain the herbs and allow the tea to cool. Drink two to six cups daily. Alternatively, you can take 30 to 60 drops of sage tincture three to six times daily. Contact your health practitioner before using sage to dry up breast milk.

Herbal Oil Mix

Make a mixture of herbs infused in olive, almond or walnut oil to stop the flow of breast milk. Herbs like fresh jasmine flowers placed directly on the breasts or infused into oil may help dry up milk. A combination of peppermint, black walnut, lemon balm, oregano, parsley and spearmint added to oil and allowed to infuse over a very low heat make an effective treatment for stopping lactation, according to Gladstar. You should not use these herbs on your breasts while still nursing.

Homeopathic Bryonia Alba

Although not technically an herb, homeopathic Bryonia alba is made from an herbal base, and may provide relief for engorged breasts and help dry up milk, according to the NYU Langone Medical Center. Bryonia is indicated for this purpose when there is pain and fullness in the breasts without redness or sign of infection. The left breast is often more painful than the right and both feel worse when the arms are raised. All kinds of bodily movement tend to aggravate the pain, including breathing, touch and the application of pressure to the breasts. Bryonia is available over the counter without a prescription. Contact a homeopath or other health practitioner familiar with its use for dosing guidelines for your individual needs.