Fenugreek tea is used in traditional medicine by nursing mothers throughout the world to stimulate milk production. Avoid getting an early start with this tea, however, because it’s not recommended for use during pregnancy. Also consult your doctor before consuming it if you are nursing, especially if you take medication or other herbal supplements.
Miscarriage Risk
Fenugreek tea is not recommended during pregnancy because it may stimulate your uterus, which raises the risk for premature birth or miscarriage. Historically, this herb was used to induce childbirth, notes the National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine. Also, using fenugreek to induce labor may lead to a false diagnosis of maple syrup urine disease in your infant, notes an August 2001 “Journal of Pediatrics and Child Health,” study. This disease is a protein metabolism disorder typically treated with a protein-free diet.
Other Risks
Using fenugreek during pregnancy also may increase the chances of fetal death, low birth weight, pregnancy complications and teratogenic effects, according to a September 2010 “Journal of Ethnopharmacology” study on mice. Teratogenic effects lead to birth defects or congenital malformations. Such abnormalities may be present at birth but may not be diagnosed until later in life. The risk for pregnancy complications while taking fenugreek is well-documented via animal research, according to “Fenugreek: The Genus Trigonella” by Georgios A. Petropoulos. Drugs and supplements are typically classified as to their teratogenic potential based on animal testing or anecdotal information on exposure in humans, notes Wendy Chung, clinical and molecular geneticist and director of the clinical genetics program at Columbia University in New York.
Nursing
Fenugreek tea may increase milk production after childbirth. This effect appears to be related to the herb’s ability to increase sweat production, as breasts are modified sweat glands, notes “Delmar’s Integrative Herb Guide for Nurses,” by Martha Libster. This tea is commonly used in Egypt and India. There is not enough scientific data available as of 2011 to determine whether fenugreek poses harm to a nursing infant, advises Drugs.com. Consult your doctor before trying fenugreek to stimulate milk production.
Considerations
Fenugreek can cause allergic reactions. This herb also may affect blood-sugar levels and blood clotting. Do not use it without medical supervision if you have diabetes or a blood clotting disorder or take medications that affect your blood-sugar levels or your body’s ability to form blood clots, such as blood-thinners. Also, fenugreek is not evaluated by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for safety, purity or effectiveness. Also, no regulated manufacturing standards exist for this herbal supplement. There have been instances in which herbal supplements were contaminated with drugs or toxic metals, warns Drugs.com. Buy any supplements you use from a reliable source to reduce risk for contamination.
References
- National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine; Fenugreek; July 2010
- Drugs.com; Fenugreek; September 2011
- “The Essential Herb-Drug-Vitamin Interaction Guide”; George T. Grossberg and Barry Fox; 2007
- “The Ultimate Breastfeeding Book”; Jack Newman and Teresa Pitman; 2006
- “Delmar’s Integrative Herb Guide for Nurses”; Martha Libster; 2002
- “Fenugreek : The Genus Trigonella”; Georgios A. Petropoulos; 2002
- “Journal of Ethnopharmacology”; Evaluation of the Developmental Toxicity of the Aqueous Extract from Trigonella Foenum-Graecum (L.) in Mice; L. Khalki, et al.; September 2010
- Columbia University; Teratogens and Their Effects; Wendy Chung
- “Journal of Pediatrics and Child Health”; Pseudo-Maple Syrup Urine Disease Due to Maternal Prenatal Ingestion of Fenugreek; S.H. Korman, et al.; August 2001
- PubMed Health; Maple Syrup Urine Disease; May 2011
