Herb Profile: Herbs & Breastfeeding

Breastfeeding is an intimate journey, and finding ways to support your health and well-being during this time can be empowering and enriching. One way to enhance this experience is with herbs, which have been cherished for centuries for their gentle, natural benefits. In this guide, we'll explore how incorporating herbs into your postpartum routine can help nurture your body and your baby through breastfeeding. 

Need More Breast Milk?

If you are suffering from a lack of breast milk you can use herbs to assist you. I didn’t have this problem, but some women do. I had the opposite problem of making too much milk. My lactitionist would kid with me that I could have supported triplets without any difficulties. Below are some tips to encourage more breast milk production. If you are having difficulty making enough milk, you can try the following: 

• Try some milk thistle herb tea. Brew a cup of this tea and drink it to increase milk production (see Quick Power Herb Reference – Lactating, Nursing, Mastitis, and Thrush sections in The Power Herbs Book for more information).
• Make sure you are also getting enough nutrition. The body cannot produce anything extra if it is running low on fuel to keep the main system running.  You can try supplementing with a blue-green algae nutritional food. Make sure the ingredients contain: Dulse, Wheatgrass, Spinach leaf, Alfalfa grass, Barley grass, Rose hips, Orange & Lemon peel, Beetroot & non-active nutritional yeast. (This yeast will not produce candida in the digestive tract.)  Mix 1 to 2 tablespoons of this mix in your favorite juice (fresh juice is best) and drink at least once a day. 
• If you are still having difficulty supplying milk, you can take a little milk thistle, mullein, and lobelia tea or tincture to move the fluids out of the body. When it comes to breast milk the body works on supply and demand. Milk thistle and Lobelia can help signal the body to produce more milk and mullein can feed nutrition to the glands. Use 1 tablespoon each of milk thistle and mullein, and ¼ tsp. of lobelia with 8 ounces of water.
• If sore nipples become a problem you can apply olive oil, wheat germ, or flax oil to the skin to keep it flexible and reduce cracking.  Your baby may have an opinion on which oil tastes best. Also, a little air to the nipple after nursing, until they are dry, can help to toughen up the skin.    

Need Less Breast Milk?

If you are making too much milk or you and your baby are ready to wean off the breast, you can reduce your milk production by managing the frequency and duration of nursing. These are safe and effective ways to reduce milk production without the risks associated with drug therapy. 

• You can also use sage to help reduce or dry up milk. Drink some sage tea three times a day or as needed to help reduce milk production.  You can also apply a sage tea fomentation to the outside of the breast. Make some sage tea and soak a cotton cloth in the tea. Wring out excess fluid and apply several times a day.  
• Also, “wrapping” the breast is an old technique to reduce the production of breast milk. One hundred years ago, this is how women managed to wean their babies and reduce milk production. Take an old bed sheet, cut it into 6” to 8” strips, and wrap it around your breast area as tight as you can stand it. You can pin the end of the wrap to the front for easy removal. If you would prefer to “wrap” the breast, there are special bras that fit very snuggly to achieve this effect.  

No More Mastitis

If mastitis is your problem (this is where the breast will become tender, red, hot, and is the result of a clogged milk duct that has become infected) you can try to relieve the condition by continuing to nurse on the affected breast. I suffered from mastitis while nursing two of my children. At the time, I was working with a lactitionist and she was very helpful. However, I noticed different results when I layered in herbs with her guidance. Every woman has her own experience. The following are a few things that I found helpful to relieve mastitis.

• Just prior to nursing, it is helpful to prepare a basin of very warm water and soak the breast in it for several minutes. Massage the area that contains the clogged milk duct. You will feel a lump and it will be tender. If you find this difficult, take your mullein and lobelia herbs just before massaging. This will help to relax you and prepare the breast for the letdown of milk. It will also allow the baby to latch on more easily. 
• If you don’t have a mullein and lobelia tincture, you can brew a cup of tea using these herbs and drink it. You can sweeten it with honey. Use 1 tablespoon of mullein and ¼ tsp. of lobelia. Steep your tea for 15 minutes and drink. Use as necessary. If you feel nauseated, you can reduce the amount of lobelia herb.
• You should also drink 2 quarts of filtered water per day. Avoid dehydrating drinks like alcohol, caffeine, and sodas. Dehydration will encourage mastitis.
• Also, get plenty of rest. Mastitis will promote fatigue, so forget the housework and laundry. Sleep when the baby sleeps.
• Celtic sea salt can be used to fortify your cells and help them retain the natural balance of water every cell requires. The recommended amount is no more than ½ tsp. per day.  You must accompany the salt intake with 2 quarts of water per day.
• Don’t forget to eat healthy. Avoid excess sugar, starchy foods made with processed flour and it is helpful to do a little exercise.  
• Eat whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and plenty of protein to allow the body to perform at optimal levels.

What to do About Thrush?

Having thrush while nursing is a real pain. I know because I had this while nursing my second child. You know you have thrush if the breast becomes sensitive to water, and is bright red and dry, or chapped looking. It is painful to touch and may contain white patches. If you ask your doctor or lactitionist, they will probably tell you to put a vaginal cream on the breast to kill the yeast. This will kill the yeast that is causing the thrush, but your baby will also be ingesting some of the chemicals in the medication.  Also, you will want to address your diet (the cause) to prevent thrush from returning. If you would prefer to try the natural route, here are a few suggestions.

• Keep the breast as dry as possible. Moisture will promote the growth of yeast on the breast. After nursing, gently pat the breast dry and if you use breast pads, make sure you change them frequently to avoid moisture.
• Make a tea using distilled water and black walnut. This herb kills yeast and fungus. You can add a little comfrey and marshmallow root to help soothe and repair the skin. (Make sure that you use the older leaves of comfrey and not the young leaves or roots.)  Use a cotton cloth or cotton ball and dab the tea on.  If you already have a tincture of this made up; you can put two droppers of tincture in very warm water and let it sit for 5 minutes to evaporate the alcohol. Then apply as above. Let the breast air dry before covering.
• To soothe the breast, you can also apply some “fresh” aloe gel in between feedings. Allow the air to get to the area and rest.
• Avoid a lot of refined, starchy foods. Eat some pungent herbs like horseradish, ginger, mustard and cayenne. Also, take some apple cider vinegar that has the sediment still in it. Bragg and Spectrum make good vinegar and you can find it at health food stores. These herbs and the vinegar will help to balance the gut flora and reduce yeast inside and out.  

Don’t worry about the thrush in the baby’s mouth. The thrush will go away as you continue to apply the routine as above. It is also recommended that you boost your immunity. Eating “fresh” garlic alone will do wonders for your immune system. Use quality herbs such as Echinacea, Ginseng root, Pau d’ Arco inner bark, and garlic. You can take this three times a day but it is recommended to not exceed three weeks straight use. Take a one-week break and resume if necessary.  

Herbs to avoid during breast-feeding:

Along with avoiding the herbs listed above, It is also a good idea to check with your physician before taking any botanical products. If you are pregnant or nursing, use common sense and choose what’s best for you. Eat a healthy diet containing whole grains, fruits and vegetables, and quality protein. Avoiding refined sugar, alcohol, and processed foods will help to promote health. 

This information is from The Power Herbs Book by Herbalist Wendy Wilson. Available in PDF, Kindle, and iPad here:  https://www.thepowerherbs.com/herbs/Books-And-Newsletters.ht...

*This statement has not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. Seek medical advice from a licensed medical physician before using any product or therapy.*

Sources: The Power Herbs Book