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> From: Athan and Nancy Kramer <[log in to unmask]>
> To: Sandy Arnold <[log in to unmask]>
> Subject: Re: "Lactation" tea OK with BF?
> Date: Saturday, September 14, 1996 8:22 PM
>
> Hi Sandy,
> Borrowing from "The Complete Medicinal Herbal" by Penelope Ody, with my
> comments as appropriate:
> Hops contain a high proportion of estrogen and act as a mild depressant
on
> the higher nerve centers. I don't see any use for them for increasing
milk
> supply. Or anise seed either; it is commonly used as an antiseptic
> expectorant used on irritant dry coughs and bronchial infections. Same
> thing with the catnip; not a milk supply builder that I know of (it cools
> fevers and promotes sweating). No comment on the coriander. I've used
> blessed or holy thistle in lactation teas but I can't find a reference as
> to why. Raspberry can add a pleasant flavor to the tea, and it is good to
> tonify the uterus during the last two months of pregnancy, and it is also
> good during labor, but that's the only thing I can comment on; nothing
> regarding lactation. (Although it is not harmful.)  Fenugreek is the best
> herb for building milk supply. I add fennel to disguise the bitter taste.
>
> I also recommend "Mother's Milk", a commercially prepared tea by
> Traditional Medicinals that is excellent. I note that it contains fennel,
> coriander, spearmint, lemon grass, anise, blessed thistle, althea root,
> lemon verbena, and fenugreek.  I used to drink it when I was stressed and
> having supply problems and I could almost feel the letdown when I drank
it.
> The package calls it "very rich and flowing" and just those words
conjured
> up the right image for successful nursing for me! I still drink it; it
> tastes great too. Even my husband will drink it without fear of suddenly
> starting to lactate <g>
>
> Cheers
>
> Nancy Kramer
> The wanna be herbalist who has 4 kinds of mint, 3 kinds of lemon balm,
and
> even lets wild chamomile grow in her garden...
>
> ----------
> > From: Sandy Arnold <[log in to unmask]>
> > To:
> > Subject: "Lactation" tea OK with BF?
> > Date: Friday, September 13, 1996 9:58 PM
> >
> >    I have a mom that is trying to build milk supply (MANY other factors
> > involved), and is drinking lactation tea.  I just wanted to be sure
> > everything that she was using looked OK--anyone care to comment?
> >    Her combination includes:  fenugreek, anise seed, thistle seed,
> coriander,
> > fennel, raspberry leaf, chammomile (?), catnip and nettles.  She also
> says
> > she has read that some say hops are OK, others not. Opinions, please!
> >    Please feel free to email me directly, and TIA!!!
> >
> > Sandy Arnold BS, IBCLC
> > <[log in to unmask]>
> >