Recent cabbage leaves reference is Roberts, Kathryn L,  "A Comparison of
Chilled Cabblage Leaves and Chilled Gelpaks in Reducing Breast Engorgement,"
JHL 11(1), 1995, p. 17-20.  The article's conclusion is that there is no
difference in the efficacy of gelpaks and cabbage leaves for treastment of
breast engorgement.

And, I've just got to throw this thought out to all of you. . . Here, in
conservative Cincinnati, we were informed by an interested (really)
infectious disease doc that uncooked, green cabbage can carry listeria.
 Since listeriosis can be life-threatening to the neonate, we no longer
recommend cabbage leaves for lactating women.  Continue to use it for relief
of engorgement after infant death or untimely weaning.

I was so glad when this study in JHL was published.  Now I feel like I'm not
short changing women, but that the alternative treatment is  effective.
 Cabbage leaves sure give dramatically good results, though.

Toni Pestro, RN, BSN, IBCLC