Is there anyone with a copy of the German Commission E book (Germany's
"FDA") who can tell us what it says? Anyone from N.M. who can run this
by Dr. Low Dog for clarification? For those who haven't heard of her,
she's an MD who has a vast knowledge of medicinal herbs and alternative
or complementary medicine. Didn't the Academy of BF Medicine issue a
statement on fenugreek recently?

Phyllis Adamson, BA, IBCLC
[log in to unmask]


laurie wheeler wrote:
>
> Some Herbs Should Be Avoided by Nursing
> Mothers
> CHICAGO (Reuters Health) Nov 3 - Two popular herbal remedies for nursing
> mothers — fenugreek and comfrey — can pose a health risk to their infants,
> according to Dr. Ruth A. Lawrence, who reviewed the use of herbs by
> breast-feeding mothers at a presentation during the annual meeting of the
> American Academy of Pediatrics.
> Dr. Lawrence, ..."many mothers take fenugreek to increase their milk
> supply, but there has never been a study to prove that fenugreek increases
> milk supply."
> While there is no proof of its benefit, Dr. Lawrence said that there "are
> data about the risks. Specifically it can cause hypoglycemia in the nursing
> mother and it can raise blood pressure." She said that in some infants
> fenugreek has been associated with increased "colic and diarrhea."
>
> A lactnetter recently mentioned this and another explained Dr. Lawrence's
> conservatism re herbs. This is troubling to me becoz I feel it would be
> risky to mention this herb to pts in lite of her cautions (liability issues
> for the LC or RN). I always refer the mom to her dr. to discuss whether she
> should take ther herb or not. I was aware of possible hypoglycemia,
> diarrhea, allergy in the mom. What I want to know is:
> 1. what is the data and the mechanism whereby this herb raises blood
> pressure?
> 2. will you LCs out there now stop recommending or suggesting this herb or
> do so differently?
>
> Laurie Wheeler, RN, MN, IBCLC
> Violet Louisiana, s.e. USA

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