---------- > 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]> > >