"I recently heard from another lactation professional that attended
<snip> a
course that new research is showing that Fenugreek is unsafe. It thins
the
blood, causes blood sugar issues and other dangerous outcomes. I have
always
known there are some concerns about blood sugar and that there are
people
that Fenugreek might not be good for, but "dangerous" and no longer
recommended? "
I know I am a bit behind on mail (was in the UK and then Montreal
during the past three weeks), but I really wanted to address this
topic. I keep hearing that this or that training program has decreed
that LCs "MAY NOT" make any suggestions related to herbs, supplements,
nutrition, chiropractic, CST, medications, procedures or just about
anything else for that matter. This really concerns me for a number of
reasons. First, as it has been pointed out by Frank Nice, suggesting
and even recommending is NOT prescribing. It is also a conflict of our
ethical guidelines (and certainly my personal ethics) to withhold
information that might assist mothers in successfully breastfeeding
their babies.
What concerns me even more, though, is that so many people seem to
accept these opinions (and that is all they are--the opinions and
interpretations of individuals or groups) as fact. It is not a fact
that I may not tell a mother that homeopathy is effective in my
clinical experience in treating plugged ducts and preventing the use of
abx. It is not a fact that discussing nutrition with a client is the
practice of some form of medicine and outside of my scope of practice
nor that I cannot give mothers information about the relationship
between structure and function. Or about domperidone or herbal
galactogogues or frenotomy. One could even turn this around and ask if
it is not irresponsible NOT to teach these tools to all IBCLCs.
In my opinion, we should be ever-expanding our knowledge-base, not
diminishing it at every turn. I have spent two decades learning the
holistic practices I know. They are a part of my language and my
expertise and integral to the way I serve mothers and babies. I think
any program that minimizes our practice, limits our knowledge-base and
implies that those of us who are practicing by integrating our full
range of knowledge and skills are in some way behaving inappropriately
and "outside or our scope of practice". I for one, do not in any way
appreciate the implications of such a contention.
As to fenugreek in particular--fenugreek works as evidenced by the
increase in milk supply among mothers who use it!! What does it mean to
say "causes blood sugar issues"? Fenugreek regulates blood sugar and is
an excellent treatment for diabetics. It is used in very high doses by
Tierona Lowdog to treat diabetes. There is an incredible body of
evidence showing the dangers of anti-depressents, for example, yet they
are given like candy to breastfeeding mothers, yet we are supposed to
get up in arms about fenugreek? I don't know, but I have to wonder if
it is only ignorance or some other agenda that is guiding such warnings.
Jennifer Tow, IBCLC, CT, USA
Intuitive Parenting Network LLC
________________________________________________________________________
AOL now offers free email to everyone. Find out more about what's free
from AOL at AOL.com.
***********************************************
Archives: http://community.lsoft.com/archives/LACTNET.html
Mail all commands to [log in to unmask]
To temporarily stop your subscription: set lactnet nomail
To start it again: set lactnet mail (or [log in to unmask])
To unsubscribe: unsubscribe lactnet or ([log in to unmask])
To reach list owners: [log in to unmask]
|