Jan,
You asked:
<<Does anyone know the basis for this assertion -- that the fenugreek will
lower the baby's blood sugar?  That there is an association with cross
allergies to peanuts?  That it can cause colic?  I'm really interested in
finding the sources for this, as I haven't been able to locate them>>

I posted the following to Lactnet several weeks ago. It partially answers you
question.

I wrote:
<<.I checked this out with one of the best herbalists I know. She did indeed
do a literature search. What she found was that the one study done on humans
used a dosage of 25-100mg per day of the dried herb. In the study, blood
glucose levels were lowered *only* in those subjects who already had
diabetes. In those who did not there was *no change*. The conclusion of the
study was that fenugreek could be used as part of the treatment for diabetes
as it may reduce the need for insulin. It also lowered cholesteral, but did
not lower HDL.
    In the MIddle East, fenugreek is cooked into bread and eaten--it is a
*food* which has been shown to be very nutritious.  There was no study to be
found that showed any connection to blood pressure. Fenugreek is mucilaginous
and coats and soothes the digestive tract, so it can loosen stools, but this
is not a reason for concern.
    On another point, she said that fenugreek has a history dating back to
ancient Greece and is used traditionally in both Western and Chinese medicine
as a galactogogue.
    Her theory is that fenugreek works so well b/c it has a certain compound
which acts as an adaptogen, modulating hormones. Adaptogens have no affect
when none is needed and a corrective affect when it is needed. This would
explain the response to blood sugar.

Jennifer Tow, IBCLC, CT, USA

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