LETTERS TO THE EDITOR - JERUSALEM POST - DECEMBER 3, 1994

Sir:
We would like to thank Judy Siegel for her article "Cabbage Soothes the Savage
Breast" (November 26, 1994) and add a few points.

Nursing mothers who suffer from engorgement do get relief from cabbage leaves.

Although the exact mechanism does not seem to be known, one possible
explanation comes from BREASTFEEDING REVIEWS (1988).  "Cabbage belongs to the
'Brassicacea family' and contains mustard oil, magnesium, oxylate and sulphur
heterosides.  Sulfa in the amino-acid methionine acts as an antibiotic and
antiirritant, which in turn draws an extra flow of blood to the area.  This
diates the capillaries and acts as a counter-irritant, thus relieving the
engorgement and inflammation and allowing the milk to flow."

We use washed inner leaves of green cabbage that have been cooled in the
refriderator.  The mother lines her bra with cabbage leaves, until the breast
is softened and the milk begins to flow.  She is advised to breastfeed
frequesntly and cautioned not to over use the leaves in order not to diminish
her milk supply.  It would be prudent to advise mothers who are allergic to
sulfa to avoid this treatment even though there have been no reported side
effects.  Woment who wish to dry up their milk supply continue to use the
cabbage leaves, changing them every two hours, until the breasts are soft
(usually less than 20 hours).  Signed by:
Toby Gish, RN, IBCLC and Silvie Ackerman, RN, Midwife, Haifa

I hope this is helpful to all of you out there on Lactnet.

Yaffa Stark, MA, IBCLC