Information on the Ayurvedic Botanical Liv.52 product:

>  The
>mother read off the ingredients as follows:  Capers (65 mg), Chicory (65
>mg), Mandwr Bhasma (complexed iron) (33 mg), Blackberry (32 mg),
>Myrobalan (32mg), Senna (16 mg), Yarrow (16 mg), Manna (16 mg) and
>various ? Ayurvedic processing ingredients.  Doseage is 2 Tabs/BID for 1
>week.
>
>This mother has taken this before she had this child with good effect in
>helping to clear her skin.  Her baby is now about 8 months.

Two things to note with this ingredient list:  The plant part and preparation
details are lacking.  E.g. is this senna leaf or pods?  Is yarrow powdered
plant material or dried extract?, etc. It's generally more reassuring to see
things spelled out completely on a herbal product label.

  And second, the phrase "Ayurvedic processing ingredients" is not explained.
On occasion, ayurvedic remedies made in India (and other Asian countries) have
been noted to contain heavy metals such as lead, and other contaminants.  The
mother may want to check with the company ( American) on just what these
processing ingredients might be before using.

Potter's new Encyclopaedia of Botanical Drugs and Preparations revised edn.
1988:

manna - Fraxinus ornus - saccharine exudate from bark of tree containing
mannitol 40-60%, nutritive, mild laxative.

myorobalans - Terminalis chebula - immature fruits of an Indian tree -
contains sennoside A and anthraquinone glycoside, tannins - no amounts given.
Used for it's astringent and laxative properties - "like Rhubarb" ( Potter may
mean rhubarb stalks which are also mildly laxative, rather than Chinese
rhubarb where the much more purgative root is used, but not clear).

Senna - known for it's potentially strong purgative action and generally not
recommended to nursing mothers as it can cause "increased bowel movements" in
babies ( Lawrence) or 'diarrhea in newborns' ( Hale).  The dose, assuming the
herb is properly prepared (aged), seems small, but would have additive effect
with manna and myrobans, and she's planning to take it for a week .

So the remedy would seem to have some potential to act in a purgative manner
on the mother and possibly the baby too, depending on how much milk he is
receiving.  Does the mother need to do this at this time?  Like you noted, the
remedy could possibly also release toxins into the bloodstream if it is indeed
a true detoxifier.  Perhaps gentler alternative skin-clearing herbs could be
suggested by her advisor at this time?  If she has noted skin clearing before
with this product, perhaps gentler alternatives that would also stimulate
bowel elimination ( e.g. prunes, psyllium, more fluids, exercise ) would help
as much, without risk to baby?

Sheila Humphrey  BSc(Botany)  RN  IBCLC