I typically refer mom's to Mother's Milk Tea and then to fenugreek. Now
I'm going to have to rethink that. How are you wise women going to
handle this in light of Dr. Lawrence's new statements?
Susan
******************************************************
Some Herbs Should Be Avoided by Nursing
Mothers
CHICAGO (Reuters Health) Nov 3 - Two popular herbal remedies for nursing
mothers — fenugreek and comfrey — can pose a health risk to their
infants,
according to Dr. Ruth A. Lawrence, who reviewed the use of herbs by
breast-feeding mothers at a presentation during the annual meeting of
the American
Academy of Pediatrics.
Dr. Lawrence, from the University of Rochester, New York, said in an
interview
with Reuters Health that "many mothers take fenugreek to increase their
milk
supply, but there has never been a study to prove that fenugreek
increases milk
supply."
While there is no proof of its benefit, Dr. Lawrence said that there
"are data about
the risks. Specifically it can cause hypoglycemia in the nursing mother
and it can
raise blood pressure." She said that in some infants fenugreek has been
associated
with increased "colic and diarrhea."
While she advises women to avoid fenugreek, comfrey is "much more
dangerous
and is banned in Canada." Comfrey is rubbed on the nipples of nursing
women to
prevent dryness and cracking, she said. "But it does pass to the
infant," she said,
and has been associated with hepatic veno-occlusive disease in infants.
She recommends that physicians caution nursing mothers who have
postpartum
depression that self-medicating with St. John's wort may be risky. She
said that
although studies have demonstrated some efficacy for St. John's wort,
"those studies
were done in men, not women. Also, St. John's wort does contain a
serotonin
reuptake inhibitor, but because the FDA does not regulate herbs there is
no way to
determine how much of the SSRI is passed to the infant."
In concluding, Dr. Lawrence said that nursing mothers should be steered
away from
most herbs, but "there are some teas that I can recommend for women who
want a
nice herbal tea. Chicory, peppermint, orange spice and red bush tea are
all fine.
Rose hips is an especially good tea because it has a very high
concentration of
vitamin C."
Copyright © 2000 Reuters Ltd. All rights reserved.
Republication or redistribution of
Reuters content is expressly prohibited without the
prior written consent of Reuters.
Reuters shall not be liable for any errors or delays
in the content, or for any actions
taken in reliance thereon.
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