A client showed me a teeny bottle of Clary Sage essential oil that she was
given by her doula ( a colleague of mine) and told to use by massaging a
diluted mixture onto her breasts, to support her efforts to increase her
milk production and breastfeed her baby. Before I freaked out too badly (!)
I thought I would check some facts (albeit skeptically, because we all know
how sage can affect breast milk production!) On one website I found that
clary sage is chemically different to Mediterranean sage. But is it
different enough that it won't likely cause harm? It is also recorded as
having peppermint aromatic overtones, which I could smell without opening
the bottle. (We also know about peppermint's potential impact. Not that it
IS peppermint, of course - I do realize that.) 

 

In my search, I can across this: "A massage oil blend may be of assistance
to promote the flow and production of milk by massaging the breasts.  You
may make your own oil by using 50ml Grapeseed oil, 20 drops fennel essential
oil and 10 drops clary sage essential oil.  Mix these together and store in
a brown glass bottle and massage into the breasts at least 3-4 times/ day in
a circular movement.  Please always purchase 100% essential oils for
therapeutic purposes and not the synthetic, inferior fragrant oils" on
<http://www.askanaturopath.com/faqs/breast-milk-supply/p/483>
http://www.askanaturopath.com/faqs/breast-milk-supply/p/483 (a site that one
would hope would be somewhat reputable).

 

So - I love herbs and believe that they can be powerful medicine, but I am
very alarmed at this. Do I need to be? All and any reputable information
would be appreciated. 

 

Many thanks.

Fay

 

Fay Bosman, IBCLC

Vancouver, WA, USA


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