On Sat, 11 May 1996 21:05:25 -0400, Diane Dressler wrote:
>Anyone care to give a short lesson on the use of cabbage in decreasing milk
>supply?  I have long noticed references on Lactnet to using cabbage.  I
>remember reading something briefly in Medela's Rental Roundup newsletter
>several years ago.

Dear Diane,

There are conflicting theories about why it works.  Common cabbage must be
used, not one of the variants.  The outer leaves are peeled off and discarded
(or eaten), then the green leaves are crumpled up to break the veins, and the
leaves are packed around the mom's breast.  It should be kept on the breast
whenever the mom isn't nursing.  It can be expected to begin working in 12
to 24 hours.  If it's being used for engorgement for a mom who isn't weaning,
her milk production must be monitored closely to avoid reducing it too much.
(Thanks to the BSC BFing management course!  I hope I'm not breaking the
rules by relating this.)

Jonathan
****************************************
*       L. Jonathan Kramer, P.E.       *
* Graduate Breastfeeding Counselor and  *
*    Student Lactation Consultant      *
****************************************