"I recently heard from another lactation professional that attended 
<snip> a
  course that new research is showing that Fenugreek is unsafe. It thins 
the
  blood, causes blood sugar issues and other dangerous outcomes. I have 
always
  known there are some concerns about blood sugar and that there are 
people
 that Fenugreek might not be good for, but "dangerous" and no longer
 recommended? "

  I know I am a bit behind on mail (was in the UK and then Montreal 
during the past three weeks), but I really wanted to address this 
topic. I keep hearing that this or that training program has decreed 
that LCs "MAY NOT" make any suggestions related to herbs, supplements, 
nutrition, chiropractic, CST, medications, procedures or just about 
anything else for that matter. This really concerns me for a number of 
reasons. First, as it has been pointed out by Frank Nice, suggesting 
and even recommending is NOT prescribing. It is also a conflict of our 
ethical guidelines (and certainly my personal ethics) to withhold 
information that might assist mothers in successfully breastfeeding 
their babies.

  What concerns me even more, though, is that so many people seem to 
accept these opinions (and that is all they are--the opinions and 
interpretations of individuals or groups) as fact. It is not a fact 
that I may not tell a mother that homeopathy is effective in my 
clinical experience in treating plugged ducts and preventing the use of 
abx. It is not a fact that discussing nutrition with a client is the 
practice of some form of medicine and outside of my scope of practice 
nor that I cannot give mothers information about the relationship 
between structure and function. Or about domperidone or herbal 
galactogogues or frenotomy. One could even turn this around and ask if 
it is not irresponsible NOT to teach these tools to all IBCLCs.

  In my opinion, we should be ever-expanding our knowledge-base, not 
diminishing it at every turn. I have spent two decades learning the 
holistic practices I know. They are a part of my language and my 
expertise and integral to the way I serve mothers and babies. I think 
any program that minimizes our practice, limits our knowledge-base and 
implies that those of us who are practicing by integrating our full 
range of knowledge and skills are in some way behaving inappropriately 
and "outside or our scope of practice". I for one, do not in any way 
appreciate the implications of such a contention.

  As to fenugreek in particular--fenugreek works as evidenced by the 
increase in milk supply among mothers who use it!! What does it mean to 
say "causes blood sugar issues"? Fenugreek regulates blood sugar and is 
an excellent treatment for diabetics. It is used in very high doses by 
Tierona Lowdog to treat diabetes. There is an incredible body of 
evidence showing the dangers of anti-depressents, for example, yet they 
are given like candy to breastfeeding mothers, yet we are supposed to 
get up in arms about fenugreek? I don't know, but I have to wonder if 
it is only ignorance or some other agenda that is guiding such warnings.

 Jennifer Tow, IBCLC, CT, USA
 Intuitive Parenting Network LLC


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