Yes, those are good points, Nikki.  As it's easily available, fenugreek is 
too often being used today as a first action, without information about 
whether this is appropriate - and often without information about the need 
to breastfeed frequently enough and check the latch gives efficient milk 
transfer. The consumer doesn't realise that it is a drug and may have 
interactions. This is where someone skilled in breastfeeding assistance, 
such as an IBCLC, can provide the information and support the shop didn't 
give.

There are other implications, too, which may be more common than is 
realised. One of my colleagues tells of a mother who consulted her, who had 
started taking fenugreek for perceived low supply - and her baby promptly 
refused the breast altogether and wouldn't go near it, objecting to the 
change in skin odour.  It was a few days after the mother stopped taking 
this herbal drug before her baby resumed breastfeeding. So, in this case, 
fenugreek almost lost the mother and baby their breastfeeding.

We need to remember that, in breastfeeding as in life, there is no "magic 
bullet" pill that solves everything. All the factors need to be weighed up.

Virginia
in Brisbane, Queensland

Nikki Lee wrote:

> Dear Lactnet Friends:
>
> Thanks to Frank Nice for a list of drugs whose effect is dampened by the
> use of fenugreek.
>
> I know of a case where a mother started taking fenugreek; after 24 hours,
> she started hallucinating. In her case, the herb dampened the impact of 
> her
> thyroid medication.
>
> Fenugreek is a potentially dangerous herb. Herbs are drugs, and subject to
> the same caution when prescribing as any drug.

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