Safety of Herbal Supplements with Breastfeeding
Top  Previous  Next

Herbal Supplements: Their Safety, a Concern for Health Care Providers

by Dr. Donald Mattison

http://www.marchofdimes.com/professionals/681_1815.asp

Herbs Contraindicated in Lactation

·   Aloe
·   Buckthorn bark
·   Buckthorn berry
·   Cascara Sagrada bark
·   Coltsfoot leaf
·   Senna leaf, Peppermint oil, and Caraway oil*FC
·   Kava Kava
·   Petasites root
·   Indian snakeroot
·   Rhubarb root
·   Senna leaf
·   Uva Ursi

*F.C. = Fixed Combinations

The Complete German Commission E Monographs, Therapeutic Guide to Herbal Medicines, Blumenthal, Busse, Goldberg, Gruenwald, Hall, Klein, Riggins and Rister, The American Botanical Council, Austin, Texas, Published in cooperation with Integrative Medicine Communications, Boston, Massachusetts, 1998.

Source: Botanical Safety Handbook, editor, Michael McGuffin, published by CRC Press, American Herbal Products Association.

http://www.growinglife.com/herbalsafety.htm

Lactating/Breastfeeding:

A



Amalaki
compatible


Ambrosia
compatible


Angelica
compatible


Arnica
compatible


Ashwagandha
compatible


Astragalus
compatible






B



Bayberry
compatible


Black Cohosh
caution


Black Walnut
compatible


Blue Cohosh
compatible


Blue Flag
compatible


Blue Vervain
compatible


Buchu
compatible


Bugleweed
caution


Burdock
compatible






C



California Poppy
compatible


Cascara Sagrada
caution


Catnip
compatible


Cats Claw
compatible


Cayenne
compatible


Chamomile
compatible


Chaparral
compatible


Chaste Tree Berry
compatible


Chelidonium
compatible


Cleavers
compatible


Clove
compatible


Comfrey
caution


Coptis
compatible


Cotton Root
compatible


Cramp Bark
compatible






D



Damiana
compatible


Dandelion
compatible


Devil's Claw
compatible


Devil's Club
compatible


Dong Quai
compatible






E



Echinacea
compatible


Elderberry
compatible


Elecampane
caution


Ephedra
caution


Eyebright
compatible






F



Fennel
compatible


Fenugreek
compatible


Feverfew
compatible


Fo-Ti
compatible


Fringe Tree
compatible






G



Garlic
caution


Garrya
compatible


Gelsemium
caution


Gentian
compatible


Ginger
compatible


Ginkgo
compatible


Ginseng
compatible


Goldenseal
compatible


Gotu Kola
compatible


Gravel Root
compatible


Green Tea
compatible






H



Hawthorn
compatible


Hops
compatible


Horehound
compatible


Horsechestnut
compatible


Horsetail
compatible


Hyssop
compatible






J



Jewelweed
compatible


Juniper
compatible






K



Kava Kava
caution


Kudzu
compatible






L



Lavender
compatible


Lemon Balm
compatible


Lemon Grass
compatible


Licorice
caution


Lobelia
compatible


Lomatium
compatible






M



Maitake
compatible


Marshmallow
compatible


Meadowsweet
compatible


Milk Thistle
compatible


Motherwort
compatible


Mullein
compatible


Myrrh Gum
compatible






N



Neem
compatible


Nettles
compatible


Night Bl. Cereus
compatible






O



Ocotillo
compatible


Olive Leaf
compatible


Oregano Oil
compatible


Oregon Grape Root
compatible


Osha
compatible






P



Passion Flower
compatible


Pau D'Arco
compatible


Pennyroyal
compatible


Pleurisy
compatible


Poke
compatible


Prickly Ash
compatible


Propolis
compatible


Pulsatilla
caution






Q



Quassia
compatible






R



Red Clover
compatible


Red Raspberry
compatible


Red Root
compatible


Reishi Mushroom
compatible






S



Sarsaparilla
compatible


Saw Palmetto
compatible


Schizandra
compatible


Scullcap
compatible


Sheep Sorrel
compatible


Shepard's Purse
compatible


Shiitake
compatible


Slippery Elm
compatible


Spilanthes
compatible


St. John's Wort
compatible


Stillengea
caution


Suma
compatible


Syrian Rue
caution






T



Thyme
compatible


Turmeric
compatible






U



Usnea
compatible


Uva Ursi
compatible






V



Valerian
compatible






W



White Willow
compatible


Wild Cherry
compatible


Wild Indigo
compatible


Wild Oats
compatible


Wild Yam
compatible


Wormwood
caution






Y



Yarrow
compatible


Yellow Dock
compatible


Yerba Mansa
compatible


Yerba Santa
compatible


Yohimbe
compatible


Yucca
compatible








Herbs and Breastfeeding   

References from http://www.kellymom.com/herbal/herbal-ref.html

Conover E, Buehler BA. Use of herbal agents by breastfeeding women may affect infants. Pediatr Ann. 2004 Apr;33(4):235-40.

Sheila Humphry Bsc, RN and Dennis J. McKenna, PhD. Herbs and Breastfeeding Breastfeeding Abstracts: November 1997, Vol 17 pp 11-12.

Frank Nice, DPA, CPHP, Raymond J. Coghlan, Pharm.D. and Brian T. Birmingham, Pharm.D. Herbals and Breastfeeding. U.S. Pharmacist: September 2000, Vol. 25:9

Ruth A. Lawrence, MD. Herbs and Breastfeeding, from the Breastfeeding.com website

Herbal Safety in Lactation and in Pregnancy, list by Annie Furie, RN, IBCLC and Mitch Coven, Medical Herbalist

Galactagogues: Getting More Milk with Herbs by Mechell Turner, M.Ed., IBCLC, CCE, certified herbalist

Increasing Milk Supply by Cheryl Taylor White and Dee Negron (discusses herbal galactagogues)

Literature review of fennel, fenugreek, blessed thistle, nettle and raspberry leaf by Rachel Emma Westfall

Green Pharmacy for Breastfeeding Problems by James A. Duke, Ph.D.

Galactagogues from www.wearsthebaby.com

Herbal Galactagogues from wildroots.com

Useful Herbs When Nursing and Useful Herbs When Weaning (avoid these herbs while nursing!) from Snowbound Herbals

Herbs and Homeopathics for Breastfeeding from the Pregnancy and Parenting Naturally website

Breast Feeding Boosters from the wellmedia.com newsletter

Breastfeeding Pharmacology is the web site of Thomas Hale, Ph.D. Dr. Hale is a renowned Breastfeeding Pharmacologist and the author of Medications and Mothers' Milk.

Lactnet archive search LACTNET is an email list for sharing professional information regarding lactation and case management. A search of the archives is one way to find info on herbs (but you should check the sources of the information you get before using it).

The University of Rochester Breastfeeding and Human Lactation Study Center (716-275-0088) maintains a database of drugs and medications and provides free information to physicians on their use and effects during breastfeeding. Ruth A. Lawrence, MD is the Director of the center.

BirthandBreastfeeding.com is the website of Mechelle Turner, who is an IBCLC and a certified herbalist.