Which Herbs are Safe While Breastfeeding?

Women who are breastfeeding infants or toddlers are often concerned about accidentally harming their children by consuming unsafe drugs or supplements. Fearing that a drug or herbal supplement might negatively affect their child's growth, health or development, many women unnecessarily avoid taking supplements that are actually quite safe for nursing women.

Very few herbs or over-the-counter drugs are actually contraindicated during breastfeeding. And while many companies that manufacture herbal supplements and medications warn that they should not be used by women who are nursing, this warning is often a gesture simply to err on the side of caution.

These tips can help you to determine whether or not an herbal supplement is safe during breastfeeding. As always, check with your doctor, a lactation consultant, or your child's pediatrician if you are uncertain about the safety of any herb, supplement, or drug for nursing women.

Is this Herb Known to Affect Breastfeeding Supply?

According to renowned lactation professional Dr. Jack Newman, only about one percent of the amount of a medication consumed by the mother is actually passed into breastmilk. In turn, even less of this is actually absorbed and passed into the baby's blood stream. Because of this, concerns about medications or herbs negatively affecting the baby are, for the most part, unfounded.

This leaves only a few truly critical concerns regarding herbal supplements while breastfeeding. Primarily, the only serious risk that can be caused by herbs is that some are known to affect breastmilk supply. Herbs that affect estrogen and progesterone levels, like donq quai, lemon balm, thyme, yarrow, black walnut, and peppermint are generally safe in culinary levels, but may negatively affect breastmilk supply if taken as supplements.

Is the Herb Considered Safe During Pregnancy?

In general, a baby will get a much higher dose of an herb in utero than he would had his mother taken the same amount of the herb while breastfeeding. However, the mother's body also helps to eliminate toxins from the baby's system if the herb is taken during pregnancy, and breastfeeding does not offer this level of protection.

Still, in general, pharmaceutical drugs are considered safe for nursing women if they are also considered to be safe during pregnancy. Only in a few very rare circumstances is an herb that is safe during pregnancy contraindicated while nursing, since the baby will by default get a much lower dose. Some herbs considered unsafe during both pregnancy and lactation include kava-kava, bladderwrack, buckthorn, and almost all anti-parasite herbs, including wormwood.

Is this Herb Considered to be Safe for Children?

A child will get a much lower dose of an herb or medication when it is in breastmilk than he would if he took the herb directly. The amount of the drug that finds its way into the baby's bloodstream is still very negligible compared to even a small dose taken directly. For this reason, an herb that is used in children under three is almost always safe while breastfeeding unless it directly affects milk supply itself.

Herbal medicines like elderberry, ginger, fennel, and chamomile are used routinely in young children and even babies, and many studies back the safety of these herbs. For this reason, there is little reason to avoid these herbs or pump-and-dump if you are breastfeeding a child of any age.

Always ask your doctor, your child's pediatrician, or a certified lactation consultant before adding any herb or medication to your diet or treatment plan. Herbs can be powerful medicines and should not be used frivolously or unnecessarily, especially if you are breastfeeding a child. However, with careful consideration of all options, you may find that taking an herbal supplement while breastfeeding is a perfectly safe and legitimate option for your own situation.