Breast Milk
Medicines which promote Breast Milk have long been used to nourish and improve Breast Milk in nursing Mothers. Some increase activity of the Breasts to produce more Milk, others improve nutrition to improve Milk quality.
Equally important are medicines which stop Breast Milk when breasts are engorged, or when weaning an infant.
Ayurveda recognises 2 groups of drugs that affect Breast Milk; one to promote Milk and one to improve Milk quality:
Stanyajanana – promote Milk
Andropogon muricatum, Shashtika Rice, Cali Rice, Sugar, Tinospora cordifolia, Cymbopogon schoenanthus
Stanyacodhana – improve quality of Milk
Cissampelos hernandi leaf, Ginger, Pinus deodara, Cyperus rotundus, Sansevicra zeylanica, Tinospora cordifolia, Holarrhena antidysenterica, Swertia, Picrorhiza, Asclepias pseudosarsa
Unani Herbs to Promote Milk
Coconut
Pitachio
Walnut
Sweet Almond
Linseed
Orchis (Salep)
Aniseed
Fennel seeds
Cumin
Caraway
Carum copticum seeds
Nigella seeds
Fenugreek seeds
Cotton seeds
Syrian Rue seeds
Vitex nigundu seeds
Lepidium iberis seeds
Four Cold Seeds
Withania
Curculigo
Chlorophytum
Pustinaca secacul
Asparagus recemosus
Cyperus rotundus
Diet
Foods to increase and nourish Milk
–Milk, butter, ghee
–Almonds, Walnuts, Pistachio, Linseed, Sesame seed
–Spinach, Carrot, Parsnip
Western Tradition
Promote Breast Milk
Fennel
Parsley leaf
Dill leaf
Rocket seed
Cabbage broth
1. Barley Water
2. Almond milk
3. Chickpea broth
4. Chicken broth
5. Cows Milk
6. Confected Seeds of Fennel, Anise; especially Caraway or Cumin
7. Dill or Fennel seed decoction taken in 4 oz. doses morning and night.
8. Dill seed decocted with Lentils.
9. Oil of Aniseeds mixed with Fennel seed powder.
10. Barley water decocted with Fennel and/or Dill seed
11. Linseed decocted in Meat or Chicken broth
12. Carrot, Celery and Cabbage soup
13. Picrorhiza, Shilajit, Asparagus root (Ayurveda)
14. Earthworm powder in 1 dram (3 gram) doses.
15. “The hoofs of the forefeet of a Cow dried and taken any way, increase Milk in Nurses” (Culpeper)
Confected Aniseed
Confected Fennel seed
Diapalma w. powdered Sage added (topically)
Stanyajanana Rasayanum is the primary Ayurvedic medicine as a Postpartum tonic and to promote good Milk supply.
Restrain Breast Milk
Topical to Restrain Breast Milk:
1. Cumin Vinegar decoction
2. Coriander Vinegar decoction
3. Celery Vinegar Poultice
4. Verjuice applied
5. Decoction of Cabbage leaves used to wash the breasts.
6. Annoint with Plantain juice, or apply a Cataplasm of Plantain.
TCM Classification
Promote Breast Milk
1. Pig Feet are boiled into a soup as a folk remedy in China to increase Breast Milk.
Restrain Breast Milk
Millet Sprout (Su Ya)
Soybean (Dan Dou Chi)
