Breast feeding is the primary source of nourishment to a newborn before the baby is able to eat other foods. Mother's milk is light and easy to digest. It provides protection to the baby against infections and aids in healthy mental and physical development. Breast feeding also provides health benefits to the mother. This is one of natural ways to assist a mother in returning to her pre-pregnancy weight and the uterus to regain its normal size. It also reduces the chances of breast cancer later in life. Breast feeding develops emotional attachment between the mother and her baby where the baby feels comfortable, secure and loved.
Herbal Remedies to Improve Lactation
Sometimes, mothers faces the problem of low breast milk production. This may be due to stress, inadequate sleep or rest, unhealthy diet, intake of excess coffee, tea or alcohol, etc. However, certain food supplements and herbs are known to assist breast milk production without any side effects. Find here some recommended natural remedies to improve milk production in lactating mothers.
- Wash1/2 cup of barley (Hordeum vulgare) grains well and soak them overnight. Strain and keep the water aside. Now add about ½ liter of water (including the strained water) and a teaspoon of fennel seeds to soaked barley and bring to boil. Simmer for 10 minutes on low flame, remove and allow it to stand for another 10 minutes. Strain and drink the water with a teaspoon of honey all through the day.
- Roast about 200 g of dalia / crushed wheat (Triticum sativum) on a low flame till they turn brownish and aromatic. Boil about half liter of water in a pressure cooker and transfer dalia along with 1/4th teaspoon turmeric (Curcuma longa) powder and salt. Cover the lid and pressure cook for 3-4 whistles. Remove cooker from gas. Open the lid after 5 minutes. Serve with hot milk and added sugar.
- Boil about 250 ml of water and add 1-2 teaspoon crushed dill (Anthem graveolens) seeds. Cover and steep for 15 minutes. Strain and pour liquid into a cup. Having a cup or two of the drink with honey is believed to help milk production.
- Boil about 250 g sugar in 300ml of water. Heat the sugar syrup on a medium flame and wait when sugar syrup gives two or three threads. Now, remove it from the burner and mix powdered shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) 100 g, caraway (Carum carvi) seeds 25 g, cumin (Cuminum cyminum) seeds 25 g, fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) seeds 25 g, fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) seeds 25 g and pippali (Piper longum) 25 g. Stir regularly till the preparation turns to granules. To enhance lactation, one to two tablespoonful of this herbal preparation can be taken twice a day with milk or water.
- To increase low milk supply, add finely grated 2-3 garlic (Allium sativum) cloves in a cup of water till water is reduced to about 1/4th. To this, add a glass of milk and bring the mixture to boil. Simmer and add honey to taste. Strain and drink.
- Grate half a cup of bottle gourd (Lagenaria siceraria) and boil in milk for 10 minutes. Add sugar to taste. Lactating mother can have the preparation for increasing milk supply.
- Soak 5 almonds (Prunus glandulosa) overnight and grind them with 4-5 black pepper (Piper nigrum) to make a paste. Heat about half a tablespoon of clarified butter in a pan and fry the paste till it turns golden brown. Now, add a glass of milk to the paste and stir. Bring mixture to boil and drink hot with sugar.
- Eating a bowl of oatmeal (Avena sativa) with milk twice a day is said to help in the breast milk production.
- Add a tablespoon of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and carom (Trachyspermum copticum) seeds, each, to one litre of water and boil. Cook the mixture on low flame for another 10 minutes. Strain and store the water. To stimulate milk flow, sip this water throughout the day.
- Including 2-3 garlic(Allium sativum) cloves in diet daily is said to improve milk production.
- Add 2 teaspoonfuls of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) seeds in 200 ml of boiling water. Cover and let the mixture stand for few minutes. Strain water and add honey to taste. Drinking 2-3 cups helps boost milk production in nursing mothers.
- Boil 8-10 crushed basil (Ocimum sanctum) leaves in a cup of water. Bring the mixture to boil and simmer for about 5 minutes. Sieve and add honey or sugar to taste. Drink 1-2 cups a day.
- Add a tablespoon of cumin (Cuminum cyminum) seeds to one litre of water. Bring the mixture to boil. Lower the flame and let the mixture stand for another 15 minutes. Take sips of this drink all through the day.
- Boil about 150 g of drumstick (Moringa oleifera) leaves in water with salt. Drain the water and eat the leaves with clarified butter to increase breast milk.
- Consuming about 1-2 g of fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum L.) twice a day is believed to improve lactation in nursing mothers.
Disclaimer: The information contained in this article is for educational purposes only and should not be used for diagnosis or to guide treatment without the opinion of a health professional. Any reader who is concerned about his or her health should contact a doctor for advice.
Sources:
- Moringa oleifera: A Review of the Medical Evidence for Its Nutritional, Therapeutic, and Prophylactic Properties. Part 1. Jed W. Fahey, Sc.D. Johns Hopkins School of Medicine, Department of Pharmacology and Molecular Sciences
- Mennella J. Mother's milk: A medium for early flavor experiences. J Hum Lact 11:39-45.1995
- La Leche League's, The Breastfeeding Answer Book, Nancy Mohrbacher, IBCLC and Julie Stock, BA, IBCLC, 1997
- Garima Sancheti. Traditional Remedies with Fennel Seed suite101.com, Mar 31, 2011
Garima Sancheti - Dr Garima Sancheti is a PhD in Radiation and Cancer Biology from Rajasthan University, India. She has written various research articles in ...
