low milk supply herb discussion

[Guest guest]

Hi Vicky;

 

Thanks for finding this nice website. The discussion of the other

herbs I was able to open (some internet delay kept me from further

exporation) discovered valuable information also on nettle, blessed

thistle, goats' rue and fenugreek. The first three are rather

diuretic, something that may be valuable for mothers who begin

postpartum holding water, and risky for thinner moms who don't need to

dry out more. I've not had access to goat's rue. Fenugreek has some

warming property. It (as well as other herbs of less hard nature) is

unfortunately often taken in the west in dry herb powder in capsule

form, which my clients find often uncomfortable to tender postpartum

and " vata vitiated " tissues. Which means among other things, the

moisture required to dissolve the capsule and hydrate the herb ends up

making the herb stick to the insides and pull, instead of providing

it's best support. It serves well in a tea.

 

By my experience, Shatavari is the #1 herb for lacation support in

most cases, particularly as it also nourishes the reproductive tissues

as a nutritive tonic root. Shatavari has a mild bitter, and

distinctively sweet taste. Its mild demulcent quality nourishes,

protects moisture balance and soothes even though it also may have

mild diuretic action. It also nourishes the hormonal system in

classical herbal " alterative " fashion, though somewhat estrogenic it

can support in other ways as needed with its apparent precursor action.

 

We are hesitant to recommend things like blessed thistle and nettle in

much quantity having easy acces to shatavari (asparagus racemosa or

wild asparagus root) as blessed thistle is very bitter and nettle

rather astringent, which give also drying influence and many early

postpartum mothers unless of strong kapha (earth and water dominant)

constitution (prakruti) do not do well with this. There are of course

ways to balance, such as warming, demulcent moistening herbs.

 

As in general herbal formulary in Ayurveda, the recommendation is to

take in combinaton with other herbs (minimum 3-5 together) to

complement each other and balance for the individual for whom it is

used. Shatavari would call for balance both with a gentle - or

stronger - pungent digestive, the latter with vata prakruti as well as

vikruti (postpartum) moms needing often more warming influence.

Shatavari, like blessed thistle and nettles are all cooling.

 

If Mom has lower back or other pain or is particularly weak, some

ashwaghanda with ginger is often used, and bala as well. If mucousy or

with much gas, the nutritive (food like root) herbs like shatavari and

ashwaghanda are reduced until this problem is cleared and fenugreek

along with ginger may be favored for its respiratory energetics also.

 

If Mom is anxious, depressed, or experiencing most other such vata

induced emotions, one of the brahmis such as gotu kola, or tulsi, and

or a little sandalwood (for high pitta also) may be included, or

stronger herbs as needed like shankapushpi, jatamamsi or others.

 

SHatavari actually potentizes brahmi and perhaps the other

psychoactive herbs. Her hormonal/feminine side grounding and

purificaton is very important for psychological integration.

 

These examples are of course not extensive, only provided as example

of the kind of Ayurvedic thinking that comes with wise use.

 

Here is some further information from Ayurvedic herb class. Note she

is indicated among other things also for dehydration:

 

HERB NAMES SHATAVARI – WILD ASPARAGUS ROOT

SHITAWARI – asparagus racemosa

 

 

PROPERTIES: Incr.Kapha, Shukra dhatu, rasa dhatu

Decr.Pitta, Vata

Cooling, heavier, nutritive, sweet, bitter, sattvic

 

ACTIONS:

Pitta rasayana

 

Rejuvenative and tonic, esp for female reproductive tract,

respiratory, nourishes and cleanses blood, promotes action of

psychotherapeutic herbs, promotes fertility, top galactagogue, first

line pitta provocation, increases devotion, hormonal balancing esp

estrogenic, anti-inflammatory, mild diuretic, nourishes and cleanses

water system.

 

INDICATIONS:

Impotence, menopause, PMS (esp P), dehydration, dryness of mucuous

membranes, insufficient breast milk supply, general debility, chronic

fevers, chronic diarrhea and dysentery, ulcers, hyperacidity, stiff

joints (external application of milk decoction with raw sugar, honey

and pippali?!), chronic fevers, cancer except breast, leucorrhea,

herpes, dehydration, dryness of membranes, stiff neck, morning

sickness, pregnancy tonic, sadaka pitta, helps restore inner alignment

after heartbreak/sexual partner

 

CONTRAINDICATIONS:

Excessive mucous, can cause aama in excess, estrogenic breast cancers

avoid

 

DOSAGE RECOMMENDATIONS:

250 mg – 1 g max

Enhances effects of Brahmi (also does licorice)

 

OTHER REFERENCES:

See detail mongraph from Dr. Lad/Ayurvedic Institute, copy in PP Basic

Herbals unit

Gynecological formulas, psychotherapy formulas

 

ETHNOBOTANY:

Means " She who has a thousand husbands "

Used frequently also in Chinese medicine

 

One story from a client we had cared for several weeks who called at

about 2 or 3 months postpartum asking if we had ever heard of a mother

having her problem: milk supply as well as the infant's favoratism

for one breast over the other showed her left breast wanting. On

interview, she was still taking all herbs except shatavari as she had

purchased it separately before and continued that way. The problem

came up about 2 weeks before. The Shatavari had run out about 2 weeks

before. Within a few hours of taking it again, the problem cleared.

 

Had this thinking been available with my baby 20 years ago, I would

have taken ashwagandha. WHich, though perhaps a weaker galactagogue,

favors the right/male side rejuvenation in women as well as men, and

is one of our other favorite postpartum herbs for general rejuvenation

needs. This author would be interested to know if any other

practitioners have used ashwagandha in this way.

 

Enjoy, wisely -

 

Ysha

Posptartum AyurDoula 15 years

 

<VMYORK wrote:

about using shatavari to increase milk supply.

[Guest guest]

Hello Ysha,

 

You have summarized the use of Shatavari pretty nicely. We in India

have been using Shatavari quite frequently as a galactogogue. One of

the names of Shatavari is Abhiru (meaning fearless) so shatavari

could also be used in patients with some kind of fear or apprehension

and low spirits, which is a common postpartum symptom and could be a

cause for insufficient milk or vata vitiated milk.

 

There are some other aspects of this issue, e.g., kapha vitiated

stanya (milk) and/or block in the strotasas (ducts) preventing

production and secretion of milk, this is where fenugreek could be

used. As you know, breast milk is an Upadhatu of rasadhatu, so we

use herbs that have cleansing action on rasadhatu.

 

Regarding ashvagandha, being shukrastravi, this herb has more of a

stimulating property as compared to shatavari, so one may use this

where stimulation (physical or emotional) is needed.

 

Best,

Dr. Thite.

 

Thank you Dr. THite for such quick response. There is so much to learn, and

without the immersion of medical training and practice such as yours, even the

obvious bears stating to grease the wheels of awarness for using what we know to

understand something better when needed. Several valuable insights into these

herbs you shared, more and less obvious.

 

For the even less educated reader, " ashvagandha being shukrastravi " means

something like, ashwagandha being specific in some way to the reproductive

tissue - shukra dhatu (which is sometimes used generically, sometimes shukra is

used for male and atharva for female dhatus/tissues and I must leave the

" stravi " suffix for another to explain).

 

Ashwagandha (we also call winter cherry) is said to give the strength of a

horse, and is as mentioned before, more masculine or activity supportive,

although we find it appropriate for many women and children, elders as well as

men much more than we might use ginseng. also a male tonic, ginseng has a

sharper focus and drive to its energy. Ashvagandha offers a broadly supportive

gentleness as well as strength, grounding and support as well as energy to take

on, embrace life's work and challenges as well as joys, for women feeling as we

say, just plain wimpy or fearful also. Without being what we ion the west call

a stimulant, as there is no caffiene like effect.

 

Warmly;

Ysha