Herbal Tea While Breastfeeding

Read this first. LactMed, a US National Library of Medicine database, describes two breastfed newborns who appeared to develop toxicity (consistent with anethole, found in fennel and anise) after their mothers drank excessive amounts of an herbal tea containing fennel, anise and other herbs. [1] LactMed says the same of an herbal tea containing licorice. [2] If a baby seems unwell after the mother drinks a lot of a herbal tea, call the baby's clinician; in the US, Poison Help is 1-800-222-1222, and 911 is for collapse, seizure or trouble breathing. [3]

What the sources cover

For most herbal teas there are no measurements of what reaches breast milk and no studies of infant outcomes. MotherToBaby says there is little information on herbal products while breastfeeding. [4] NCCIH says little is known about chamomile, licorice, valerian and ginger during breastfeeding. [5][6][7][8] The tables below separate LactMed's text from EU monograph statements (EU herbal monographs, European Medicines Agency).

Tea by tea

Sources differ on senna. LactMed cites several controlled studies of modern senna products that found no effect on the infant, while the EU monograph gives as its reason that active metabolites such as rhein were excreted in breast milk in small amounts. [23][25] For dandelion the EU monograph relies on missing data: "in the absence of sufficient data" it does not recommend use. [26] Ask a lactation consultant or pharmacist which applies to you.

"Lactation teas" for milk supply

The claim is that fennel, fenugreek, anise or blended "lactation" teas raise milk supply. Use of such teas is traditional in several places, but LactMed says for red raspberry leaf and hibiscus, among other herbs, that no scientifically valid clinical trials support it. [19][31] A 2020 Cochrane review of 41 trials of drugs and natural products rated the certainty of evidence low to very low overall; it was very uncertain whether fennel or fenugreek improves infant weight. [36] Label: insufficient evidence. LactMed adds that such products should never replace evaluation of the factors that affect milk production. [1] Comfrey is a different matter: LactMed says its pyrrolizidine alkaloids can cause severe liver damage and that the FDA has banned the sale of oral comfrey products in the United States. [37]

Caffeine and alcohol

Green tea contains caffeine, and yerba mate is a caffeinated herbal drink. [38][39] NCCIH says caffeine passes into breast milk, that high maternal intake can lead to infant fussiness and poor sleep, and that infants usually have no adverse effects at low-to-moderate levels. [38] Tinctures and liquid products can contain alcohol. [4] See alcohol in herbal extracts.

What a reader can do

Tell your clinician every tea you drink. See breastfeeding herbs and LactMed explained and pregnancy and breastfeeding safety. Proper evidence not found: studies of infant outcomes after mothers drink most herbal teas; the LactMed records we read for hibiscus, valerian and lavender state there are no such data.