Breastfeeding: Herbs and Supplements and How to Read LactMed
How to read LactMed, the US government database of drugs and supplements during breastfeeding, with what its records say about fenugreek, fennel, milk thistle and other milk-supply herbs.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Many nursing parents are offered teas, capsules and "lactation blends" that promise more milk. A fair question is what is known about these products for a baby who drinks the milk. LactMed is a good place to look, and this page explains how to read it. It cannot tell you what is right for you or your baby. A lactation consultant, pharmacist or clinician can do that.
If your baby has trouble breathing, will not wake, or has a seizure, call 911. For a possible poisoning, call Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (US).
What LactMed is and how a record is laid out
LactMed is the Drugs and Lactation Database, published on the NCBI Bookshelf and listed in PubMed; the records we read name the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development as publisher. [1] Each herb record we read opens with a summary paragraph, then has sections called "Drug Levels and Effects" and "Substance Identification". [1]
Two lines repeat in the records and are worth knowing. First: "Galactogogues should never replace evaluation and counseling on modifiable factors that affect milk production." [1] A galactogogue is a substance said to increase milk supply. Second, the supplement paragraph says manufacturers "do not need to prove the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements before they are marketed." [1] The same paragraph says differences "are often found between labeled and actual ingredients or their amounts." [1]
What the records say, herb by herb
Traditional use and research are kept apart below. LactMed describes traditional or regional use in its own sentences; the evidence labels are ours, based on what the record states.
| Plant (as named by LactMed) | Traditional or regional use (as LactMed reports it) | What the record says about research | Safety points in the record | Our label |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Fenugreek (Trigonella foenum-graecum), seeds | Used "in many geographical regions" as a galactogogue [1] | One meta-analysis found a mild effect; another found "no good evidence" [1] | Limited safety data for nursing mothers or infants; diarrhea, nausea, liver toxicity reports; may interact with warfarin; possible cross-reaction with chickpeas, peanuts and other legumes [1] | Mixed |
| Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare), seeds | A purported galactogogue in traditional medicine [2] | Two small studies found increases in some measures; no rise in prolactin was found [2] | Allergic reactions, including photosensitivity; possible cross-allergy with carrots, celery and other Apiaceae plants; an herbal tea with fennel and anise appeared to cause toxicity in 2 breastfed newborns [2] | Promising but limited |
| Goat's rue (Galega officinalis), leaves and flowering tops | Widely used internationally [3] | "No scientifically valid clinical trials support this use" [3] | May cause low blood sugar, so caution with diabetes medicines [3] | Insufficient evidence |
| Blessed thistle (Cnicus benedictus) | A purported galactogogue [4] | No scientifically valid clinical trials support this use [4] | Ragweed-family allergy concern; high doses reportedly cause stomach cramps, nausea and vomiting [4] | Insufficient evidence |
| Milk thistle (Silybum marianum) | A purported galactogogue [5] | No scientifically valid clinical trials support this use [5] | Rare severe allergy and anaphylaxis; possible cross-allergy with daisy-family plants; "might increase the metabolism of some drugs" [5] | Insufficient evidence |
| Moringa (Moringa oleifera), leaves | Used as a galactogogue in Asia, particularly the Philippines [6] | A meta-analysis of 14 studies (865 subjects) indicated increased prolactin and milk volume; long-term benefit to infants not well studied [6] | May stimulate blood clotting, so caution for anyone at high risk of clots [6] | Promising but limited |
| Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) | Mint used in Türkiye to increase milk supply [7] | Topical peppermint was more effective than placebo for nipple pain and cracking in studies; high doses suppressed milk production in vitro and in animals [7] | Allergic reactions to menthol reported; if used on nipples, wipe off before the next feeding [7] | Promising but limited (nipple pain); preclinical (milk suppression) |
| St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum) | Often recommended by midwives for postpartum depression [8] | Conflicting information on whether it lowers milk supply [8] | "Adversely interacts with many drugs"; an alternate drug may be preferred, especially for a newborn [8] | Mixed |
LactMed's moringa record also notes that studies found "no serious short-term adverse effects" in nursing mothers or their breastfed infants. [6] That is a finding about moringa leaves in those studies, not about every moringa product.
Melatonin
LactMed says melatonin "has no specific use during breastfeeding, and no data exist on the safety of maternal use." [9] NIH's NCCIH also says there has been "a lack of research on the safety of melatonin use in pregnant or breastfeeding women." [10] For sleep trouble after a birth, a clinician can look at the whole picture; see melatonin for sleep.
Limits and what we could not find
"Proper evidence not found": we looked for a single official list of "herbs to avoid while breastfeeding". The LactMed records we read are written one substance at a time, and we did not find a combined list in the sources we read. Not being listed as harmful does not mean a product is safe. Many products are blends, and LactMed notes that some studies used combination products, so results may differ from one herb alone. [1]
Who should ask first
Ask a pharmacist, lactation consultant or clinician before using a milk-supply product if you or your baby has allergies (especially to the carrot, daisy or ragweed families, or to legumes), if you take blood thinners, diabetes medicines or antidepressants, or if your baby is a newborn or was born early. LactMed says products on shelves may not contain what the label says. [1] See how supplements are regulated, quality testing and certifications, and medication interactions.
For each herb in more depth, see herbs while breastfeeding, fenugreek and fennel. For the wider safety picture, see pregnancy and breastfeeding safety and how to use LactMed and other NIH tools.
Frequently asked questions
What is LactMed?
It is the Drugs and Lactation Database, published by the US National Institute of Child Health and Human Development on the NCBI Bookshelf and indexed in PubMed. [1]
Does LactMed say fenugreek increases milk supply?
The record describes mixed research: one meta-analysis found a mild effect and another found no good evidence. [1] It also lists side effects, including possible bleeding with warfarin. [1]
Are herbal teas for milk supply regulated like medicines?
LactMed says dietary supplements do not require extensive pre-marketing approval from the FDA. [1] Teas sold as foods or supplements are not described in the sources we read as being checked for milk-supply claims.
Can an herb pass into my milk and affect my baby?
It can depend on the herb. LactMed says anethole from fennel is excreted in breastmilk, [2] and that hypericin and hyperforin from St. John's wort are poorly excreted into breastmilk. [8]
Who should I ask before trying a milk-supply product?
A lactation consultant, pharmacist or clinician. LactMed says galactogogues should not replace evaluation of other factors that affect milk production. [1]
References
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed): Fenugreek. PubMed record 30000838, NCBI Bookshelf. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed): Fennel. PubMed record 30000852, NCBI Bookshelf. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed): Goat's Rue. PubMed record 30000876, NCBI Bookshelf. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed): Blessed Thistle. PubMed record 30000834, NCBI Bookshelf. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed): Milk Thistle. PubMed record 30000830, NCBI Bookshelf. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed): Moringa. PubMed record 30000959, NCBI Bookshelf. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed): Peppermint. PubMed record 30000911, NCBI Bookshelf. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed): St. John's Wort. PubMed record 30000829, NCBI Bookshelf. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Institute of Child Health and Human Development. Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed): Melatonin. PubMed record 30000923, NCBI Bookshelf. Read 2026-10-23.
- National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NIH). Melatonin: What You Need To Know, page last updated May 2024. Read 2026-10-23.