Ayurvedic Herbs and Breastfeeding

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Many Ayurvedic postpartum traditions include herbs, tonics and oils. Whether a particular product is safe while breastfeeding is often unknown, because breastfeeding parents and infants are rarely studied. This page is information only. Check any herb or product with your clinician, pharmacist or lactation consultant before you use it, and tell your baby's pediatrician about anything you take. NCCIH advises that if you are pregnant or nursing, you should consult your (or your child's) health care provider. [1]

"Little is known" is not "safe"

When the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) writes that little is known about safety during breastfeeding, it means the question has not been answered. It does not mean the herb has been cleared.

Turmeric as a food spice is a different matter from concentrated supplements; NCCIH's caution applies to amounts greater than those commonly found in food. [3] We could not read the National Library of Medicine's lactation database this session, so ask your pharmacist or lactation consultant to look up each product there or in a similar reference.

Herbs used to "increase milk supply"

Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus) is traditionally used in Ayurveda as a galactagogue, a substance meant to increase milk production. [6] Fenugreek is another commonly named herb.

• Systematic review (2013). Only six trials met the criteria. They studied shatavari, torbangun, fenugreek, milk thistle and a Japanese herbal medicine; five found more milk, but the trials were small and had design problems, and the authors made no recommendation for using herbs as galactogogues. [7]
• Pharmacy review (2012). Peer-reviewed studies proving efficacy of herbal galactogogues were lacking, and efficacy and safety data were lacking for several, including fenugreek and asparagus. [8] The authors suggest trying non-drug measures first. [8]
• Newer trial (2025). In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial, 120 women were enrolled and took shatavari root extract or placebo for 72 hours after birth; 113 completed it. Milk volume at 72 hours was higher with shatavari, and no adverse events were reported. [6] It lasted three days, was small, and the abstract does not state funding, so it cannot show long-term safety for mother or baby.

Evidence label: promising but limited for shatavari, insufficient evidence for herbal galactagogues overall. See shatavari in Ayurveda. If you are worried about low milk supply, a lactation consultant or your pediatrician can look at feeding technique and other causes, which are usually the first things to check.

Product quality matters more while nursing

Some Ayurvedic preparations contain lead, mercury or arsenic at toxic levels. [1] A study of Ayurvedic medicines bought online found detectable metals in 20.7% of products, similar in US-made and India-made ones. [9] Health Canada, warning about one clinic's products that contained lead and mercury, said children, pregnant women and breastfeeding women are most susceptible to the toxic effects of heavy metals. [10] For more, see Ayurvedic products: heavy metals and product quality.

Babies and children

Do not give Ayurvedic herbs or oils to your baby unless the pediatrician agrees. NCCIH advises consulting your own or your child's health care provider because some Ayurvedic products may contain ingredients that could be harmful. [1] For more, see Ayurvedic herbs: medicine interactions, pregnancy and children.

Related pages

Postpartum care in Ayurveda, Ayurveda in pregnancy and the site's general guide to pregnancy and breastfeeding with natural remedies.