Table of Contents
Remedies for Nursing Mothers
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"Breastfeeding is the feeding of an infant or young child with milk from a woman's breasts. Babies have a sucking reflex that enables them to suck and swallow milk. With few exceptions, human breast milk is the best source of nourishment for human infants. There are circumstances under which breastfeeding can be difficult, however, or even in rare instances contraindicated. This article looks at some of the complications that can arise in breastfeeding.
Broadly speaking, complications can arise in connection with with the act of breastfeeding, on one hand, and the health of the nursing infant, on the other.
While breastfeeding difficulties are not uncommon, putting the baby to the breast as soon as possible after birth helps to avoid many problems. The policy of the American Academy of Pediatrics on breastfeeding says, "delay weighing, measuring, bathing, needle-sticks, and eye prophylaxis until after the first feeding is completed." Many breastfeeding difficulties can be resolved with proper hospital procedures, properly trained nurses and hospital staff and lactation consultants." (Wikipedia)
DISCLAIMER
Our readers offer information and opinions on Earth Clinic, not as a substitute for professional medical prevention, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult with your physician, pharmacist, or health care provider before taking any home remedies or supplements or following any treatment suggested by anyone on this site. Only your health care provider, personal physician, or pharmacist can provide you with advice on what is safe and effective for your unique needs or diagnose your particular medical history.
TED'S REMEDIES
05/09/2007: Cystal writes: I am struggling along with my 7 week old daughter to get rid of nipple-yeast in me/thrush in her. I plan on cutting out as much sugar as possible and caffeine and have been giving Acidophilus to both of us, but would like more safe methods to try while nursing. My main concern is how natural remedies may affect my breastmilk. We have also been using Nystatin, but this only seems to work temporarily and if I don't use it constantly(every couple hours), the yeast acts up and I have sore nipples again and my daughter's thrush returns fully. Help, I'm desperate. Seeking a cure.
05/12/2007: Ted from Bangkok, Thailand replies: "Dear Crystal: You need a relatively mild remedy so that the milk won't effect the baby adversely, which needs a bit of of modification for treatment of yeast thrush in general. However, for most nursing mothers, they will often need vitamin D3 at least 1500 i.u. to 2500 i.u. per day being a resonable dose. Since vitamin D is generally causes high serum calcium, some magnesium supplements well balance out the calcium and magnesium ratio.
The other issue is most people with yeast infection often have a mild form of acidosis, and a reasonable dose of 2 tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and 1/4 teaspoon of baking soda in 1/2 glass of water taken twice a day would generally reduce the yeast issue, slowly as the body becomes more alkaline.Applying a weak solution of 1% hydrogen peroxide solution in the area of the nipples topically and fairly frequently such as at least 5 times a day for a couple of days usually will kill the yeast in the area topically at the ver least.
Some 3-4 drops of H2O2 3% foodg grade in 1 glass of water taken 2 - 3 times a day should further help remove whatever remaining yeast internally at the very least.
Most antifungal tend to cause acidosis and metal accumulation, which in the long run is like adding fuel to the fire as most fungus tend to thrive in acidity and high heavy metals. This is why it helped you temporarily.
The other issue is acidophilus, which in certain cases are helpful, but in certain yeast infections it is not, since lactic acid tend to cause the body to go into acidosis, since lactic acid is an acid. A reasonable way is simply use baking soda and apple cider vinegar which you can use on alternate days with 8 teaspoon of lemon juice (or lime) with 1/2 teaspoon of baking soda as a better way of alkalizing to kill the yeast."
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One other thing that mother might be more deficient in is colostrum and taurine. Colostrum increase the mother's immunity and is transferred to the child. Taurine is essential in baby's nutrition and I believe mother should be given some taurine supplement as a result, such as 500 mg x 3 of taurine a day, at the very least."
12/01/2008: Ted from Bangkok writes: "A mother is depleted of iodine, magnesium and especially vitamin D3 during breast feeding. I prefer to just supplements these with kelp, magnesium chloride (or magnesium citrate) and 10,000 i.u. of vitamin D3 to raise the immune system. Sometimes a mother is low on cobalt and molybdenum, where cobalt comes from vitamin B12 injections or sublingually. Molybdenum is obtained from a chemical supplier in form of sodium molybdate, and it also helps greatly night blindness, a condition I sometimes have myself. If a small budget is available by you, it helps to get some hair mineral analysis to see what you are deficient in. Lead and mercury is relatively high in United States, as manufacturing standards try to produce any foods below 10 ppm, while safe levels is deemed to be below 2 ppm. So there is an 8 ppm dangers here that the mainstream authorities is overlooking. Further food processing with added heavy metals doesn't count, so it may well be over 10 ppm of lead and perhaps much higher mercury then they actually anticipated. What is most interesting is common metal toxicity at least from my water faucet is that most faucet systems are brass, (especially the inside) which is bad news while the exterior of the faucet is a nice chrome look. It's bad news because they are the major source of copper and zinc, which causes alzheimer and not just the aluminum.
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2 YEA
[YEA] 01/11/2008: Brigitte from Houston, Texas writes: "re: anise seed tincture for treatment of nonproductive coughs. A nonproductive cough is another name for a dry cough which does nothing to move phlem from the throat and lumgs. This is often a precursor to a more serious ailment like pneumonia. It is of the utmost importance that you remove the excessive phlem from your system. I have found that the best expectorant that I can find is made by placing five tablespoons anise seeds into 1 cup of rum. I take no more than 2 teaspoons of this as needed to induce a cough which allows for the mucus to be removed from the body.
A note to nursing mothers who have problems with milk production; a good side affect of anise is that it increases milk production in lactating mothers. I know this for a fact as my last child was born when I was 40 and I had problems producing milk sufficient to meet my child's needs. Be cognisant of the fact that you do not want to over do it with alcohol if you are nursing as this would be counter productive to the health and well being of the child who depends on you for nourishment. I used an anise tea when I was nursing it works well for increasing milk production."
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[YEA] 01/11/2008: Brigitte from Houston, Texas writes: "To increase milk production drink anise tea. It really works to increase milk supply for lactating mothers."
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2 YEA
1 NAY
3 QUESTIONS
[NAY] 01/31/2010: Casey from Norwalk, Ohio writes: "Apple Cider Vinegar and Breastfeeding
I breastfeed my son, and he was 8 months old when I started taking the apple cider vinegar for joint pain. At his age, nothing I ate or drank bothered his stomach, but when I was taking the apple cider vinegar he had frequent stomach aches, was very fussy, and would go days without bowel movements when he normally would have one twice a day. I would definately not suggest drinking apple cider vinegar if you're a breastfeeding mother."
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[QUESTION] 02/18/2009: Danielle from Everett, WA writes: "I was looking on your site to see if there were any dangers of using ACV while breastfeeding and I see that there are three others with the same question, but couldn't find any answers. I am not having any trouble breastfeeding my 7 month old. My mother in law just started using the daily ACV dose and looks and feels great and has more energy and has not gotten sick this year (she is a grade school teacher). I want to do the same, but want to make sure there will be no problems for my baby or my milk production."
EC: We've been searching the net and this is the typical response to your question:
Pregnancy and Breastfeeding
Not recommended due to lack of sufficient data.However, here is one response from mothering.com: (http://www.mothering.com/discussions/showthread.php?t=886927)
"When I had some problems with plugged ducts in the early weeks of dd's life, I came here and read some of the threads looking for suggestions. Someone suggested apple cider vinegar in order to prevent plugged ducts/mastitis. I did a search on google and found out that it can be used to prevent mastitis. I've been taking a tbsp daily with a little honey and some cold water. I use Bragg - organic apple cider vinegar. You should not have any problems, in fact it will probably be good for you. That's just my 2 cents
Tara"
[YEA] 02/18/2009: Earth Clinic replies: "UPDATE: We decided to email the Bragg company this afternoon to see if they could answer the question as to if apple cider vinegar is safe for pregnant or nursing women.
John Westerdahl, PhD, MPH, RD and director of the Bragg Health Foundation emailed us back, "Bragg Apple Cider vinegar is safe to consume for pregnant and lactating women."
Good to know.. FINALLY!"
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[QUESTION] 01/11/2009: Vanessa from Denver, CO, USA writes: "Please if anybody has any information about taking ACV for weightloss and the side effects it has on breastfeeding, if any, let me know. I was just wondering if there was any reason why I shouldnt be taking it while breastfeeding. Thank you."
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[QUESTION] 01/08/2009: Leticia from Houston, Texas writes: "Does taking Apple Cider Vinegar affect anything having to do with nursing? My niece has acid reflux and I want to recommend this to her because ACV has helped me so much...can someone shed some light? will it affect an infant thru her milk? If so, what are the side effects?"
[YEA] 02/09/2010: Maggie from Springfield, Il replies: "I took ACV (organic) all through my last pregnancy and while nursing with no problems at all. Helped a lot with the problems of constipation during pregnancy. I also took unsulpherated blackstrap molasses and never needed iron sups (I needed them for my first kids). And oh yes....I had my last when I was 47, am still nursing at 48 1/2 and she is perfectly healthy and I feel great. In fact, I can eat anything (healthy of course) and it doesn't bother her. A very happy baby!"
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01/05/2009: Aline from Chico, CA writes: "I've been drinking the cleansing dosage of water and ACV and like it very much, but I just heard that, while breastfeeding, I shouldn't drink it. Could it harm my 17 months old son? Is it OK to do a "light" cleansing like this at all? Thanks!!"
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1 QUESTION
[QUESTION] 03/24/2009: Freeha from Ferwania, Kuwait writes: "Hi, I am lactation women and i want to know about apple cider vinegar/honey and garlic mix,,,i am using applecider vinegar/honey and garlic mix three times a day and two tablespoon of apple cider vinegar and lime mix in 16oz water and sip all day long for weight loose,,,,so need to know that can i do this during lactation becouse i ahve 8 months old baby ,,,can i use only ACV and lime without baking soda for weight lose during lactation? if the toxins are released to drink all these things then will it harmfull for my baby,,,,If the toxins are entre to baby so what can be heppen ,,is that so danger and what the symptoms if and how do i know that the toxins enter to my babay,, thanks but waiting your feedback,"
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1 YEA
[YEA] 06/20/2008: Shirley from Springfield, Missouri writes: "When you are breastfeeding your newborn and are sore and chapped, try expressing the breast milk, rubbing it into the nipple area, and letting it air dry. When I first start nursing a new baby, I do this 2-3 times a day. It works extremely well! Lanolin cream is great when you need a barrier, but your own breast milk actually heals the soreness. I actually learned this one from my doctor.
My mom taught me that squirting breast milk in your infant's nose is helpful when they are congested."
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1 YEA
[YEA] 01/06/2009: Michelle from Regina, Sask., Canada writes: "Breast milk makes your skin appear younger, remove acne scars and wrinkles. I nurse my daughter and collected a couple drops of breast milk in my hand and put on my face. I leave the breast milk on my face. You can see the results in minutes. The first time I did it, my older daughter asked what I did because she said that I looked so young. Now when I leave the house I put a thin layer of fresh breast milk on my face but I make sure it is only a little bit, all over my face, otherwise the breast milk runs and gets dry and white,then I have to wash and reapply. I have read that breast milk is good for ear infections in babies and I tried it out on my daughter a couple times, I just squirted some breast milk in her ears a couple times a day within a couple of days cleared up. I did want to wean my daughter off but want to try to freeze the breast milk in little ice cubes trays, then use the iced breast milk on my face."
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1 YEA
[YEA] 06/24/2009: Ann from Paris, France writes: "A few years ago, my daughter having had her baby and having chosen to breast feed her, began getting "knots" in her breasts. Apparently the baby was not drinking enough milk to have a smooth flow and the milk was causing congestion in the ducts. The result was very hard and painful swollen breasts.
I believe this is a situation that many nursing mothers face. We tried using fresh cabbage leaves and it worked miracles! Just take the individual leaves, dip in boiling water for a couple of minutes to soften; let cool till warm and wrap the breasts in 2 or 3 layers of leaves. Cover with a warm damp towel and leave for an hour or so, then repeat until the breasts have become supple once again.
Try it, it works! Cabbage works for alot of other types of congestion and swelling and even for wounds. It's a great home remedy."
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1 QUESTION
[QUESTION] 05/16/2009: Helena from Nashville, TN writes: "Nursing and Cleansing: Hi...I have a question. I would really like to do some cleansing, but I'm still nursing my 5-month-old baby. Can I use EVCO safely while nursing? Do I need to wait until I stop nursing to start anything new? Thanks for the help!"
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1 YEA
[YEA] 01/19/2009: Jolynda from Long Beach, California, USA writes: "Our daughter is almost seven months old and she is breastfed. When I first started nursing I would get these terrible shooting pains as soon as she latched on. It hurt so bad that I almost stopped nursing her! I went to a lactation consultant and she said it was probably thrush. Then I went to my doctor and he said I had clogged ducts and that it would eventually go away as long as I continued nursing. He gave me motrin for the pain. However, the pain stayed for over two months! Then a friend of mine suggested trying dandelion leaves or even dandelion root tea. She said that dandelions will not only help with the milk supply, but it will help the milk flow through the ducts more easily. She said we would be able to find the dandelion leaves in an Asian Market, because they are not found in the regular grocery stores. I tried the dandelion leaves as a salad. It's very bitter so you have to put a lot of dressing on it. I ate this salad for a couple of days and the pain went away! I was so relieved! Then I checked online for the dandelion root tea bags (it's caffeine free). I ordered a few boxes (30 tea bags in each box) and I drink one every day! I have not had any nursing issues since! Just make sure you follow the directions on the box. I once let my tea bag sit in the hot water longer than the suggested time and after I drank it, I had a bad stomach ache! The box I ordered says to steep tea bag in a cup of no more than 6 oz. of boiling water, press the bag and remove. It's still bitter but I add 2 scoops of honey to sweeten. Good luck to all the nursing mothers out there!"
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2 YEA
[YEA] 11/29/2008: Karen McSpadden from Virginia Beach, Virginia writes: "Natural Breastfeeding Thrush Remedy
In response to the issue of persistent thrush while breastfeeding, I would strongly recommend Gentian Violet. You can pick it up at most drugstores for a couple dollars and it's one of the most effective remedies in my own (frustrating and painful) personal experience with thrush. My daughter and I passed it back and forth for a while and Gentian Violet was the thing that cured it most efficiently.
You paint your nipples and the inside of the baby's mouth three times a day for three days. It's safe to use frequently. Be forewarned-- your nipples (and your baby's mouth) will be a very bright purple so plan to wear breast pads or an old t-shirt during the treatment. Also, I found that once my daughter was older-- over a year, I believe-- she wouldn't nurse from my breasts if they were purple. She didn't seem to be bothered by it when she was younger.
Whenever I have used this remedy, I have had relief from thrush and the accompanying nipple soreness.
Good luck!"
[YEA] 11/17/2009: Mmiller from Tracy, Ca replies: "I experienced thrush with my first daughter and now my second. Gentian Violet is the way to go. As previously stated it is VERY messy. If you rub the area around baby's mouth with oil (I use coconut oil) it keeps the skin clean. Also, soak any stained fabrics overnight in one of the oxy-type laundry cleaners.I use two scoops to a bathroom sink of HOT water. It has worked every time so far however, every so often I need to soak stubborn stains two days. Wash normally after soaking."
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HEALING PROPERTIES OF BREAST MILK
03/12/2009: Christina from Minneapolis, MN, USA writes: "Here is an article from Mothering magazine about the healing properties of breast milk. I see that there are no posts about breast milk, that surprises me as it has been used to cure many ailments throughout human history.
Your Walking Medicine Chest
By Liz Laing
Issue 133, November/December 2005
Mother's milk is the perfect panacea for a whole host of ailments - from pinkeye to acne. Just a squirt will do the trick!
Most people know about the health benefits of breastfeeding, but few know about breastmilk's medicinal benefits. Breastmilk is sterile, antibacterial, and has many healing properties. It can be used to treat a variety of ailments and can be applied topically for eye and ear infections, minor skin injuries, sore or cracked nipples, diaper rash, sore throats, and stuffy noses. Is breastmilk an everyday cure-all? Read on and judge for yourself.
When your child gets a cold and has a stuffy nose, drizzle breastmilk into each nostril. It will thin the mucus, and the milk's natural antibodies will help fight infection. Jay Gordon, MD, FAAP, IBCLC's nationally recognized pediatrician, author, and breastfeeding authority, encourages the use of breastmilk in this way. "I recommend breastmilk as the best nose drop for babies and children with colds," he says. "The milk kills viruses on contact (sounds like a TV commercial!), and the best part is that it makes babies sneeze. The sneeze sends viruses, bacteria, dust, and more flying out of the nose at 100 mph."
Several clinical studies have shown that since each mother's milk is made specifically for her own baby, it is effective in ridding the infant's eyes and nose of viruses and germs. I have used it on my own children, and even on myself. Recently, my son had pinkeye; when I applied my breastmilk to his eyes several times a day, the conjunctivitis cleared up. A friend of mine used her breastmilk on all her family members whenever they got pinkeye, and thus for years she was able to avoid having to buy prescription eyedrops.
You never know when breastmilk will come in handy. I got liquid soap in my eye once while in the locker room at my gym. My eye was burning and extremely red, and rinsing it with water didn't help at all. I checked my purse for eyedrops but found none. Then I remembered the built-in medicine chest I carried around on my own chest. I went into a bathroom stall, cupped my hand, squirted out some milk, and bathed my eye in it. Ahhhhhh! Instant relief - the redness and painful stinging were gone. I was glad to have this option available, and felt proud that my body produces something that can be used to help heal other parts of my body. What a great way to recycle.
Besides colds and eye irritations, there are several other conditions that might benefit from the use of breastmilk. In most cases you simply express your milk into a clean saucer, cup, or bowl, then use a cotton ball or eyedropper to apply or squirt milk directly onto the area, as needed, for the desired results.
In many places - including Mexico, Russia, Africa, South America, and India - the use of breastmilk in alternative ways is quite common. One mother on a Midwifery Today online forum said, "In Nigeria, if a child has a condition of the eyes, such as mucus, we simply squirt a bit of breastmilk and it clears right up."1
Besides healing common minor afflictions, breastmilk has recently been in the news for helping to treat more serious illnesses. Adult cancer patients have been drinking breastmilk in an attempt to boost their immune systems and cope better with the side effects of chemotherapy.2 While this is not a common practice, a milk bank in California has supplied a group of pioneering patients with breastmilk for the past few years. One lucky recipient of this donor milk, Howard Cohen of Palo Alto, California, strongly believes that ingesting breastmilk daily has helped his prostate cancer go into remission.3
Donor milk is used to treat a variety of health problems. I spoke with Pauline Sakamoto, RN, MS, executive director of the Mothers' Milk Bank in San Jose, California, about some of the other ways breastmilk benefits people. "Historically, human milk has been used for diseases and health conditions of adults and children and as a superior food for babies. These folk cures have been tested throughout time. Currently, there has been more interest in the scientific community to test the components of human milk's effect on different health problems that plague us today. Hopefully, in the near future, we will validate the incredible power that our body has to promote growth, heal itself, and preserve its integrity via human milk.
Breastmilk may even kill cancer cells. In 1995 physician and immunologist Catharina Svanborg and a team of research biologists at Sweden's Lund University discovered in breastmilk a protein compound, alpha-lactalbumin (they gave it the acronym HAMLET), that selectively induces apoptosis in tumor cells.4 In other words, HAMLET makes cancer cells commit suicide. In fact, it has killed every type of cancer the researchers have tested it against. HAMLET has also been used to successfully treat virally infected warts, which were reduced by 75 percent in volunteers who received daily treatments with an ointment containing the protein. The same viruses that cause warts are also linked to cervical cancer, genital warts, and some types of skin cancer. Well, we all knew that breastmilk is powerful.
You may wonder why this discovery of a possible cure for cancer has not received greater attention. Funding is part of the problem, but slowly, in the past decade, more attention has been paid to this small laboratory in a quiet corner of the world. Even the American Cancer Society has given its stamp of approval by giving a grant to Svanborg and her team to help fund further research into their discovery.
While this type of scientific news is exciting, let's not forget the real miracle of breastmilk and its primary use. The healing powers of this liquid gold are incredible enough, but breastmilk's most amazing quality is that it gives life. No other food or substance on earth comes close to doing what breastmilk does. Human breastmilk is the ideal food for human babies. Pediatrician Jay Gordon reminds us how crucial breastfeeding is when he says, "Babies denied breastmilk during the first year of life get sick and die at a much greater rate than babies who nurse."
I am still amazed when I watch my son nurse. I know that his healthy, growing body is thriving because he is suckling the perfect food, which my body makes for his body. But in addition to satisfying this primary need, my breastmilk can help heal his body in other ways as well.
NOTES
http: //www.midwiferytoday.com/forums/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=383
Michael Day, "Adults Turn to Breast Milk to Ease Effects of Chemotherapy," Daily Telegraph (16 January 2005); www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/2005/01/16/nteat16. xml
"The Man Who Swears by Breastmilk," BBC News Online, UK edition (23 January 2005): http://news.bbc.co. uk/1/hi/health/4187697.stm
Catharina Svanborg, MD, PhD, "Treatment of Skin Papillomas with Topical Alpha-Lactalbumin-Oleic Acid," New England Journal of Medicine 350 (2004): 2663-2672.
Liz Laing, ACE, is a freelance writer and mother of four beautiful, breastfed children. She has been a stay-at-home mom for the past 12 years and most recently is overcoming the challenges of single motherhood. A certified childbirth educator and doula, Liz lives in Los Angeles, California."
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1 YEA
[YEA] 10/12/2009: Carrie from Woodinville, Wa writes: "New to nursing burning problems in breasts
Eat pineapple, 2-3 day cure. don't take the drugs.
Suggestions:
Do not wait for the mastitis to go away by itself. Contact your health care provider immediately for treatment with antibiotics that are safe for you and your baby. It is very important that you continue nursing often during this time. Your milk is not infected and will not harm your baby. Also, complete the entire treatment of antibiotics (seven to 10 days) so the infection does not come back. Consider contacting a lactation consultant to teach you how to prevent mastitis from happening again.
No no no, just pineapple canned works too not just fresh"
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