Herbs Mentioned in the Literature as of Concern

(Source: http://www.itmonline.org/arts/breast.htm)

Various herbal resources taken together suggest avoiding the following herbs during lactation; most often, the original source of the information is obscure and there is little or no data to support the concern.

Indeed, other sources, similarly obscure, claim that some of the same herbs are known to be safe to use during breastfeeding or are not known to be associated with any adverse effects.

Most of these are "Western herbs," but a few appear in Chinese medicine, including aloe, coltsfoot (tussilago), ephedra, garlic, licorice, and rhubarb.

Some herbs are suggested to be avoided because they "dry up milk:" sage and parsley are examples.

Garlic can flavor the milk and cause some infants to consume less than they normally would.

In most cases, the concern is related to using large doses regularly rather than avoiding any exposure.

Aloe vera

Black snakeroot

Bladderwrack

Borage

Buckthorn

Bugleweed

Cascara sagrada
Coltsfoot
Comfrey

Elecampane

Ephedra

Fennel

Fenugreek

Garlic

Kava kava

Licorice

Male Fern

Gravel root

Parsley

Rauwolfia

Rhubarb (root)
Sage

Senna

Stillingia

Wormwood