Re: How many peppermints - Peppermint does not necessarily aff...

[Guest guest]

Since I brought UP the peppermint issue (far be it for me to contradict anyone on this list, but)... may I point out that (a) I've had personal experience with moms taking peppermint and inadvertently reducing milk supply, and (:

"Some forms of peppermint are more effective at reducing milk supply than others..." I am not going to copy the entire paragraph here, but you can read it on your own...

Humphrey, Sheila, 2003. The Nursing Mother's Herbal. pp 136 (in which she discusses the use of peppermint as an anti-galactogogue.

Marasco mentions it in her book, "Making More Milk" as reducing milk supply. Tom Hale mentions essential peppermint oil as being contraindicated in lactation according to the German Commission E, but doesn't say why.

Jan Barger, RN, MA, IBCLC, FILCALactation Education Consultantswww.lactationeducation.com

I wonder if mint flavored milk just made the baby eat less, thus reducing supply. I have heard reports many times from mom trying to administer mint flavored reflux meds to the baby and the baby resists??

Judy

Judith L. Gutowski, BA, IBCLC, RLC

135 McGrath Lane

P Box 1

Hannastown, PA 15635-0001

Cell Phone

Fax

[Guest guest]

I would expect Mint/Peppermint to reduce supply in SOME moms - those with a Vata

aspect.

But for other moms, it doesn't reduce supply and for me - my supply increased a

bit.

I never saw any studies about any type of mint reducing supply. I've heard a lot

of notable people say that it reduces supply but no studies to support that.

Even then from anecdotal evidence, we all see that in some moms, certain types

of mint does definitely reduce supply.

What I'm saying is that it doesn't reduce supply for all moms - perhaps not even

for most moms.

Even more scandalously, I am suggesting that some types (or all?) of Mint may

actually increase supply for some moms.

Ayervedic medicine is the oldest and arguably one of the most respected forms of

Medicine. Far older and more studied than Allopathic Medicine. When one applies

the principles of ayerveda to milk supply, it would never say " all moms avoid

this food to preserve supply " or " all moms eat that herb to increase your

supply " . Instead of the starting point being the Herb/food, the starting point

is the person. The person and his/her characteristics then determine what course

of action is taken regarding the ailment.

I felt it was necessary to speak up because lately I've been feeling the need to

defend the Mint family, who for 3 years I feared, and now I see there was no

reason to fear.

>

> Since I brought UP the peppermint issue (far be it for me to contradict

> anyone on this list, but)... may I point out that (a) I've had personal

> experience with moms taking peppermint and inadvertently reducing milk supply,

> and (:

>

> " Some forms of peppermint are more effective at reducing milk supply than

> others... " I am not going to copy the entire paragraph here, but you can

> read it on your own...

>

> Humphrey, Sheila, 2003. The Nursing Mother's Herbal. pp 136 (in which

> she discusses the use of peppermint as an anti-galactogogue.

>

> Marasco mentions it in her book, " Making More Milk " as reducing milk

> supply. Tom Hale mentions essential peppermint oil as being

> contraindicated in lactation according to the German Commission E, but doesn't

say why.

>

>

> Jan Barger, RN, MA, IBCLC, FILCA

> Lactation Education Consultants

> _www.lactationeducation.com_ (http://www.lactationeducation.com/)

>

>

>

>

> In a message dated 9/15/2011 6:39:50 A.M. Central Daylight Time,

> jlgutowski@... writes:

>

>

>

>

>

> I wonder if mint flavored milk just made the baby eat less, thus reducing

> supply. I have heard reports many times from mom trying to administer mint

> flavored reflux meds to the baby and the baby resists??

> Judy

> Judith L. Gutowski, BA, IBCLC, RLC

> 135 McGrath Lane

> P P 1

> Hannastown, , <ST1>

> Cell Phone

> Fax

>

[Guest guest]

There are woefully few studies on any herbs of any kind. I don't think anyone is suggesting that X will have Y results in ALL mothers. However, there is certainly no harm in a mom trying it, and it might help reduce supply. No need for any mother to avoid peppermint (or nearly any food) in moderation. A couple of altoids, a candy cane is most likely not a big deal. But if a mom has over supply and we suggest she try peppermint, there is no harm.

By the way, could I ask you to please sign your posts? I have no clue as to who blueflamingahava is!! The rest of the listserv may well know, but I don't, and I'd like to know who you are.

Jan Barger, RN, MA, IBCLC, FILCALactation Education Consultantswww.lactationeducation.com

I never saw any studies about any type of mint reducing supply. I've heard a lot of notable people say that it reduces supply but no studies to support that. Even then from anecdotal evidence, we all see that in some moms, certain types of mint does definitely reduce supply. What I'm saying is that it doesn't reduce supply for all moms - perhaps not even for most moms.Even more scandalously, I am suggesting that some types (or all?) of Mint may actually increase supply for some moms.