Galactagogue
A galactogogue (from Greek: γάλα [γαλακτ-], milk, + ἀγωγός, leading) is a substance that promotes lactation in humans and other animals.[1][2] It may be synthetic, plant-derived, or endogenous.
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Herbal [edit]
The most commonly cited galactogogues are herbal[citation needed]. The most popular of these are:
- Asparagus racemosus[citation needed]
- fenugreek[citation needed]
- brewer's yeast[citation needed]
- blessed thistle[citation needed]
- alfalfa[citation needed]
Others include[citation needed]:
- anise
- astragalus root
- bermuda grass
- boza
- burdock
- nettle
- fennel
- Goat's rue
- flax
- pumpkin seeds
- oatmeal
- quinoa
- soapwort
- vervain
- red raspberry leaf
- marshmallow (althaea) root
- Torbangun[3]
Herbal galactogogues are divided into those believed to also have a sedating action on the nursing infant due to their volatile constituents, which can be carried through the breast milk itself, and those seen as promoting milk production without directly affecting the content. This often seems to be linked to anethol content.[4]
Torbangun has been used by the Bataknese people of Indonesia as a galactogogue for hundreds of years. An investigation into this traditional usage found that it increased milk volume produced by 65%, compared to 20% for fenugreek seeds.[3]
Pharmaceutical [edit]
The most effective galactogogues are medications, available usually by medical prescription. These include domperidone and metoclopramide. Domperidone, a dopamine antagonist, is not approved for enhanced lactation in the USA.[5][6] It is, however, prescribed in the UK. Some drugs, primarily atypical antipsychotics such as risperidone, may cause lactation in both women and men.
Most of those discovered have been found to interact with the dopamine system in such a way to increase the production of prolactin endogenously.[citation needed]
References [edit]
- ^ Gabay, M. P. (2002). "Galactogogues: Medications that induce lactation". Journal of human lactation : official journal of International Lactation Consultant Association 18 (3): 274–279. PMID 12192964.
- ^ Merriam-Webster: galactogogue
- ^ a b Damanik, R.; Wahlqvist, M. L.; Wattanapenpaiboon, N. (2006). "Lactagogue effects of Torbangun, a Bataknese traditional cuisine". Asia Pacific journal of clinical nutrition 15 (2): 267–274. PMID 16672214.
- ^ McIntyre, Anne (1992). The herbal for mother and child. Shaftesbury: Element. ISBN 1-85230-244-5.
- ^ Da Silva, O. P.; Knoppert, D. C. (2004). "Domperidone for lactating women". Canadian Medical Association Journal 171 (7): 725–726. doi:10.1503/cmaj.1041054. PMC 517853. PMID 15451832.
- ^ The Academy Of Breastfeeding Medici (2011). "ABM Clinical Protocol #9: Use of Galactogogues in Initiating or Augmenting the Rate of Maternal Milk Secretion (First Revision January 2011)". Breastfeeding Medicine 6 (1): 41–49. doi:10.1089/bfm.2011.9998. PMID 21332371.
Further reading [edit]
- Galactorrhea
- Herbalism
- Diana West and L. Marasco, The Breastfeeding Mother's Guide to Making More Milk. New York: McGraw-Hill, 2008.
- New Zealand government website on Domperidone (Motilium) as a Galactogogue
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