Breastfeeding? 6 Common Symptoms And The Best Home Remedies

Are you wondering which botanicals are safe to take while nursing?

In this post, I'll describe the six most common symptoms you experience and the EXACT natural remedies for your body - that are safe while breastfeeding.

Here's the thing.  Always consult your physician before taking any botanicals while breastfeeding.

Ready? Let's get started.

#1 Constipation While Breastfeeding

Constipation is a challenge after childbirth. Some easy remedies include:

• Take dairy out of your diet! This is the #1 choice to reduce postpartum constipation

• Adding a daily probiotic to your diet

• Adding in Mg Glycinate at night

• Consider taking gluten out of your diet, especially if you have digestive issues

• Add 1 tbsp. of ground flaxseed to your diet with oatmeal in the morning

#2 Seasonal Allergies While Breastfeeding

• The #1 remedy for allergies while nursing is freeze-dried stinging nettles.

• Considered a Level 1 or safe botanical, you can enjoy this herb as a daily tea, but you will need the freeze-dried form to help reduce allergies.

• Plus, you'll want to address your gut health.

  • Read this post to see how the 4R approach can heal your gut and reduce allergy symptoms. >>https://taragregorio.com/how-the-4r-approach-helped-me-heal-my-gut-allowed-me-to-eat-gluten-again/

• Then watch this video to learn about the benefits of stinging nettles.

#3 Cold & Flu While Breastfeeding

You can use herbs and homeopathy during the breast-feeding years for your cold and flu. Here are some of my favorite remedies, and also consider purchasing the 26 breastfeeding remedies resource sheet below to get started on learning how to use herbs and homeopathy during the nursing years.

• Echinacea Tincture - for the common cold & flu

• Marshmallow Root tea - to soothe a sore throat

• Reishi Tincture - to boost immunity and reduce illnesses

Which herbs to avoid while breastfeeding?

79 Herbs to Avoid While Breastfeeding

Some common herbs you may want to avoid are: {see below for the full list}

• Black Cohosh root (Cimicifuga racemosa)

• Blue cohosh root (Caulophyllum thalictroides)

• Borage leaves ( Borao officinalis)

• Bugleweed leaves ( Lycopus spp.)

• Cascara sagrada bark (Frangula purshiana)

• Cat’s claw root (Uncaria tomentosa)

• Celandine root and leaves (Chelidonium majus…)

• Chaparral leaves (Larrea tridentata)

• Chaste tree fruit (Vitex agnus-castus)

• Cinchona bark (Cinchona spp.)

• Cocoa seeds (Theobroma cacao)

• Coffee seeds (Coffea arabica)

• Cola seeds (Cola acuminata)

• Colocynth fruit pulp (Citrullus colocynths)

• Coltsfoot leaves (Tussilago fanfare)

• Comfrey root (Symphytum officinale) - internally.  Safe externally for mastitis and cracked nipples. 

• Copis rhinome (Coptis chinensis)

• Dulse thallus (Rhodymenia palmetta)

• Elecampane root (Inula helenium)

• Ephedra herb (Ephedra sinica)

• European pennyroyal (Mentha pulegium)

• Fennel fruit (Foeniculum vlulgare)

• Goldenseal root (Hydrastis canadensis)

• Jamaica dogwood root (Piscidia erythrina)

• Jasmin flowers (Jasminum pubescesn)

• Joe-Pye weed root (Eupatorium purpurem)

• Kava root (Piper methysticum)

• Lemon balm herb (Melissa officinalis) - safe to take, but may change the taste of your milk.  Consider taking in small doses for the common cold. 

• Licorice root (Glycyrrhiza glabra)

• Mate leaves (Ilex paraguayensis)

• Meadowsweet herb (Filipendula ulmaria)

• Mother of thyme herb (Thymus serpyllum)

• Oregon grape root (Mahonia spp.)

• Poke root (Phytolacca americana)

• Pulsatilla herb (Pulsatilla vulgaris)

• Sage leaves (Salvia Officials)

• Seaweed thallus (Laminaria spp.)

• Senna leaves (Salvia officinallis)

• Tea leaves (Camellia sinensis)

• Thuja leaves (Thuja occidentalis)

• Tobacco leaves (Nicotianoa tabacum)

• Uva ursi leaves (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi)

• Willow bark (Salix spp.)

• Wintergreen leaves (Gaultheria procumbent)

• For a complete list, DOWNLOAD this document

#4 Postpartum Cramping While Nursing

• I'll never forget the time I was on the ground with pelvic pain, after the birth of my twins. 

• I was lying on the kitchen floor, clutching my waist.  I crawled to get Crampbark to help with the pain.

• As your body adjusts after childbirth, you may want to have Crampbark handy to help with pelvic pain.

• This remedy also helps with your monthly cramps.  Watch the video below to learn more.

#5  UTI - Urinary Tract Infection While Breastfeeding

• Urinary Tract Infections are painful.  And, if you're breastfeeding you may want an alternative to antibiotics for the pain.

• Here are my favorite remedies to stop the pain of a UTI - watch the video below!

• If you get recurring UTIs, make sure you address your gut health with the 4R approach and always contact your doctor first!

#6 Yeast Infection While Breastfeeding

• Yeast infections are common after childbirth, especially if you have poor gut health or happen to have a C-section.

• The funny part is that the yeast can cause bloating, digestive issues, brain fog, and intense cravings for sugar and wine!

• Consider purchasing my Yeast Infection workshop to learn the tried and true herbal remedies to stop the itch!

• See the herbal workshops here: https://www.taragregorio.com/herbal-medicine-workshops

Conclusion

The postpartum time is the most confusing, and herbal remedies can help calm your racing heart and soothe your symptoms naturally so you can reduce medications for years to come. Always add one herb at a time or one homeopathic blend and watch your child for adverse reactions. These reactions would be a change in their skin, their sleep, or even their digestion. Your baby’s health is your priority, so if you notice any of the symptoms, make sure you stop the botanical at once.

Many moms have reduced medications for mastitis without using antibiotics, and that is my goal in sharing this blog post. As always, listen to your body and see what feels right for you when you start integrating herbs and homeopathy into your family's life.

Do you have any questions? Let me know in the common area below. I'd love to help you.

xo

Tara

Herbal Medicine Safety While Breastfeeding Books & References

1. American Herbal Products Association; Botanical Safety Handbook, Hales

2. Medications and Mother’s Milk: https://amzn.to/35XZFq5- more about conventional medication and nursing

3. Kellymom.com - great quick reference

4. Bone & Mills: Principles and Practice of Phytotherapy

5. Aviva Romm: Botanical Medicine of Women’s Health- Categories from the German Commission E.

6. Brinker, Francis: Herbal Contraindications and Drug Interactions