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Herbs,
Drugs & Hormones that Promote Lactation
by
DrJim
There are many herbs, drugs and hormones that affect
lactation positively or negatively. This
dissertation gives an overview and is by no
means comprehensive. It can be helpful to women
to know how some of their medications may affect
lactation and what herbs they might choose to
achieve such.
Estrogen
There are many herbs and drugs that have an Estrogen
effect. Lactation is promoted by Estrogen
primarily when the level goes up and then down
because Estrogen withdrawal is what raises
Prolactin. The benefit of Estrogen stimulation
is also most to women who are still ovulating
and thus producing Progesterone. Steady levels
of Estrogen such as those used for
postmenopausal treatment do not inhibit
lactation. Cycling Estrogen alternately with
Progesterone is much more effective that
Estrogen alone. Fennel, Fenugreek, Soy
isoflavones, Black cohosh, blue cohosh, Malted
barley and Oats all seem to boost Estrogen some.
There are many others. Chaste tree Berry has an
anti-estrogen effect and can boost lactation by
inhibiting Estrogen in younger women. It should
not be used with these other herbs mentioned
because it counteracts them. Estradiol cream as
a straight Estrogen stimulation is bioidentical
(very good) and can be applied to the breasts.
It can make the breasts enlarge but it will not
induce lactation without Progesterone
stimulation as well. Maintenance for
post-menopausal women would be better using the
weaker Estrogen compound Estriol as it
stimulates the breasts less.
Progesterone
Progesterone cream can be purchased without a prescription.
It can promote lactation by stimulating the
growth of more alveoli in the breasts and
increasing the receptors for Prolactin. Many
women lack enough Progesterone. Perimenopausal
women ovulate irregularly and generate
Progesterone intermittently. Postmenopausal
women produce none. Progesterone is the most
important hormone in a hormonal regimen to
induce lactation. For young and ovulating women
Progesterone can help promote a post-partum
state with high Prolactin, high milk production
and usually light or no menses. Progesterone is
in many birth control products and hormonal
maintenance products. Wild Yam is a great herb
to promote Progesterone effect. Saw Palmetto is
a hormonal balancer which overall increases
Progesterone effect some and promotes lactation.
Hormonal
Induction of Lactation
Although women
of practically any age have been successful in
inducing lactation without the use of hormones,
breasts do undergo steady involution with a
decrease of alveoli that can be stimulated over
time. Peri and Post-menopausal women who induce
without hormone supplements will often gain most
of the benefits except will have only a small
amount of milk. A short course of hormonal
induction makes sense for older women who would
like to produce more milk. There are several
hormonal regimens on the internet, here are some
thoughts on them; Taking a course of Yasmin BCP
for a month or two is popular. Like most BCPs,
it has Estrogen and Progesterone like compounds
and stimulates both receptors at the same time.
Some Yasmin regimens recommend adding additional
Progesterone to the Yasmin. Both Estrogen and
Progesterone levels are high during pregnancy so
the BCP is thought to mimic a short pregnancy.
Yasmin has a Progestin different from most other
BCPs that also boosts Prolactin some, so all
three hormones are being stimulated at the same
time. The breasts are stimulated best however by
sequential hormones; Estrogen, Progesterone then
Prolactin. This is the normal sequence from
month to month between menses. A better BCP
regimen I think, is a high Estrogen pill such as
1 month of Ovral (not Lo-Ovral, Aleese, Mircette
or other low Estrogen contemporary BCPs)
followed by 1 month of Progesterone only
minipill like Nordette, Ovrette or Nor-Q follow
this with Domeperidome or other Prolactin
booster. Two sequential months of these BCPs
should cause the breasts to increase in size
noticeably unless the breasts are very large
with a high percentage of fat to start with in
which case there may not be a noticeable
increase in size. This two month sequence can be
repeated for further alveoli development before
proceeding to Prolactin boosting.
All of the Progesterone only birth control regimens can
promote lactation because they induce a
post-partum like state with low Estrogen.
Minipills: Nordette, Ovrette or Nor-Q, Provera
pills or Depo-Provera shot, Nuvaring (the
Progesterone ring inserted into the vagina) may
do so when combined with nipple stimulation and
optionally, Domeperidome. Some young ovulating
women may find that stimulation plus
Domeperidome do not get them into a Post-partum
like state with milk production. Adding
Progesterone cream daily can often bring
success. Progesterone replaces the effect that
Domeperidome has to lower Estrogen levels and
increase Prolactin levels so taking Domeperidome
sometimes may not be necessary to continue.
My favorite hormonal regimen is the use of bioidentical
hormones (exactly identical to what your ovaries
produce, better than synthetics), in the form of
a cream applied to the breasts. High levels can
be achieved, most concentrated in the breasts.
Estradiol cream applied for 1 month followed by
Progesterone cream for 1 month. You can also use
Estradiol patches. Hormones are not as well
absorbed though the skin as when taken by mouth
and levels must be higher. Estradiol cream
should be in the 4 – 8mg/d and the
Progesterone cream should be in the 40 –
80mg/d. This is 2 to 4 times the level
recommended for maintenance hormone replacement.
The type of cream base also makes a lot of
difference on the absorption of the hormone.
Domeperidome
This drug works to promote lactation by inhibiting
Dopamine, which inhibits Prolactin. More women
seem to use this drug than any other. Adding
Progesterone in any form (I prefer cream) will
increase the effect of Domeperidome. This drug
is used to increase gut motility and promote
more rapid gastric emptying. Reglan and
Propulsid are other drugs in this class that
would have similar effects. All of the major
tranquilizers including Thorazine, Zyprexa,
Haldol and many others lower Dopamine and thus
promote lactation. These drugs are generally all
sedating and in general, many other sedating
drugs and herbs may promote lactation. Beer is
known to promote lactation, it contains malted
barley and hops. Malted barley can be eaten as a
food supplement and promotes lactation. Hops is
a sedating herb which also promotes lactation.
Blessed Thistle also promotes lactation.
Sedation
and Anxiety
In order to produce milk a mother needs to be content,
calm, serene and very much enjoying her
lactating state. Stress, anxiety and being
uncomfortable inhibit the process. Along this
line husband support is important and
benzodiazepines may promote lactation including
Xanax, Valium and others (I am not in favor of
taking these for this purpose). These work at
the GABA receptor in the brain. Taking GABA
supplements may promote lactation. GABA is a
food supplement and a neurotransmitter, which
promotes quality sleep and boosts Growth
Hormone. They are usually taken at bedtime
(about 5 caps) to promote sleep but can be taken
several times a day (2-3 4x/d). Stimulants on
the other hand may inhibit lactation. These
include caffeine, Adderall and others.
Some antidepressants with pure Serotonin
boosting such as Prozac may promote lactation.
On the other hand, many antidepressants used
today such as Effexor and Wellbutrin also boost
Dopamine, which inhibits lactation.
5-HTP (5 Hydroxytryptophan) and L-Tryptophan boost
Serotonin because they are precursors. They can
be purchased without prescription. One cap of
5-HTP 100mg can be taken with each Domeperidome
dose to enhance its effect. Alternately
L-Tryptophan about 400mg cap can be taken
several times daily. Straight Tryptophan can
also be taken at double the mg. Dose of
L-Tryptophan. It is likely to be very
inexpensive but may not be as effective as
5-HTP.
Antihistamines are sedating but they inhibit lactation.
Histamine in the body causes increased tissue
fluid as in the form of hives or wheals from a
mosquito bite. When women are inducing, their
breasts swell some and retain fluid with a
mechanism that is similar to the swelling that
Histamine promotes. Antihistamines inhibit fluid
transfer into the alveoli and promote drying up
of the breasts. Benadryl, Claritin, Zyrtec and
any medication with an antihistamine effect will
inhibit lactation. Some drugs have pro-histamine
effects such as Risperdol and will promote
lactation. Pro-histamine drugs also tend to
increase the appetite and promote weight gain.
Risperdol is an antidepressant that is used to
also promote weight gain and increased sleep.
Other
Medications
Diuretics in general inhibit lactation somewhat by drying
out the body and inhibiting the fluid transfer
into the alveoli. This of course includes Lasix,
Bumex, Hydrochlorothiazide and others. An old
blood pressure medication called Aldomet worked
by inhibiting Dopamine and has been long known
to promote lactation. Aldactone has an
anti-Testosterone effect and may promote
lactation.
Other
Things
Exercise boosts Thyroid function and Prolactin (and
promotes lactation). Hypothyroid condition tends
to promote lactation because the brain puts out
more TRH to increase Thyroid function, which
also increases Prolactin. Proper thyroid
function is very necessary for lactation.
Thyroid supplements are not likely to inhibit
lactation. Any medication, food, herb or drug
that increases Growth Hormone will increase
lactation because Growth Hormone is also
necessary for successful lactation and Growth
Hormone is paired with Prolactin at night. It is
particularly necessary to accomplish the changes
in the breasts on the cellular level as the
breast tissue remodels into the active lactating
state. There are Growth Hormone boosters on the
internet including Symbiotropin, ProArgi and
many others. The amino acid L-Arginine is the
basis of ProArgi,
Tyrosine may also boost Growth Hormone. Calcium
supplements before bed are apparently helpful.
Virtually any vitamin and amino-acid supplement
combination that you can get at the health food
store to boost Growth Hormone could also
potentially assist in the induction of
lactation.
An interesting and very effective regimen to promote
lactation has been used with Proterelin or TRH
(Thyrotropin Releasing Hormone). TRH stimulates
the release of Prolactin. A nasal spray of 1mg.
of TRH can cause the release of Prolactin
similar to probably 15 minutes of nipple
stimulation. A small bottle carried in the
pocket and sprayed in the nose 5 or 6 times a
day can induce lactation similar to a regular
schedule of pumping. This regimen has been
prescribed and used successfully for women
wanting to induce for adopted babies but it is
uncommon. It is felt to be completely safe.
DrJim
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