by Sheela Rani Chunkath
I am doing a small piece of research into the effects of yogic practices on the wellbeing of mothers. When interviewing one of the mothers, I was informed that she was highly distressed that she was unable to feed her baby properly in spite of having had a very uneventful natural delivery. She kept wondering where she had gone wrong and said she was feeling guilty that she was not even able to feed her baby properly. While I assured her that she need not feel guilty, I thought it would be worthwhile writing an article about galactagogues and how a mother could successfully breastfeed her baby.
Shatavari (Asparagus racemosus), garlic and fenugreek are common herbs which when eaten improves the production of breast milk. In Sanskrit, Shatavari means 'she who possesses a hundred husbands' implying its ability to help support fertility and vitality. Because of the herb's estrogenic effect on the female mammary glands and reproductive system, Shatavari boosts postpartum health and enhances the production of breast milk in lactating mothers. Shatavari herb is available fresh or dried in the market and a handful can be boiled with milk and drunk with a little palm candy. Syrups, tablets and medicated ghees are available and can be safely taken by the lactating mother. Similarly garlic boiled in milk can be taken for increasing milk production. Fenugreek powder, while quite bitter, is also a good galactagogue. Sowbhagya Sunti about which I have written earlier is also good for lactating mothers.
A friend of mine recently gave me a huge clump of Shatavari roots to plant in my farm. I am looking forward to it taking root as the plant is a beautiful creeper. I find that the plant grows wild in my farm, but I am yet to harvest its roots.
Ayurvedic vaidyars increase kapha dosha to increase breast milk production and therefore ask mothers to eat cereals like rice. Meat soups and cows milk are also highly recommended. A lactating mother should protect herself from anger and grief. She should not exercise excessively or eat foods that are too dry. She should include plenty of ghee and fat in her diet. Coconut is also a good food supplement for lactating mothers.
In ayurvedic panchakarma therapy, Asthapana Basti is a procedure that is done to purify the vitiated humours that are responsible for decreased quantity of breast milk.
Another interesting fact is that jasmine flowers decreases the quantity of breast milk and should not be worn by lactating mothers. Jasmine has this property of drying up the milk and lactating mothers should stay far away from jasmine flowers.
--- The writer is retired Additional Chief Secretary, Government of Tamil Nadu. She can be reached at Sheelarani.arogyamantra@gmail. com. Earlier articles can be accessed at http://arogyamantra.blogspot.com/