Galactogogues

The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM), an organization by and for physicians about breastfeeding, develops and publishes protocols about handling many aspects of breastfeeding, in order to achieve a consequent and evidence based approach to breastfeeding care. These protocols are regularly updated. The latest newly edited protocol is about galactogoges, substances that enhance milk production. This new edition is remarkable and ABM blogger Marinelli explains is so different in comparison to the former version. As the revision group studied the research available it appeared that evidence for galactogoges was getting thinner and that health care workers who advise or prescribe them should be more careful and reconsider. Most striking is that the recommendations for daily practice start with the advice to first optimalise breastfeeding techniques and management (with a thorough list of how-to’s) and to examine for other, possibly medical reasons for failing milk production or inadequate growth. If medicinal support is necessary there fails to be one specific medicine to advise, nor any specific herbal remedy. Medications used for enhancing milk production appear to be a greater risk for negative by-effects than previously thought and as far as herbal remedies are concerned, those appear to be proven safe by centuries of use, but not proven to be effective.
Kathleen Marinelli MD, IBCLC, FABM: New Galactogogue Protocol–New Attitude?? http://bfmed.wordpress.com/2011/02/22/new-galactogogue-protocol-new-attitude/
The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine Protocol Committee: ABM Clinical Protocol #9: Use of Galactogogues in Initiating
or Augmenting the Rate of Maternal Milk Secretion. BREASTFEEDING MEDICINE. 2011, 6(1) http://www.bfmed.org/Media/Files/Protocols/Protocol%209%20-%20English%201st%20Rev.%20Jan%202011.pdf