09-09-2012, 18:00
A little confused about the galactogogues? Please explain
October 28 2008 at 12:04 AM justpeachy12 (Login justpeachy12)
SENIOR MEMBER
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Hi everyone. I am still a bit confused about the herbs such as fenugreek, fennel, goats rue, etc. that are marketed towards breastfeeding women. I want to use these but am concerned about starting lactation. I might be confused about this so can someone please break it down for me? By using these herbs, are your breasts becoming bigger because they are filling with milk, or are the herbs just expanding breast tissue? If it is milk, is this a good idea? I hope that someone can clear this up for me so I can be more comfortable with the idea of taking these herbs, since they seem to be most effective for nbe.
Author Reply
Dani
(Login Stirl) Re: A little confused about the galactogogues? Please explain October 28 2008, 1:25 AM
Hi there, I started fenugreek after reading previous explanations...from what I understand galactagogues help your body store fat in your breasts when you aren't lactating.
I have breast fed 3 children in the past and know what lactation feels like and have had no signs of that whatsoever. I am sure someone else can give you a better explanation
waxingmoon
(Login waxingmoon)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: A little confused about the galactogogues? Please explain October 28 2008, 2:19 PM
Hi Justpeachy,
Galactogogues are different from other phytoestrogens. Fenugreek and Goat's rue are not actually considered phytoestrogens, but rather steroidal saponins. This mouthful of words means they don't provide estrogen directly but are a precursor to hormones in the body. They both create an increase in prolactin, which stimulates breast development.
Fennel is a phytoestrogen, but is a rather low dose kind. It has been used as a galactogogue, so it might have other chemical properties than just the estrogen component.
Both Fenugreek and Goat's rue have another effect, which is to lower blood sugar by blocking the absorption of carbohydrates from the intestine. This must be considered because some people are rather sensitive to this and must watch for low blood sugar symptoms (headaches, lightheadedness, etc).
As far as the milk concern - don't worry. Unless you have just stopped breast feeding you will not begin to create milk. With the galactogogues your breasts will increase in fat and other breast tissue, but the enlargement is not milk. It takes a lot of nipple stimulation to create the kind of change in the body that would cause milk production in a woman (or very interestingly a man) who had not given birth (okay... that looks like I think it is interesting that a man would not give birth, but hopefully we all know what I am talking about...).... Where was I? Oh, yeah - the milk thing... don't worry...
I hope this has been some help.
Best wishes,
waxingmoon
justpeachy12
(Login justpeachy12)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: A little confused about the galactogogues? Please explain October 28 2008, 3:22 PM
waxingmoon, thank you so much for your wisdom. That clears things up for me.
justpeachy12
(Login justpeachy12)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: A little confused about the galactogogues? Please explain October 28 2008, 3:27 PM
so since fenugreek doesn't provide estrogen directly to the body and mainly increases prolactin, it doesn't increase estrogen levels?
justpeachy12
(Login justpeachy12)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: A little confused about the galactogogues? Please explain October 28 2008, 3:28 PM
thank you as well dani
October 28 2008 at 12:04 AM justpeachy12 (Login justpeachy12)
SENIOR MEMBER
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hi everyone. I am still a bit confused about the herbs such as fenugreek, fennel, goats rue, etc. that are marketed towards breastfeeding women. I want to use these but am concerned about starting lactation. I might be confused about this so can someone please break it down for me? By using these herbs, are your breasts becoming bigger because they are filling with milk, or are the herbs just expanding breast tissue? If it is milk, is this a good idea? I hope that someone can clear this up for me so I can be more comfortable with the idea of taking these herbs, since they seem to be most effective for nbe.
Author Reply
Dani
(Login Stirl) Re: A little confused about the galactogogues? Please explain October 28 2008, 1:25 AM
Hi there, I started fenugreek after reading previous explanations...from what I understand galactagogues help your body store fat in your breasts when you aren't lactating.
I have breast fed 3 children in the past and know what lactation feels like and have had no signs of that whatsoever. I am sure someone else can give you a better explanation
waxingmoon
(Login waxingmoon)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: A little confused about the galactogogues? Please explain October 28 2008, 2:19 PM
Hi Justpeachy,
Galactogogues are different from other phytoestrogens. Fenugreek and Goat's rue are not actually considered phytoestrogens, but rather steroidal saponins. This mouthful of words means they don't provide estrogen directly but are a precursor to hormones in the body. They both create an increase in prolactin, which stimulates breast development.
Fennel is a phytoestrogen, but is a rather low dose kind. It has been used as a galactogogue, so it might have other chemical properties than just the estrogen component.
Both Fenugreek and Goat's rue have another effect, which is to lower blood sugar by blocking the absorption of carbohydrates from the intestine. This must be considered because some people are rather sensitive to this and must watch for low blood sugar symptoms (headaches, lightheadedness, etc).
As far as the milk concern - don't worry. Unless you have just stopped breast feeding you will not begin to create milk. With the galactogogues your breasts will increase in fat and other breast tissue, but the enlargement is not milk. It takes a lot of nipple stimulation to create the kind of change in the body that would cause milk production in a woman (or very interestingly a man) who had not given birth (okay... that looks like I think it is interesting that a man would not give birth, but hopefully we all know what I am talking about...).... Where was I? Oh, yeah - the milk thing... don't worry...
I hope this has been some help.
Best wishes,
waxingmoon
justpeachy12
(Login justpeachy12)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: A little confused about the galactogogues? Please explain October 28 2008, 3:22 PM
waxingmoon, thank you so much for your wisdom. That clears things up for me.
justpeachy12
(Login justpeachy12)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: A little confused about the galactogogues? Please explain October 28 2008, 3:27 PM
so since fenugreek doesn't provide estrogen directly to the body and mainly increases prolactin, it doesn't increase estrogen levels?
justpeachy12
(Login justpeachy12)
SENIOR MEMBER Re: A little confused about the galactogogues? Please explain October 28 2008, 3:28 PM
thank you as well dani