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Is Postpartum Herbal Medicine Safe While Breastfeeding? A Wise Choice for Mother and Baby

Every mother who has just held her baby wants to make an effective choice for her little one. Breastfeeding, in particular, is a precious time to directly convey a mother's love and nutrition to her baby. However, when considering herbal medicine for postpartum recovery, many mothers hesitate, worrying, 'Could it be harmful to the baby? Will the milk supply decrease?' Dalimchae Clinic deeply empathizes with the desire for both the mother's rapid recovery and the baby's healthy growth.

💡 Key Answer "Is postpartum herbal medicine safe while breastfeeding?" Three most common concerns: ① Could it harm the baby? / ② Will the milk supply decrease? / ③ What kind of herbal medicine should I take? Dalimchae Clinic carefully diagnoses individual constitutions and health statuses to provide health recovery that benefits both mother and baby and supports successful breastfeeding.

One of the biggest concerns for mothers considering postpartum herbal medicine is whether the medicine's ingredients might be passed to the baby through breast milk and cause any adverse effects. In Korean medicine, we have long prescribed herbal medicine while prioritizing the health of both mother and baby. Especially during the breastfeeding period, we strictly exclude ingredients that could affect the baby's health and focus the prescription on supporting the mother's recovery and milk secretion.

Postpartum herbal medicine focuses on replenishing the mother's Gi and blood weakened by childbirth, aiding uterine recovery, preventing postpartum wind (joint pain), and facilitating smooth breastfeeding. What's most important in this process is accurately diagnosing individual constitutions and health conditions and providing a tailored prescription considering the breastfeeding period. Beyond the concept of simply taking a restorative tonic, if taken safely according to a Korean medicine doctor's professional diagnosis and prescription, it can benefit both mother and baby.

Studies on the safety and efficacy of taking herbal medicine during breastfeeding are continuously being conducted, and their importance is becoming increasingly highlighted.

In 2023, a study by Anna Kim's research team published in the journal BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies, titled 'Safety of Postpartum Herbal Medicine in Korean Medicine Hospitals and Postpartum Care Centers: A Registry Study Protocol (SAFEHERE-PC)', shows efforts to address the lack of systematic information on adverse reactions after taking postpartum herbal medicine in Korea. This protocol aims to investigate the incidence of adverse reactions and identify which types of herbal medicine are associated with specific adverse reactions. This is a significant attempt to systematically build safety data for postpartum herbal medicine. According to the research protocol, in a previous survey, 78.68% of mothers said they would be willing to receive Korean medicine treatment again in future pregnancies, and 86.88% showed high satisfaction with herbal medicine treatment, providing a glimpse into the positive effects and necessity perceived by mothers. Based on these research trends, Dalimchae Clinic strives to constantly provide safe prescriptions and meticulous medical care so that mothers can receive treatment with peace of mind.

Additionally, in 2018, a multi-center randomized controlled study by Cui-li Sun's research team published in the journal Medicine (Baltimore) evaluated the efficacy of a specific herbal prescription, Zengru Gao, for promoting breastfeeding in 588 mothers in China. The results showed that the group taking Zengru Gao had a significantly higher rate of exclusive/partial breastfeeding on the 7th day postpartum compared to the control group (71.48%/20.70% vs. 58.67%/30.26%, p<0.0027). The researchers concluded that the herbal medicine had a positive effect on increasing the success rate of early postpartum breastfeeding. These data suggest that a Korean medicine approach can contribute to resolving difficulties experienced during the breastfeeding process and helping mothers succeed in breastfeeding.

At Dalimchae Clinic Songdo, we value these Korean medicine efforts to help with mother's recovery and breastfeeding, and when prescribing Songdo postpartum herbal medicine, we provide the safest and most effective Korean medicine treatment by meticulously analyzing each mother's condition.

Postpartum care is a process of constitutional improvement that goes beyond simply treating painful areas to recover from overall physical changes caused by childbirth and lay the foundation for future health. Pregnancy and childbirth bring enormous changes and burdens to a woman's body. From uterine contraction and lochia discharge, decreased vitality, weakened joints and ligaments, to energy consumption from breastfeeding—everything can drop a mother's physical strength and immunity to the bottom.

At Dalimchae Clinic, we aim for this postpartum period to be a time to "create a body where symptoms don't turn on again, rather than just turning off symptoms." We discharge stagnant blood (Eohyeol) and waste products remaining in the mother's body and replenish the deficient Gi and blood to regain systemic balance. Especially for breastfeeding mothers, we prioritize prescriptions that can facilitate milk secretion and improve the quality of breast milk while also taking care of the mother's health. This is a process of being reborn with a more healthy and vital body, going beyond simply returning to the pre-pregnancy body. Taking herbal medicine suited to one's constitution strengthens the body's power to recover on its own, prevents aftereffects such as postpartum wind or postpartum depression, and positively affects the baby's healthy growth.

If you are considering postpartum herbal medicine while breastfeeding, check your current status through the checklist below.

[Postpartum Recovery and Breastfeeding Health Checklist]

• After childbirth, swelling doesn't go down well, and the body feels heavy.
• Fatigue is severe, making you want to lie down all day, and you don't feel refreshed after sleep.
• Every joint feels tingly and painful, especially wrists, knees, and the back.
• Milk supply doesn't feel sufficient, or breast pain is frequent due to mastitis, etc.
• Digestion is poor, the stomach feels bloated, and appetite is low.
• Lochia discharge is delayed or irregular.
• Emotional swings are severe, such as getting irritated at trivial things or feeling depressed.
• Sweating is excessive, and dizziness or headaches occur frequently.
• Skin has become dry and rough, and hair loss has worsened.

Evaluation Criteria:

• 3 or more items apply: Postpartum recovery is slow, and health management during the breastfeeding period is necessary. Consider a complex Korean medicine treatment after a precise diagnosis at Dalimchae Clinic Songdo.
• 5 or more items apply: It is highly likely that your body's overall balance is currently broken. An immediate visit for professional diagnosis and customized treatment is recommended.

Q. When is the best time to start taking postpartum herbal medicine?

A. Generally, it is good to start taking full-scale postpartum restorative medicine from the 2nd to 3rd week after childbirth, when lochia discharge is wrapping up. However, the optimal timing can vary depending on individual recovery status and constitution, so it's most important to decide after consulting with a Korean medicine doctor.

Q. I'm worried that taking herbal medicine while breastfeeding might reduce the milk supply. A. Dalimchae Clinic's postpartum herbal medicine is prescribed to help promote milk secretion and improve the quality of breast milk. We strictly exclude ingredients harmful to the baby's health and mainly use ingredients that support the mother's recovery without affecting the milk supply.

Q. How is postpartum care at Dalimchae Clinic different from conventional medicine? A. Dalimchae Clinic Songdo focuses on fundamentally recovering the mother's body weakened after childbirth. Through overall constitutional improvement of the mother—such as removing stagnant blood, replenishing Gi and blood, uterine recovery, and strengthening immunity—we lay the foundation for preventing postpartum wind and healthy parenting, which is a unique strength of Korean medicine different from conventional medicine.

Q. Are there any special precautions while taking postpartum herbal medicine? A. While taking herbal medicine, it is important to reduce intake of greasy, spicy, salty, or irritating foods, instant foods, and caffeine, and to get enough rest and sleep. Also, you must follow the doctor's instructions for the prescribed dosage and method.

Childbirth is a time when a mother's body needs a long period of recovery. Postpartum herbal medicine can be a wise choice to help the mother's body find its own balance and develop recovery power, beyond simply treating a disease. Don't be anxious or hesitate about postpartum herbal medicine while breastfeeding anymore. You no longer have to ignore the signals your body has been sending for a long time. If approached in the right direction, the body reacts faster than you think. Bring the symptoms you are experiencing exactly as they are. Dalimchae Clinic will find the cause together with you.

Where life blooms. Herbal medicine is, after all, Dalimchae Clinic. Check your symptoms first through Dalimchae Clinic's website AI consultation!

Medical Supervision | KMD Oh Hyun-min, Dalimchae Clinic Songdo Branch (Postpartum Management Column)

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