TEMPERING INSUFFICIENT BREAST MILK (from Ayurveda, Greek & Chinese Medicine)

Generally, Kapha individuals most frequently report problems with milk supply, especially overweight or diabetic mothers. This may be due to Kapha's naturally lower metabolism, which causes cold and blood stagnation in the exterior (skin).

Breast milk is produced through modified sweat glands. Generally, foods that increase sweating (diaphoretics, and sour foods) increase milk production. Additional, herbs that improve circulation may help, such as blood thinners.

Hormones for Breast Milk Production

Prolactin is the main hormone that increases breast milk production. Herbs that increase breastmilk (Galactagogues) often stimulate prolactin. See below for examples. These can be brewed and taken in warm teas, as warm water encourages hydration and relaxation.

Food, herbs and supplements that encourage release of oxytocin help with the let-down reflex. The mother should be relaxed to encourage the let down of milk. Relaxation while breastfeeding also increases prolactin levels.

High blood sugar levels depress breast milk. Kapha individuals should reduce hyperglycemia with bitter galactogogues such as fenugreek.

Habits that Increase Breastmilk supply

Always nurse the baby on both sides in each feeding. After the baby drains the bulk of breast milk, squeeze the breast to release any remaining breastmilk. This will encourage the release of prolactin to maximize production.

Continue nursing until the baby unlatches as hindmilk contains higher fat concentrations. If your baby is underweight this is often the only solution needed.

Always nurse the baby before giving the baby food.

Nursing on demand is the best way to maintain supply. Nursing frequently releases the hormones that increase breast milk production.

Do not go more than four hours at night without nursing, as prolactin levels are highest at night.

Individuals with insufficient breast milk should avoid dopaminergic herbs that suppress prolactin, including mint, lemon balm, black cohosh, and chastetree berry.

For Vata individuals, ojas building foods, nourishing tonics & sweet taste are important for increasing quantity of breast milk.

Answer some questions about how foods make you feel. Then you'll receive a full food report customized for you.
COMPUTE MY DIET FOR INSUFFICIENT BREAST MILK
OR, GET A GENERAL DIET FOR BALANCING INSUFFICIENT BREAST MILK

Augment your diet with these specially chosen ingredients below which may be useful for 'Insufficient Breast Milk'. Individual results vary depending the cause of your imbalance and by constitution. Please research the ingredients below to find which are most helpful for you, and check with your doctor before making any changes to your health and wellness routine.

These ingredients are contraindicated / may aggravate 'Insufficient Breast Milk'.

Please check with your medical doctor before making any changes to your health & wellness routine, and for the proper use of these products.

These supplements are contraindicated / may aggravate 'Insufficient Breast Milk'.

Tempering the Reproductive health - Tips & Remedies

DISCLAIMER: The pathogenesis of each person's condition is unique, and so the diet must be fit to the individual and the unique root causes of the condition in your body. The information on this page is for educational purposes only and should not be used to treat a medical condition. It is not a substitute for medical care. Please check with your doctor before making any changes to your health and wellness routine.

Everything you eat has an effect on your body, which Personalized Medicine Systems (Ayurveda, Greek, Chinese Medicine) categorize in a simple and easy way, using biocharacteristics. Biocharacteristics are vital qualities (like cold and hot) that describe the metabolic effect a food or herb has on your body. Cooling foods like cucumber, decrease metabolism. Heating foods like chili pepper, stimulate your body and increase metabolism. For 'Insufficient Breast Milk', consider foods with the following biocharacteristics. Individual results will vary, based on your body type and the root cause of your imbalance.

Mind, Stress & Sleep:

Nerve Relaxant Grounding

NERVE-RELAXANT-GROUNDING

Encourages feelings of stability and heaviness. Makes you feel settled, mentally relaxed. Mildly sedates the nervous system to ease stress. Can bring a spacey or anxious person back to earth. Reduces agitation, irritation, stress and racing thoughts.

SEE ALL 'NERVE-RELAXANT-GROUNDING' FOODS / HERBS

Skin Care & Beauty:

Diaphoretic

DIAPHORETIC

An herb that induces sweating, often by dilating blood vessels close to the skin.

SEE ALL 'DIAPHORETIC' FOODS / HERBS

Reproductive Health:

Galactagogue

GALACTAGOGUE

Increases production of breast milk, often by raising prolactin and diaphoresis.

SEE ALL 'GALACTAGOGUE' FOODS / HERBS

,

Oxytocic

OXYTOCIC

Oxytocin stimulates uterine contractions, and prepares the uterus for labor. It has a vasoconstricting effect. Emotionally, it is tribal.

SEE ALL 'OXYTOCIC' FOODS / HERBS

Other:

Reproductive Health

Joyful Belly is a recognized college of biocharacteristics medicine.

HOW TO ADDRESS ISSUES IN STAGE OF DISEASE #2

INSUFFICIENT BREAST MILK IS IN STAGE OF DISEASE #2 - AFFECTING BLOOD & EMOTIONS

Affecting Blood: Initially, imbalances are localized, often in the digestive tract. As an imbalance grows, it starts to affect your body systemically, via the blood. If you have symptoms in this category it means that your imbalances are starting to spread, have entered the bloodstream, and are now systemic. Pay particular attention to the biocharacteristics, tastes, and doshas out of balance systemically, so you know how to strengthen your body as a whole, and reduce physical stress on your organs. At this stage of imbalance you will begin to experience generalized discomfort, imbalanced emotions, and may develop sensitivities to temperature. It may take several weeks of strict adherence to a specific remedial diet to clear blood level imbalances. Blood cleansing herbs may reduce symptoms. A several day cleanse may shorten the recovery time. (See all disease stages on JB)

GET MY FREE AYURVEDA BODY MAP According to Personalized Medicine Systems (Ayurveda, Greek, Chinese medicine), aggravation of any of these body types and biocharacteristics may lead to 'Insufficient Breast Milk'. Reduce the foods and lifestyle habits that aggravate these qualities (when dystempered). Click on the biocharacteristic to learn what foods and lifestyle habits should be reduced.

Are you prone to a problem with 'Insufficient Breast Milk'? Find your imbalances and create a diet for your Reproductive System by taking the free reproductive health quiz:

TAKE THE REPRODUCTIVE HEALTH QUIZ

The following symptoms & habits may be related to 'Insufficient Breast Milk'. See your quiz results for a computerized assessment of your body type. Please click on the symptoms below to learn more about them. On average the biocharacteristics of people reporting Insufficient Breast Milk were more aggravated than 54% of other symptoms. From the 1,651 people who reported Insufficient Breast Milk average deviation in biocharacteristic levels were the following:

Risk Factors of Insufficient Breast Milk

Complications of Those Reporting Insufficient Breast Milk

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