More milk with blessed thistle.

Newsgroups: alt.folklore.herbs
Subject: Blessed Thistle--when to start?
From: oatstraw.twain.oit.umass.edu (ROBIN F HOWARD)
Date: 9 May 1995 16:13:36 GMT

I know that blessed thistle is the prime herb to increase and enrich a lactating mother's milk supply, but when is the best time to start? Before the baby is born? Three months before? A week before? Or is it an "as needed" quick-response herb? Suppose I could look this up in my books, but this is much more fun (and I don't think I've seen anything about the timing of it, anyway).

Robin
& dumpling
due 7-17-95

From: karyn.siegel-maier.kotl.uu.ids.net

>I know that blessed thistle is the prime herb to increase and enrich a lactating mother's milk supply, but when is the best time to start?

Hello Robin....hello dumpling!

Blessed thistle contains a bitter alkaloid called cnicin which stimulates the mammary glands to produce more milk. The milk is also of better nutritional quality since mom receives the additional benefit of high calcium & iron found in blessed thistle. However, the taste leaves something to be desired....

Your body will respond to chemical changes in the brain immediately after the baby is born. Let nature take its course the first day or two. Then begin a regimen of 1 cup warm thistle tea about 30 minutes before you expect to nurse. Unfortunately, the capsules are not as effective for some reason. It's believed the active agent is released by the heat of an infusion.

Good luck!