Dandelion Breastfeeding According To Chinese Medicine

What Is Dandelion And Its Nutrition Facts

Dandelion is a yellow-flowering plant, that grows in temperate regions of North America, Asia, and Europe. Botanists classify dandelions as herbs. People use dandelion leaves, stems, petals, and roots for different therapeutic purposes.

Dandelion is not a galactagogue itself. However, it can be used to clear clogged milk ducts, resolve inflammation, and treat bacterial infections in the breast area. In fact, for centuries in Chinese Medicine, it has been used to treat breastfeeding issues in nursing mothers.

On top of that, it is rich in minerals and vitamins such as calcium, potassium, iron, Zinc, Magnesium, Beta-carotene, and folate as well as vitamins A, C and K. Dandelion provides the nursing mother with plenty of nutrients, allowing better quality breast milk.

 

 

Dandelion's Benefits While Breastfeeding According To Western Medicine:

Dandelion is a good source of minerals and vitamins which provides benefits for both nursing mothers and babies.

For example, Calcium found in Dandelion aids in the development of healthy bones and teeth in both mother and child. It also helps in the production of breast milk and assists nursing moms to keep their blood pressure in check. Calcium has been demonstrated to help lower the risk of postpartum depression.

Vitamin C is essential during nursing for several reasons. First, it aids the mother's body in absorbing iron from her food. Secondly, vitamin C protects the newborn against infection. Thirdly, it promotes appropriate immune system development in babies.

Dandelion also contains Vitamin A, which is believed to reduce the risk of certain diseases such as breast cancer, measles, diarrhea, and cataracts.

In addition, dandelion acts as a natural diuretic.  It promotes urination and may prevent gut issues, stomach pain, anorexia nervosa, constipation, and urinary tract infection.

So, if you're seeking a natural solution to improve your overall health while breastfeeding, dandelion can be a fantastic choice.

 

Dandelion's Benefits While Breastfeeding According to Chinese Medicine

Although dandelion has numerous benefits for breastfeeding mothers, Western Medicine fails to address its application in postpartum or nursing issues.

In TCM, the use of dandelion while breastfeeding is much more specific. It treats the root cause of the problem rather than just fulfilling general nutritional requirements.

As most mothers know, after giving birth to a baby, they often suffer from breastfeeding issues including breast engorgement, clogged milk duct, mastitis, blisters, blebs, thrush, nipple fissures, and nipple pain.

According to TCM theory, the fundamental cause of all the above issues is Toxic-Heat (bacteria/ inflammation) combined with Dampness (milk accumulation and stagnation), in the breast area.

For example, mastitis is a painful and potentially fatal breast condition mostly caused by bacteria. This results in inflammation in the breast deep tissue, accompanied by high fever, pain, redness, inflammation, chill, irregular lactation, and pus discharge. 

 

How Dandelions Treat Inflammation and Promote Milk Flow?

• Clear Toxic-Heat

In TCM, dandelion (known as Pu Gong Ying) is classified as a cold Herb that clears Toxic Heat. In western language, the term ‘Toxin’ refers to bacteria while ‘Heat’ refers to inflammation. Basically, it can treat inflammatory or infectious symptoms such as clogged milk ducts, mastitis, or thrush. Many other herbs have similar cooling functions such as Honeysuckle flowers or Chrysanthemum flowers.

• Remove Dampness

It removes Dampness, especially from the lower abdomen. This corresponds well with the Western theory that dandelion promotes urination by acting as a diuretic. It assists the body to create more urine to eliminate excessive fluids. In fact, the dandelion has the nickname 'Piss a bed' which implies this function. 

In addition to urine, dandelion also helps to move other types of body fluids such as blood, bowel, or breast milk. Thus, it is able to promote breast milk flow.

• Works on the Liver and the Stomach Channels

The Stomach and the Liver Channels pass through breasts and nipples. Therefore, the dandelion's effect can be directed there through these Channels. It helps to remove Toxic-Heat and promote breast milk flow in the breast area.  

 

Does Dandelion Increase Milk Supply?

Dandelions can help nursing mothers in increasing their milk supply. Various postpartum issues, such as clogged milk ducts, mastitis, and thrush, reduce milk supply. Although dandelion itself is not a galactagogue, it does address these issues. As a result, the milk supply will increase. 

 

Is It Safe To Eat Or Drink Dandelion While Breastfeeding or during Pregnancy?  

According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, dandelion is a “generally recognized as safe” (GRAS) food. It can rarely trigger allergic reactions or gastrointestinal distress. It is also highly unlikely that it may harm the nursing mother and infant while breastfeeding or during pregnancy.

However, if an excessive quantity is consumed, it may be harmful. There are currently no defined dosage guidelines, as only a few studies are available in humans. However, existing information supports the following dosages for different parts of dandelions, if it is consumed on daily basis:

Fresh or dry leaves: 4–10 gram

Fresh leaf juice: 1 teaspoon (5 ml), twice a day,

Fresh root: 2–8 gram

Additionally, for a breastfeeding mother, it is always better to consult with a lactation expert if she plans to consume a large amount of dandelion on daily basis.

 

Possible Side Effects For Dandelion While Breastfeeding or Pregnant?

Dandelion is considered safe as food or tea for breastfeeding and pregnant women. However, due to its cooling nature, it might not be suitable for people whose body type is ‘cold’.

Since it works on the Stomach, excessive or frequent consumption might cause Stomach issues such as diarrhea or even gastroenteritis, especially in those with weak Stomach functions.

If you experience adverse reactions or observe changes in your body, you should stop eating or drinking them.

 

Unblock Nursing Tea, The Balanced Formula contains Dandelions:

Although Dandelion offers numerous benefits for nursing mothers, it might be too cold to use frequently, especially for people with cold body type or weak Stomach function. In this case, Unblock Nursing Tea is a better option.

First, it is much more effective than single dandelion tea as it is created specifically to treat breastfeeding issues such as breast engorgement, clogged milk duct, mastitis, blisters, blebs, thrush, nipple fissures, and nipple pain.  

Secondly, It is a more balanced formula with a mixture of cooling herbs such as Dandelion, Honeysuckle, and Chrysanthemum flowers as well as warming herbs like Ginger and Licorice. The small number of warm herbs harmonizes the cooling effects of the formula.

Thirdly, some of the tea’s cooling effects are also passed to the baby via breast milk. Thus, it can prevent or treat Toxic-Heat related problems such as baby eczema or lip thrush.

Finally, it is in tea bags, making it very easy and convenient to prepare. Simply put a tea bag in a cup of boiling water, leave it to cool a little, and have a drink. For better taste, you can also add sugar or honey as you want. Additionally, if it still feels too ‘cold,’ add an extra slice of ginger to reduce the cooling effect.

 

Prepare Dandelion Tea or Root Tea While Breastfeeding

Dandelion tea can be made from different parts of the plant such as the root, flower, leaf, and rhizome, or the whole Plant. Before preparing the tea, make sure to wash the parts to get rid of impurities.  Please be aware that pure Dandelion root tea also provides additional Liver benefits.

Instruction to prepare dandelion Root Tea

Pour 8 oz or 0.23 litter (1cup) water into the saucepan. That equals one cup. Bring it to a boil at 140 degrees Fahrenheit. Add two tablespoons of dried Dandelion Root. Allow the water to steep for at least three minutes. Then turn off the heat and allow the mixture to steep for 30 minutes. Pour the mixture into a cup. Top it with honey, one and a half spoons of honey will be plenty.

 

Prepare Dandelion For Food While Breastfeeding

As food, dandelion can be prepared in different forms such as salad, sauteed greens, dandelion fritters, or dandelion root coffee.

Take dandelion salad as an example:

The Ingredient list:

• • 1 teaspoon lemon juice
  • 2 cups (500g) arugula or dandelion greens.
  • 2 onions
  • 1 tablespoon canola oil
  • 2 hard-boiled sliced large eggs,
  • Half cup tangerine or grapefruit

The instructions:

Whisk together the oil and lemon juice in a small bowl. Combine the dandelion greens and onions in a large mixing dish. Drizzle dressing over salad and toss to coat. Arrange the eggs and grapefruit slices on top of the leaves. Top with dandelion blooms if desired.