Legendairy Milk has a variety of supplements for supporting each stage of lactation. Their organic herb blends are designed to boost milk production, enhance the quality of your milk, encourage milk flow and contribute to you and your baby’s overall health.
We all react differently to herbs and what works wonders for one individual may not have the same effect on another, so finding the products that work best for you may take a little experimenting. Legendairy Milk’s Starter Bundle is popular because it allows you to try all 3 products at a reduced price. It is recommended to try one product at a time for at least 7-10 days to determine what works best for you.
Herbs each have their own unique set of properties and actions in the body. For example, some herbs focus more on boosting vitamins and minerals in your body while others are digestive herbs that help calm the digestive system and improve gut function. Our gut health influences other aspects of our health including the bacteria in your breastmilk that you pass on to your baby, shaping your baby’s gut and immune system.
Liquid Gold
Herbs: Goat’s Rue, Milk Thistle, Shatavari, Caraway
The herbs in Liquid Gold can be helpful to people who are looking for a product to increase their milk production, milk flow, and increase milk storage capacity.
Goat’s Rue contains a compound called genistein which is shown to increase breast tissue and milk storage capacity. People who did not experience growth of their breasts during pregnancy as well as those who had a rocky start and their milk storage decreased, reducing supply, can benefit from Goat’s Rue. It is often one herb that is part of the protocol for people who are re-lactating, preparing to nurse their adopted baby, or have a history of low milk supply.(1)
Milk Thistle detoxifies the liver which is one of our body’s natural filters. The liver produces and regulates many of the hormones that are involved with milk production. Keeping estrogen in check by a healthy liver, allows prolactin to be made and released which is one of the major hormones involved in signaling milk to be made.
Shatavari is known as the “Queen of Herbs” and is used by women for all stages of their reproductive life. It helps balance hormones both increasing and decreasing levels depending on the individual. In the postpartum period, Shatavari can help reduce the retention of fluids often given during birth and contribute to engorgement. Shatavari increases prolactin, increasing milk production and better weight gain in babies.(2)
Pump Princess
Herbs: Black Cumin Seed, Dill, Caraway
The blend of herbs in Pump Princess is not for only people who are pumping their milk. It is one of Legendairy’s most popular products for nursing parents as well.
Dill is a digestive herb. It helps calm the digestive system of both mom and baby. For babies, dill can reduce symptoms of colic, gassiness, and episodes of crying. Dill acts as a diuretic that can eliminate excess retained fluids after delivery.
Black Cumin seed is a powerful hormone-balancing herb used to regulate thyroid hormones, raising T3 and T4 while lowering TSH.(6) People who have experienced issues with low supply previously have a history of PCOS, insulin resistance and hypothyroid may find Black Cumin seed helpful when they are trying to increase their milk supply.
Milkapalooza
Herbs: Moringa, Nettle, Shatavari, Caraway
Known as “the miracle tree”, Moringa is a vitamin and mineral powerhouse. Its B vitamins help boost energy and mood. Vitamin A is a fat-soluble vitamin that contributes to eye health and immune function. Its high vitamin C content aids iron absorption which helps with postpartum recovery.(7)
Moringa leaves are nitrate-rich and convert to nitrites producing nitric oxide in the body necessary for our immune system and nervous system. One study showed colostrum to have high levels of nitrite. The importance of this is that the baby's gut is not yet colonized with the bacteria that converts nitrate to nitrite so colostrum’s high nitrite content is protective for the infant.(8)
Nettles contain a lot of calcium compared to other herbs. Along with iron and vitamin C in nettles, it can help with anemia, support bone health, and reduce the dip some people experience in their milk supply when their period returns.(9)
What about Fenugreek?
Many women seek out herbal supplements due to their low milk supply. 1 in 20 women is affected by postpartum thyroiditis which can happen even if you did not have a thyroid imbalance before getting pregnant.(10) Fenugreek should not be taken if you have thyroid dysfunction. Fenugreek has been shown to disrupt the balance of thyroid hormones. In a study with mice and rats, the use of fenugreek was found to lower T3 which is a problem for people who are experiencing hypothyroidism.(11)
Each person's sensitivity to fenugreek is different largely because we each have our own unique body chemistry and health histories. Common side effects seen in both moms and babies are stomach upset, gas, diarrhea, and skin reactions. Some babies have green, watery stools and increased fussiness.
There are plenty of other herbs that support lactation and can increase milk supply making it unnecessary to take the risk of using Fenugreek.
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Footnotes:
- https://www.nature.com/articles/ejcn201686
- https://www.researchgate.net/publication/259450180_A_Double-Blind_Randomized_Clinical_Trial_for_Evaluation_of_Galactogogue_Activity_of_Asparagus_racemosus_Willd
- https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022030204732087
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4354059/
- https://smujo.id/nb/article/download/3853/3184
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5767798/
- https://www.healwithfood.org/nutrition-facts/moringa-vs-spinach-benefits.php
- https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2010/10/101027145849.htm
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK501777/
- https://www.bmj.com/content/372/bmj.n495
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/10527654/