Can a nursing mom drink motherwort?

Motherwort plant is one of the most popular herbal remedies that are successfully used for various neurological or cardiological disorders. This herb is in demand, thanks to its complex therapeutic and sedative abilities. Infusions and tinctures based on motherwort have a number of positive effects and are actively used to treat heart and nervous diseases. For example, motherwort perfectly relieves tension and calms with psycho-emotional stress, stress, helps to eliminate insomnia, improves well-being in hypertension and vegeto-vascular dystonia. However, like any therapeutic drug, it has its contraindications for use. Does breastfeeding refer to such contraindications? Can a nursing mother drink motherwort? [1]

General information about motherwort

In order to understand whether it is possible for a nursing mom to drink motherwort, you should first find out what kind of plant it is. It is a perennial herb, which is often called "heart", or "dog nettle". The plant contains a number of flavonoids, as well as essential oils, saponins, tannins, tannins, vitamin C and other bioactive components. Rich composition allows you to successfully use motherwort with excessive nervous excitability, insomnia, neurasthenia and other similar disorders. [2]

In many countries - for example, in the United States - motherwort is successfully used as an alternative to valerian root. Moreover, some of the effects of motherwort are even superior to those of valerian.

The plant is used to calm the heart in tachycardia, vascular pathologies, ischemic heart disease, high blood pressure, nervous weakness, convulsions, hysteria. Crushed grass is added to sedative mixtures, prepare tinctures on alcohol, make extracts and infusions. It is noteworthy that the therapeutic effect has not only leaves of motherwort, but also its stem and root.

Women successfully use motherwort for inflammation of the bladder, painful menstrual cycle, cough. For men, the plant helps to stop inflammatory processes in the prostate gland.

The effectiveness of motherwort leaves no doubt. However, most breastfeeding moms know that motherwort, as well as other medicinal and herbal preparations, should not be taken without a doctor's prescription. [3]

What do doctors say about taking motherwort by a nursing mom?

The degree of undesirable effect of a particular phytopreparation on the baby's body can be determined by such factors:

• the toxicity of the plant;
• the amount of medications entering a child's body;
• peculiarity of influence of these substances on organs and their functions;
• duration of excretion of substances from a child's body;
• duration of taking a phytopreparation by a nursing mom and its dosage;
• individual sensitivity of both the nursing mother and child to the composition of the phytopreparation;
• the possibility of allergic processes.

Motherwort can not be attributed to toxic plants that have a negative effect on the organs and tissues of the child. However, among the contraindications to treatment with drugs based on this plant is the period of breastfeeding. Therefore, it is not recommended to drink motherwort to a nursing mother without prior consultation with a doctor.

If a nursing mother combines breastfeeding with any treatment, the doctor can choose the optimal scheme of alternating the intake of phytopreparation or other drugs and feedings. That is, it is necessary to drink motherwort so that the time of feeding does not coincide with the period of the maximum level of the drug in the blood.

Using herbal remedies, a nursing mom should understand that side effects can occur not only to her, but also to the baby.

If the likelihood of adverse effects of motherwort on the child's body is high, then drink it to a nursing mother should not, or it is necessary to suspend breastfeeding and for a certain period of time to decant milk to support lactation. Upon completion of treatment, breastfeeding is resumed. [4]

Can a nursing mom use motherwort externally?

External use of motherwort is an excellent alternative, which is often as effective as its internal use. Based on the infusion of the plant you can make compresses and wraps, foot baths and baths: they can also successfully relieve tension and fatigue, normalize sleep, relax and soothe.

Baths with motherwort are good to relieve spasms, relax muscles, stabilize the nervous system. At the same time, you can add infusions of other herbs - for example, St. John's wort, chamomile, sage, thyme. It is important to choose the herb whose odor will not repel, but on the contrary - to attract and soothe.

Contraindication for a bath with motherwort is only one: an allergic reaction to the plant. Therefore, before taking a useful procedure, it is desirable to drop a prepared decoction or infusion on the inside of the elbow bend. If within half an hour there are no changes in the skin, then you can add the remedy to the bath.

For external use, nursing moms can prepare motherwort as follows:

• 3 tablespoons of dried motherwort steamed in 1 liter of boiling water, insist about 3 hours, filter and pour into the bath;
• 3 tablespoons of dried motherwort in 1 liter of water and boil on a water bath for 15 minutes, filter and pour into the bath.

If the external use of the plant for any reason is impossible, the question of whether a nursing mother can drink motherwort, you should ask your doctor. Without the doctor's approval, it is not recommended to take a phytopreparation.