Too much milk: Sage
and other herbs for decreasing milk supply.
 Sage
This is best used only if you are in the process of
weaning, though
it may also be used in extreme cases of
oversupply when
the usual measures are not effective. Be careful with this
if you are not in the weaning process! Don't overdo it
once you're seeing some results.
To use dried sage (Salvia officinalis) for reducing milk supply,
take 1/4 teaspoon of sage 3x per day for 1 - 3 days. You
can mix the sage in vegetable juice (for example, V-8), but it
won't mix well into other juices. You can also mix it into
other foods. If you don't like the taste of sage, try
putting it into a tiny piece of sandwich and swallowing it whole
- peanut butter or something else a bit sticky seems to work
best for holding the sage in place. Tear off the corner of
the sandwich containing the sage (it should be a very small
section) and swallow it without chewing (that's why you need a
very small section).
To use sage tea for decreasing milk supply, infuse 1 tablespoon
of dried sage in 1 cup of boiling water (or 20g dried sage in 50
ml boiling water). Steep for 5 - 15 minutes. Drink 1
cup, 2 - 6 times per day.
You can use a tincture of sage instead: 30 - 60 drops of
tincture, 3 - 6 times a day.
Sage warning: Sage is
known to decrease milk supply. Not recommended for nursing
moms or for internal use during pregnancy. Salvia
officinalis L. (Dalmatian sage) and Salvia lavandulaefolia Vahl
(Spanish sage) are the most common species. According to
Hale, sage is relatively nontoxic and nonirritating. Due
to drying properties and pediatric hypersensitivity to
anticholinergics, sage should be used with some caution in
breastfeeding mothers. Observe baby for dry mouth,
stomatitis, cheilitis. Do not use sage if you have
epilepsy - sage contains thujone, which can trigger seizures.
 Cabbage
Green cabbage leaves
can also be used topically on the breast to reduce milk supply.
Again, be careful with this if you are not in the weaning
process.
 Jasmine
Another effective treatment is to apply fresh, crushed jasmine
flowers (Jasminum sambac) to the breasts to decrease milk flow.
Other herbs
Other herbs that can decrease milk supply: Peppermint (Mentha
piperita), Spearmint, Parsley (Petroselinum crispum), Chickweed,
Black Walnut, stinging nettles (not nettle - that increases milk
supply), Yarrow, Herb Robert (Geranium robertianum), Lemon Balm,
Oregano, Periwinkle Herb (Vinca minor), Sorrel (Rumex acetosa).
Sage, peppermint, spearmint, lemon balm, oregano, and cabbage
leaves can all be incorporated into a pressed oil (cold pressed
or hot) to make massage oils for milk suppression.
Peppermint essential oil has been used traditionally for
decreasing milk supply. Peppermint tea is a very weak form of
peppermint and only large amounts (quarts) would be expected to
decrease milk supply. Some women have successfully used
the strong peppermint candies (for example, Altoids, Curiously
Strong Peppermints) for decreasing milk supply (a few per day
aren't likely to affect supply, though).
Medications that may cause a decrease in milk
supply:
Birth control pills
are well known for decreasing milk supply, particularly the ones
that contain estrogen.
Sudafed (a
decongestant) can also decrease milk supply, particularly with
regular use.
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