An Overview of Ginseng and Breastfeeding
It is not known whether
ginseng supplements are safe for use in breastfeeding women. As is the case with most herbal supplements (and many medications), very little information is available about the use of ginseng in breastfeeding women.
This article refers to
Panax ginseng (also known as Asian ginseng, Chinese ginseng, and Korean ginseng). This type of ginseng should not be confused with American ginseng or Siberian ginseng, which are entirely different herbs.
Can I Take Ginseng While Breastfeeding?
It is not known whether ginseng passes through breast milk, and it is not known whether ginseng is safe for breastfeeding women. Theoretically, ginseng could decrease the quantity and quality of breast milk, since it may have estrogen-like effects. Most sources recommend that breastfeeding women should not take ginseng, until more information is available.
Although it is a "natural" product, this does not necessarily mean that ginseng is safe for use while breastfeeding. Many women try to avoid medications while breastfeeding and turn to herbal remedies as an alternative, assuming that "natural" automatically means "safe." However, natural products can be quite toxic. For instance, many poisons and toxins are natural products. It just does not make sense to use an herbal supplement for which there is no information available about safety while breastfeeding.
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