Is it safe to eat ginseng if your nursing a baby?

While nursing is it safe to have ginseng in your diet?|||Is Ginseng Safe for Nursing Mothers?



By Dee Negron



Many pregnant and nursing moms want to stay as far away from synthetic medications as possible. As a result, they look into using herbs and other natural remedies as an alternative. Herbs can be a wonderful alternative and many are very helpful. The problem arises when the assumption is made that just because herbs are natural, they are 100% safe. This simply isn't true. Herbs can be very powerful, some are potentially dangerous, and all should be taken while under the supervision of your doctor or a certified herbalist.

One of the herbs nursing women ask about most frequently is ginseng. Many new mothers find themselves stressed out and fatigued. They start to look for anything that will help them get through the next harried day and sleepless night. Ginseng seems to be the answer. However, most forms of ginseng are unsafe for nursing mothers.



There are two different categories of Ginseng: those that are true, or Panax ginsengs, and those that are referred to as ginsengs simply because they produce the same adaptogenic effects as true ginsengs. The true Panax ginsengs are Chinese Ginseng, Korean Ginseng, and North American Ginseng. The two other most common ginsengs are Siberian Ginseng and Indian Ginseng. Both of these have no true relation to ginseng.



Ginsenosides are one of the sets of chemical compounds in Panax ginseng. These ginsenosides make up the active ingredients in true ginsengs. Ginsenosides have quite a few effects on the body. They alter blood flow to the brain, raise blood pressure, lower blood sugar levels, and stimulate the immune system. Ginseng also contains several steroid compounds that mimic the effects of anabolic steroids. One in particular, Panaxtriol, has very similar effects to estrogen use, which is why Panax ginsengs are unsafe for prolonged use in premenopausal women and shouldn't be used at all during pregnancy.



There have also been reported pediatric cases of tachycardia and hypertension that appear to be in direct correlation with the breastfeeding mother's use of Panax ginsengs. However, as with most herbs, no official studies or research has been done to determine the extent of any effects Panax ginsengs, transferred through human milk, might have on an infant. Logic would allow, though, that because Panax ginsengs contain such strong chemical compounds, it would not be wise to expose a baby's developing system to the effects.



If a nursing mother still wants to take a Panax ginseng she should use extreme caution. Watch the baby closely. Signs of adverse side effects would be nervousness, shakiness, heightened anxiety, insomnia, skin rashes, and diarrhea. She should also inform her baby's pediatrician that she is taking Panax ginseng so that baby's heartbeat and blood pressure can be closely monitored. The mother should also be aware that Panax ginsengs could contribute to a low milk supply.



It is highly recommended, though, that if a mother feels she needs help fighting stress and fatigue she choose something other than Panax ginseng. Siberian ginseng has the same adaptogenic effects on stress levels and fatigue that any of the Panax ginsengs have. It does not, however, contain the ginsenosides or steroids that Panax ginsengs do and is safe for nursing mothers. Indian Ginseng is also an adaptogen, and though not quite as effective, is also safe for nursing mothers.



05/2001|||...as it can have a number of significant side effects, and its safety in pregnant and breastfeeding women has not been established. Also, many ginseng tinctures contain high levels of alcohol which, obviously, isn't recommended either.



Bear in mind, too, that there are several different plants, botanically, that use the common name "ginseng", including Panax (aka Asian ginseng) and Eleutherococcus (aka Siberian ginseng). Each plant has different chemical components.



For more details on the clinical uses for ginseng, safety and side effects, read this article from MedlinePlus.



In short, given the potential for significant side effects, hormonal impact and lack of proven safety, wait until the baby is weaned.|||There is so much that is unknown and up for debate in the supplement world that I think it is best to err on the side of caution. Some herbs have a stimulant or hormonal effect, and those effects can be multiplied in your tiny baby. I know that it can feel like you aren't your own person sometimes after having a baby. You're tired, but you can't even have a cold diet coke! Luckily it isn't like you have to give up a whole food group. Just a few nonessentials over a few months, and the rewards are so worth it.



The links I added have some info on supplements and nursing, also a little on OTC drugs. I hope it helps!|||if you are eating a healthy well balanced diet, do you really need ginseng? is it a spice or seasoning that you add to a recipe?? everything you ingest will end up in the milk supply, so consider that before you eat or drink anything.|||It is strongly adviced NOT to use ginseng, in pregnant women because it can cause miscarriage or malformations, and in nursing babies because it can cause intoxication, agitation, and other effects.|||maybe celiac and your thyroid maybe low after child birth. Not eating gluten grains gave me 1000X more energy. I would not take ginseng when I breast fed a baby. It may make the baby too much.