Sage to stop lactation (video)

Mother's milk is the ideal nutrition for newborns, but there comes a time when the baby needs to be weaned. Much has been said about what you need to eat and drink to increase your milk supply, but the topic of suppressing lactation is raised much less often. There are hormonal medications that can only be used as prescribed by a doctor. Sage for stopping lactation is a milder remedy with minimal side effects.

The Mediterranean is considered to be the birthplace of sage, from there the tall herbaceous plant or shrub spread throughout the world. The ancient Greeks and Romans were treated with this herb, and during the Renaissance it was already widely used throughout Europe. In ancient reference books you can find instructions for preparing potions, ointments, rinses, decoctions and infusions.

How does sage affect lactation?

Sage is a unique plant that helps against many diseases. His middle name is “salvation.” It is most often taken in the form of oil or a decoction of leaves to stop lactation. Why? The fact is that the plant has the property of completely or partially neutralizing prolactin. This is the same hormone that appears in the female body during pregnancy and remains at a high level for several years in order to supply the newborn baby with milk. In addition, sage helps restore the female body after childbirth: the condition of the skin, hair, nails improves, and excess weight is lost. All these qualities make the plant so indispensable for young mothers

Effect on lactation

If lactation needs to be stopped not urgently, sage will be a gentle, mild and effective remedy. The process of formation of breast milk when drinking tea or sage decoction subsides slowly.

When it's time to wean your baby, learn how to take the herb, continue breastfeeding, and slow down your lactation at the same time. While the amount of milk decreases, the baby will have time to wean himself off the breast, and everything will happen painlessly for mother and baby.

The plant is also useful if there is too much milk for the baby. Take pharmaceutical or self-prepared medicine to prevent congestion and mastitis in your breasts. Sage does not affect the quality of milk, so it can be taken without fear of harming the baby.

The herb acts not only as a means of stopping lactation. The substances prevent inflammatory processes in the mammary gland, which is very important for a young mother.

Stopping breastfeeding becomes a shock not only for the baby, the woman’s body also does not immediately rebuild itself. The calming effect of the medicinal plant will help a woman survive hormonal changes.

Lactation stops without the use of hormonal and herbal medications, but this process can take many months. The hormone estrogen suppresses the action of prolactin, which is responsible for milk production. Sage has a similar effect, but it cannot completely replace estrogen. The advantage of herbal remedies over hormonal drugs is the gradual action and the absence of hormonal shocks.

Oil

Depending on your taste preferences and the desired period of cessation of lactation, sage can be consumed in different forms and in different dosages. One such option is sage essential oil.

Advantages. In liquid form, the plant has a very high concentration. The oil contains a lot of active biological substances. Therefore, the etheric state acts very quickly and is suitable for abrupt withdrawal of milk. Essential oil helps the mother avoid inflammatory processes in the breast. When breastfeeding, the baby keeps the mother in good shape, preventing the appearance of lumps and painful formations. Sage in the form of oil is also good for the health of women's breasts.
Where to buy. It is extremely difficult to make such a remedy on your own. But you can easily buy sage at any pharmacy.
How to drink. To stop lactation, sage oil should be consumed for several days, 4-5 drops 3 times a day. At the same time, drink plenty of water.

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You can also use the oil to apply compresses to your chest. For an hour, a couple of times a day, apply gauze to your chest, moistened with a few drops of the plant and regular sunflower oil. For lovers of sweets, this method is suitable: several times a day, add a couple of drops of butter to a sugar block and eat it.

Rules of conduct during the period of cessation of lactation

You can use the medicine without stopping feeding, but some rules will shorten the period of weaning the baby from the breast:

For several days, reduce the volume of liquid consumed by 2-3 times.
Try not to drink warm or hot drinks, as they stimulate lactation.
The optimal time for cessation of lactation occurs when the child reaches one year of age. At this time, the baby’s nutrition can be almost completely replaced with regular food, leaving only night breastfeeding.
Replace some of the liquid you drink during the day with sage infusion. In this case, the daily dose of infusion should not exceed 0.5-0.8 liters.
After a year of lactation, the breasts may not fill during the day, but in the evening a rush of milk is likely. Do not drink liquids before bed, and if painful sensations in the breasts do occur, express the milk with your hands or with a breast pump. Do not try to express all the milk, so as not to provoke excessive production.
When taking sage, the mammary glands will not become engorged. If your milk continues to come in in the first days, try to endure the discomfort without over-tightening your breasts.

Decoction

Most often, in order not to sharply expose their body and baby to stress from a sudden cessation of lactation, mothers use a decoction of the beneficial plant.

Advantages. Since the decoction is a liquid, there will be no sharp effect. If you take it correctly, your milk will slowly decrease. This will lead to minimal stress for the child.
Where to buy. Regular dried sage can be bought at a pharmacy or from grandmothers at the market. For convenience, you can take ready-made herbal tea and drink it, following the instructions on the package.
How to brew. You need to pour boiling water over 1 teaspoon of herb. Let the broth brew well, after which it is better to strain for convenience. Don't forget to make new tea every day.
How to drink. It is recommended to consume the decoction 20 minutes before meals, 50 ml. The effect of such a drink will occur within a few days. But for the full course you need to drink it for a month.

How to use

Drugs to stop lactation can be purchased at a pharmacy or prepared independently. If you prefer ready-made sage-based medicines, read the instructions and follow them.

Tea

Pharmacies sell sage tea bags. Everyone knows how to use tea bags: Place two bags in a cup and pour 200 ml of boiling water. After five minutes, the bags can be thrown away, the tea can be cooled and taken in small portions throughout the day. After 2-4 days, lactation will stop; you can speed up the process if you supplement your tea drinking with compresses with sage oil.

Oil

A pharmaceutical preparation of yellow color with a spicy odor. Sage oil is effective in treating inflammation and softening breast lumps.

Mix 3 drops of sage oil with 10 ml of olive or other vegetable oil and massage the nipples and areolas 3-4 times a day until the desired effect is achieved.

External use alone is not enough to stop lactation; at the same time, you should drink sage infusion or 4-5 drops of oil five times a day.

Decoction

This is the best remedy for gently stopping lactation. The decoction is used when the child has already switched to regular food. It’s easy to brew sage, choose any recipe:

Pour 1-2 tbsp into a thermos. spoons of dry herbs and pour half a liter of boiling water. After 20 minutes, strain, cool and drink immediately after breastfeeding.
Pour 300 g of dry sage with a liter of water and cook over low heat for about half an hour. After cooling, the decoction can be taken 100-150 ml per day, dividing this amount into three servings.

Alcohol infusion

Pharmacy tincture of sage has a high concentration of substances. Before taking the medicine, read the instructions.

Mix 50 drops of pharmaceutical sage tincture with 200 ml of water and take in equal parts over 20 minutes. before meals. Usually the effect occurs within 2-3 days.

Extract

The concentrated pharmaceutical drug is convenient to use, but you should not exceed the dosage to speed up the process. Dilute 1 ml of extract in water and take three times a day.

Leaves

Sage can also be taken in dry form to stop lactation. The leaves of the plant also find their use when stopping breastfeeding.

How to use. To reduce lactation, add a few sage leaves to vegetable juice or tea. In addition, petals can be added in small quantities to food throughout the day.

This use helps not only to reduce milk in the breast, but also to improve the general condition. Unprocessed sage leaves contain the maximum amount of phytoestrogen. This substance is very similar to the female hormone estrogen. It is he who is responsible for the condition and health of the breasts and female reproductive organs.

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What are the benefits of sage

It is generally accepted that breastfeeding should be completed smoothly. This concerns not only the gradual weaning of the baby from the breast, but also the health of the woman herself. After all, breastfeeding does not always end only due to lack of milk. In such cases, sage is recommended for women. In addition to other medicinal substances, the plant contains phytoestrogen - a sex hormone of plant origin, almost an analogue of the female one. It compensates for the lack of estrogen that forms in the female body when breastfeeding, thereby reducing milk production and promoting the complete cessation of lactation.

The plant also has the following beneficial properties:

Anti-inflammatory.
Antibacterial.
Diuretic.
To a small extent, but a pain reliever.

Sage will also help eliminate the unpleasant consequences of the completed breastfeeding process, which is often accompanied by lactostasis or mastitis. It will relieve pain, remove excess heaviness in the chest and have an anti-inflammatory effect. You will need to take drinks based on the beneficial plant for approximately 3 or 4 days to achieve maximum results.

Tincture

Of course, you should not use alcohol tinctures when breastfeeding. But there are often cases when the milk has practically disappeared, the child is weaned from the breast, but at the same time several drops of milk flow out of one breast every day. This is harmful to a woman's body. In this case, you need to help the milk completely disappear.

How to do. For the tincture, take 50 drops of ready-made pharmacy tincture and dilute with a glass of boiled water.
How to drink. Use the resulting tincture throughout the day. After a few days, the milk should completely disappear.

Of course, if you want to stop full lactation very quickly, you can resort to this method, slightly increasing the dose to 60 drops per day. But in no case should you put the baby to the breast.

Important tips for stopping breastfeeding

The need to stop lactation arises for various reasons: the mother’s health, the child’s refusal to breastfeed, etc. Pediatricians advise feeding a newborn with breast milk for at least 1 year.

The process of completing lactation can cause some problems, so you should listen to the recommendations:

Weaning does not break the close relationship between mother and child. There comes a point when milk is replaced with vitamins and nutrients from other foods.
A process initiated by the mother may be difficult for the child to perceive. It will take a lot of patience and time before the child's body gets used to the changes.
Do not suddenly stop feeding. Gradually reducing the number of times your baby latches to the breast will benefit both of you. It is not recommended to bandage the breasts, as such actions can cause mastitis. To relieve discomfort, apply a cold compress or ice. You can express a small amount of milk if your breasts are very full. It is important not to provoke new milk production by such actions.
It is recommended to skip 1 feeding and offer the baby to drink expressed milk from a bottle. You can also use a sippy cup or small cup.
The baby can ask for the breast without feeling hungry. It is recommended to distract his attention with games or a walk.
Breastfeeding mothers sometimes give breastfeeding to their baby, wanting to soothe him. You can improve your newborn's mood in other ways (hug, read a book, sing a song).
To reduce the time. If the baby is attached to the breast for 5 minutes, stop feeding after 3 minutes. You can offer permitted fruit as a snack.
The child drinks little, and the amount of milk does not decrease. In this case, it is recommended to reduce the amount of liquid consumed to a minimum. You should not take too hot a shower. To reduce pain, it is recommended to apply chilled cabbage leaves to the chest.
You should teach your child to fall asleep while eating. After lunch, you can take a walk outside so that your newborn learns to fall asleep on his own. When putting your child to bed in the evening, you can turn on slow music, read a fairy tale, and put your favorite toys in bed. After some time, the newborn will get used to the new ritual.
Wean your child off night snacks and set him up for uninterrupted sleep. If he wakes up at night, you should not give him the breast. It is best to rock the baby in your arms and sing a lullaby. You can offer to drink water.
Once you are determined to stop lactation, you cannot give up when you hear a baby crying. It is recommended to be close to the child and try to comfort him. The mother's confidence and calmness are transferred to the child.

The child may not be ready for drastic changes. You should not start this process if the newborn is sick. If there is no urgent need, weaning can be postponed for a while.

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Is it possible to drink sage and feed a child?

Sage, when it gets into mother's milk, does not have a direct negative effect on the baby. But, like any remedy, it must be used with caution. If you read the instructions in many pharmaceutical preparations using sage, you will see in the contraindications column - pregnancy and feeding. That is, you still need to use any artificial methods of weaning your baby from the breast with caution. It is best to try sage in small doses for the first few days, as various manifestations of allergies are possible.

It is best to consult your doctor before using sage while breastfeeding. If he doesn’t mind, then strictly follow the instructions received as much as necessary.

If an inflammatory process occurs in the kidneys or there are chronic diseases associated with them, then taking sage is strictly prohibited.
For epilepsy, grass in any form is also contraindicated.
If you suspect pregnancy, it is better not to risk the health of the unborn baby.

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If these contraindications do not concern you, then you can safely try sage in a form convenient for you and feed your baby with the rest of the milk.

Effect of sage on milk production

Sage has long been used to reduce lactation. As mentioned above, at the end of the breastfeeding period, the plant helps reduce milk production and avoid the use of hormonal drugs. This happens because sage during breastfeeding affects the hormonal balance in the female body. The phytoestrogens it contains affect prolactin, which in turn stops lactation. The healing plant will help not only reduce the volume of milk, but also alleviate the physical condition of a woman - for example, sage leaves prevent high temperatures and excessive breast engorgement.

How effective is sage for milk withdrawal?

Sage in any dose has a 100% effect on milk. If you decide to stop lactation with sage essential oil, then due to its increased concentration, the milk will disappear within a few days. If you are against quick withdrawal, then tinctures and decoctions act a little slower, but also affect milk. If suddenly there is no decrease in lactation for any reason, consult a doctor immediately.

Although sage is a safe and folk remedy for stopping and reducing lactation, try to prepare yourself and your baby for this in advance. Start by limiting your fluid intake. So, most likely, the milk will gradually begin to decrease. When your baby craves the breast at night, try not to feed, but give him warm herbal water or baby tea as much as he wants.

If the child runs to the breast to calm down, then influence him mechanically: anoint the nipple halos with something bitter, but safe. You can also use ice cubes when breastfeeding. The main thing is not to harm your body.

Rules for taking to reduce lactation

Sage to stop lactation (how to take):

The need to stop milk production may occur even if this product is the main source of nutrition for the child. In this case, the doctor prescribes special medications, and herbal infusions will only be an additional remedy.
If the baby needs breastfeeding only at night, there is no need to quickly stop lactation. The plant will help to gradually reduce milk production and wean the newborn from the breast.

When using herbal remedies to suppress lactation, you should not expect quick results. The hormone contained in the plant does not act as effectively as estrogen.

Rules for taking herbal remedies:

The procedure should begin after the child reaches 1 year, because at this age it is easier for him to switch to other foods.
The course should begin after some feedings have been replaced with complementary foods.
The amount of fluid consumed (including herbal infusions) should be halved. It is not recommended to drink drinks that are too hot.
Once you start using herbal remedies, you should not breastfeed your baby. It is recommended to express milk (not often). First, perform this procedure after 1 day, then after 3 days.
Compresses help relieve fever resulting from inflammation. If there is no improvement, you should seek medical help.

It is recommended to lead an active lifestyle and exercise, as increased sweating reduces milk production. How many days the final process will last depends on the individual characteristics of the female body.

Sage is also used in its pure form during lactation. The crushed plant is added to fruit or vegetable juice. The effect of this plant will be noticeable within 4 days. Milk will stop flowing in, its production will tend to decrease.

Decoctions

Decoctions help get rid of the feeling of fullness in the chest and prevent the appearance of lumps in it. This remedy is used to gradually wean the baby from the breast.

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Ingredients:

leaves of the plant - 7 g;
water - 250 ml.

Cooking technology:

Chop the leaves, add boiling water and place in a water bath.
Cook covered over low heat for 10 minutes.
Remove from heat, wrap in a towel and let steep for 2 hours.
Strain the finished drink through several layers of gauze.

It is recommended to take 1 tbsp up to 4 times a day. l. before eating. The product not only reduces the amount of milk and eliminates breast discomfort, but also reduces pain during menstruation.

The decoction is useful not only for internal use. It can be used to apply compresses to the nipple area to reduce the amount of milk produced, but this method requires long-term use.

The infusion also helps solve the problem. To prepare it, pour boiling water (½ l) over the herb (1-2 tbsp) and let it brew in a thermos for 20 minutes. Once cooled to room temperature, the drink can be taken orally. This infusion can replace part of the liquid consumed during the day.

You can prepare the grass yourself at the beginning of flowering and in September. The flowering tops of the plant and leaves are used. In pharmacies, the herb is sold dried or in the form of tablets or capsules. Consuming them during breastfeeding will help quickly complete milk production. Before taking the tablets, it is recommended to read the instructions.

Tinctures for breastfeeding

You can buy a ready-made tincture in pharmacies, but due to the alcohol content, you should not put the baby to the breast after consuming it. To prepare the product you will need the following ingredients:

alcohol tincture - 50-60 drops;
chilled boiled water - 1 glass.

Combine the components and take the resulting product throughout the day.

Sachets

The herb can also be sold in bags. This form is convenient to use. The drink infuses faster because the leaves in the bags are crushed. The disadvantage is the low efficiency of the drink compared to decoction and oil.

Before using the plant, you should learn how to brew sage to stop lactation:

Empty your breasts (feed your baby or express milk).
Pour boiling water (1 glass) over the grass (2 filter bags) and let it brew.
Use when cooled.

The maximum daily intake is 500 ml. It is recommended to drink the drink in small portions throughout the day. As a result of taking it, the heaviness in the chest will gradually disappear, because the amount of milk produced will decrease. The duration of use is about 1 or 2 weeks. To get quick results, it is recommended to combine tea with compresses and oil. You should carefully monitor your condition and stop taking the medication after milk production has completely stopped.

The plant has a bitter taste, so it is recommended to add honey, sugar or other sweeteners to drinks.

Extracts

The extract is more effective than alcohol tincture. The substance should be dissolved (1 ml) in a small amount of water and taken 3 times a day. Care must be taken not to overdose.

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Compresses for breastfeeding

Such procedures will not eliminate lactation, but will help prevent the appearance of lumps in the breast. In this case, both the plant itself and the oil made from it are used. A few drops of the substance should be applied to cotton wool or gauze and applied to the breast, without touching the nipples and areolas.

To prepare a more effective product, you will need the following ingredients:

sage oil - 2 drops;
mint oil - 2 drops;
geranium oil - 2 drops;
cypress oil - 2 drops;
vegetable oil - 25 g.

Mix all ingredients. Moisten gauze in the resulting mixture and apply to the area where inflammation has formed. The compress should be kept for about 2-3 hours. The effectiveness of compresses is due to the content of a large number of phytohormones in essential oils, which affect the production of prolactin. This hormone is responsible for milk production.

Compresses are a preventative against various diseases of the mammary glands.

If you have lumps, it is recommended to consult a mammologist before using homemade products. In some cases, emergency medical care is required, including surgery.

Oils

Sage oil is widely used to stop lactation, since this composition contains the largest amount of useful substances. It is recommended to take 5 drops 4 times a day. The average duration of use is 4 days. To reduce pain, it is recommended to use compresses. Apply a few drops of oil to cabbage leaves and apply to the mammary glands.