Is Barberry Safe in Breastfeeding
Question
I am a breastfeeding mother and i want to know if it is safe to use Barberry? Is Barberry safe for nursing mother and child? Does Barberry extracts into breast milk? Does Barberry has any long term or short term side effects on infants? Can Barberry influence milk supply or can Barberry decrease milk supply in lactating mothers?
Barberry lactation summary
- DrLact safety Score for Barberry is 7 out of 8 which is considered Dangerous as per our analyses.
- A safety Score of 7 indicates that usage of Barberry may cause toxic or severe side effects in breastfed baby.
- Our study of different scientific research indicates that Barberry may cause moderate to high side effects or may affect milk supply in lactating mother.
- Our suggestion is to use safer alternate options rather than using Barberry .
- Usage of Barberry is in contradiction to breastfeeding hence if it is must to use Barberry and there is no better alternative available then breastfeeding shall be stopped permanently or temporarily.
- Score calculated using the DrLact safety Version 1.2 model, this score ranges from 0 to 8 and measures overall safety of drug in lactation. Scores are primarily calculated using publicly available case studies, research papers, other scientific journals and publically available data.
Answer by Dr. Ru: About Barberry usage in lactation
Roots and bark are used. It contains Berberine that may be a cause of gastritis, nephritis, phototoxicity and severe jaundice by displacement of albumin -linked bilirubin: higher risk of kernicterus to newborns, which is greater in cases of 6-Glucose-PD deficiency. It is popularly widely used, however, its effectiveness has not been shown. Use not approved by the Commission E of German Ministry of Health. It should be avoided.
Alternate Drugs for Phytotherapy, Systemic Use
Chasteberry(Unsafe)
Chamomile(Safe)
Echinacea(Low Risk)
Alfalfa(Unsafe)
Dong Quai(Low Risk)
Cranberry(Safe)
Licorice(Unsafe)
Rhubarb(Low Risk)
Lavender(Low Risk)
Sweet Briar(Safe)
Carob(Safe)
Common Poppy(Unsafe)
Angelica(Unsafe)
Star Anise(Dangerous)
Mugwort(Unsafe)
Edible Burdock(Low Risk)
Box(Unsafe)
Boldo(Unsafe)
Bromelains(Safe)
Calaguala(Safe)
Caralluma(Low Risk)
Carrageen(Low Risk)
Horse Chestnut(Safe)
Blue-Cohosh(Dangerous)
Indian Pennywort(Safe)
Squisandra(Low Risk)
Prickly Pear(Safe)
Black-Cohosh(Unsafe)
Horsetail(Unsafe)
Colocynth Pulp(Dangerous)
Ergot Fungus(Dangerous)
Ephedra(Unsafe)
Steviol(Safe)
Eucalyptus(Unsafe)
Eyebright(Safe)
Flowers(Low Risk)
Fucus(Unsafe)
Goat´s Rue(Unsafe)
Bearberry(Unsafe)
Guarana(Low Risk)
Devil’s Claw Root(Low Risk)
Herniary(Low Risk)
St. John´s Wort(Safe)
Hyssop(Unsafe)
Syrup Of Ipecac(Low Risk)
Jin Bu Huan(Dangerous)
Kava Kava(Dangerous)
Clubmoss(Unsafe)
Maca(Safe)
Common gromwell(Unsafe)
Nux Vomica(Dangerous)
White Nettle(Safe)
Papain(Low Risk)
Passion Flower(Low Risk)
African Cherry(Dangerous)
Scots Pine(Unsafe)
Pycnogenol(Safe)
Pennyroyal(Unsafe)
Primrose(Safe)
Radish(Safe)
Ironwort(Low Risk)
Liquorice(Unsafe)
Rooibos(Safe)
Rose Hip(Safe)
French rose(Safe)
Butcher´s Broom(Safe)
Willow(Safe)
Soy(Low Risk)
Herbal Teas(Low Risk)
Rock Tea(Low Risk)
Lime Flower(Safe)
Tormentil(Safe)
Meadow-Sweet(Low Risk)
Golden Rod(Safe)
Sarsaparilla(Low Risk)
Sweet Flag(Unsafe)
Saw palmetto(Low Risk)
Common gum cistus(Low Risk)
Cat's Claw(Low Risk)
Milk Vetch(Low Risk)
Chinese angelica(Low Risk)
White Mulberry(Low Risk)
Di Huang(Low Risk)
Zi Wan(Unsafe)
Dang Shen(Low Risk)
Reishi(Low Risk)
glycyrrhizic acid(Unsafe)
Glycyrrhizin(Unsafe)
American cranberry(Safe)
Carrageenan(Low Risk)
Carrageenin(Low Risk)
Verbena officinalis(Low Risk)
Passion Vine(Low Risk)
Chaste Tree(Unsafe)
Sweet Cane(Unsafe)
Sweet root(Unsafe)
Irish Moss(Low Risk)
Bromelain(Safe)
Bromelin(Safe)
Acorus calamus(Unsafe)