Question

I am a breastfeeding mother and i want to know if it is safe to use Castor oil plant? Is Castor oil plant safe for nursing mother and child? Does Castor oil plant extracts into breast milk? Does Castor oil plant has any long term or short term side effects on infants? Can Castor oil plant influence milk supply or can Castor oil plant decrease milk supply in lactating mothers?

Castor oil plant lactation summary

Castor oil plant is unsafe in breastfeeding
  • DrLact safety Score for Castor oil plant is 5 out of 8 which is considered Unsafe as per our analyses.
  • A safety Score of 5 indicates that usage of Castor oil plant may cause serious side effects in breastfed baby.
  • Our study of different scientific research indicates that Castor oil plant 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 Castor oil plant .
  • It is recommended to evaluate the advantage of not breastfeeding while using Castor oil plant Vs not using Castor oil plant And continue breastfeeding.
  • While using Castor oil plant Its must to monitor child for possible reactions. It is also important to understand that side effects vary largely based on age of breastfed child and time of medication in addition to dosage.
  • 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 Castor oil plant usage in lactation

The seeds contain 50% oil. In the oil there are established fatty acids such as ricinoleic (90%), linoleic, oleic, linolenic and palmitic.In the seeds there is ricin, a substance that can cause a very serious poisoning.Castor oil is orally used as a laxative and topically as an anti-inflammatory medicine on the skin. It appears as excipient in several dermatological and cosmetic preparations. At latest update relevant published data on excretion into breast milk were not found. The ricinoleic acid is an irritant of the intestinal mucosa where it is readily absorbed, being able to appear in the milk. It is highly recommended to use a safer laxative while breastfeeding. Castor oil, either orally (Winterfeld 2012) or topically applied on the breast (Rasiya 2011), has been used as a galactogogue without any proof on effectiveness. On the other hand, it has also been allegedly used to reduce milk production (Hardy 2000, Eglash 2014 ).The best galactogogue-like results are attained through a frequent and on demand breastfeeding along with a correct technique (ABM 2011). In some cultures castor oil is administered instead of colostrum to infants in the first few days of life (Benakappa 1989), being this a risky practice, since diarrhea, dehydration, insomnia and tremor can occur. Topical use on the skin is not contraindicated during lactation, provided it is not applied on the breast and areas where the infant can touch and absorb it are avoided.
Disclaimer: Information presented in this database is not meant as a substitute for professional judgment. You should consult your healthcare provider for breastfeeding advice related to your particular situation. We do not warrant or assume any liability or responsibility for the accuracy or completeness of the information on this Site.