Question

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

Coriander lactation summary

Coriander is safe in breastfeeding
  • DrLact safety Score for Coriander is 1 out of 8 which is considered Safe as per our analyses.
  • A safety Score of 1 indicates that usage of Coriander is mostly safe during lactation for breastfed baby.
  • Our study of different scientific research also indicates that Coriander does not cause any serious side effects in breastfeeding mothers.
  • Most of scientific studies and research papers declaring usage of Coriander safe in breastfeeding are based on normal dosage and may not hold true for higher 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 Coriander usage in lactation

The fruit of the herb is used.It contains essential oil which is rich in coriandrol.Properties following the Commission E of the German Health Ministry: dyspepsia, lack of appetite. At latest update no published data were found on excretion into breast milk.Plant widely used in many cultures. Given their lack of toxicity at correct doses, a moderate consumption during lactation would have little or no risk. There is no evidence of its effectiveness as a galactagogue. Reportedly, a case of serious poisoning occurred after excessive consumption for galactagogue purposes.The most effective way to achieve a galactagogue effect should be a frequent on-demand breastfeeding and a proper technique.

Answer by DrLact: About Coriander usage in lactation

Coriander (Coriandrum sativum) seeds contain a volatile oil, consisting mainly of linalool, which is responsible for its odor and taste. It also contains 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol). Coriander is a purported galactogogue, and has been included in some mixtures promoted to increase milk supply;[1][2] however, no scientifically valid clinical trials support this use. Galactogogues should never replace evaluation and counseling on modifiable factors that affect milk production.[1] Coriander is "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) as a food by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. However, allergic reactions and photosensitivity have been reported and it can cause contact dermatitis. One case of excessive use possibly caused endocrine disruption in a nursing mother. A woman nursing her 10-month-old infant had drunk 200 mL of about a 10% aqueous extract of Coriandrum sativa (method of verification and possible presence of contaminants not stated) daily for 7 consecutive days to enhance her milk supply when she was admitted to the hospital with severe diarrhea and stomach pain. The patient had no abnormal serum or urine tests and recovered with palliative therapy. Fifteen days later the patient was complaining of skin darkness, depressed mood, a loss of body fluids, and amenorrhea, which was diagnosed as an adrenal dysfunction. The patient said that she did not have any history of such a condition. She was treated with adrenocorticoids and an oral contraceptive. She was well and healthy 10 days later.[2] Elevated liver enzymes occurred in a woman taking Mother's Milk Tea, which contains coriander.[3] Dietary supplements do not require extensive pre-marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Manufacturers are responsible to ensure the safety, but do not need to the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements before they are marketed. Dietary supplements may contain multiple ingredients, and differences are often found between labeled and actual ingredients or their amounts. A manufacturer may contract with an independent organization to verify the quality of a product or its ingredients, but that does certify the safety or effectiveness of a product. Because of the above issues, clinical testing results on one product may not be applicable to other products. More detailed information #about dietary supplements# is available elsewhere on the LactMed Web site.

Coriander Side Effects in Breastfeeding

Nursing mothers who were participating in an experiment on the excretion of 1,8-cineole (eucalyptol) in breastmilk took a 100 mg capsule of 1,8-cineole orally. Although instructed not to, 12 mothers breastfed their infants during the experiment. Mothers reported that none of their infants refused their milk or breastfed less than usual. Two mothers felt that their infants were more agitated a few hours after breastfeeding. A third mother reported that the infant stopped nursing from time to time and "looked puzzled", but resumed nursing. Upon repeating the experiment 6 weeks later, the infant did not react in an unusual way during breastfeeding.[4] A small manufacturer-sponsored, double-blind, randomized study compared Mother's Milk tea (Traditional Medicinals, Sebastopol, CA) to lemon verbena tea in exclusively breastfeeding mothers with milk insufficiency. Each Mother's Milk tea bag contained 210 mg of coriander fruit as well as several other herbs. Mothers were instructed to drink 3 to 5 cups of tea daily. No differences were seen between groups in infant digestive, respiratory, dermatological, and other maternal-reported adverse events. No differences were seen in the growth parameters of the breastfed infants between the two groups.[7]

Alternate Drugs

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Echinacea(Low Risk)
Hops(Low Risk)
Calendula(Safe)
Oregano(Low Risk)
Ginger(Safe)
Nutmeg(Low Risk)
Ginkgo(Low Risk)
Rhubarb(Low Risk)
Cumin(Safe)
Sage(Low Risk)
Lecithin(Safe)
Coriander(Safe)
Garlic(Safe)
Chamomile(Safe)
Cranberry(Safe)
Basil(Unsafe)
Alfalfa(Unsafe)
Castor(Unsafe)
Lavender(Low Risk)
Dong Quai(Low Risk)
Chasteberry(Unsafe)
Caraway(Safe)
Aloe(Low Risk)
Licorice(Unsafe)
Hops(Low Risk)
Oregano(Low Risk)
Rhubarb(Low Risk)
Lecithin(Safe)
Coriander(Safe)
Garlic(Safe)
Cranberry(Safe)
Basil(Unsafe)
Lavender(Low Risk)
Alfalfa(Unsafe)
Caraway(Safe)
Licorice(Unsafe)
Fenugreek(Safe)
Somatropin(Low Risk)
Coriander(Safe)
Garlic(Safe)
Caraway(Safe)
Fenugreek(Safe)
Hops(Low Risk)
Oregano(Low Risk)
Calendula(Safe)
Echinacea(Low Risk)
Ginger(Safe)
Nutmeg(Low Risk)
Rhubarb(Low Risk)
Ginkgo(Low Risk)
Coriander(Safe)
Garlic(Safe)
Cumin(Safe)
Sage(Low Risk)
Lecithin(Safe)
Cranberry(Safe)
Chamomile(Safe)
Basil(Unsafe)
Lavender(Low Risk)
Caraway(Safe)
Castor(Unsafe)
Dong Quai(Low Risk)
Chasteberry(Unsafe)
Aloe(Low Risk)
Licorice(Unsafe)
Oregano(Low Risk)
Calendula(Safe)
Echinacea(Low Risk)
Ginger(Safe)
Nutmeg(Low Risk)
Rhubarb(Low Risk)
Garlic(Safe)
Ginkgo(Low Risk)
Coriander(Safe)
Cumin(Safe)
Sage(Low Risk)
Lecithin(Safe)
Cranberry(Safe)
Chamomile(Safe)
Basil(Unsafe)
Lavender(Low Risk)
Caraway(Safe)
Castor(Unsafe)
Dong Quai(Low Risk)
Chasteberry(Unsafe)
Aloe(Low Risk)
Licorice(Unsafe)
Fenugreek(Safe)
Hops(Low Risk)
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.