Is Calendula Safe in Breastfeeding

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

The inflorescences of this plant originating in Europe are used.It contains polysaccharides, flavonoids, saponins… Attributed properties which do not have sufficient clinical evidence to support them: healing agent, antiseptic, anti-inflammatory (local, dermatological). There is no evidence of its efficacy when taken orally to treat gastrointestinal disorders. Indications from the Commission E of the German Ministry of Health and the EMA: topical treatment of minor skin inflammations, ulcers and burns. Since the last update we have not found any published data on its excretion in breast milk. A plant devoid of toxicity. Oral use during breastfeeding is not advised (EMA 2008, Amir 2011).The small dose and poor plasma uptake of most topical dermatological preparations make it very unlikely that significant amounts will pass into breast milk. There is no evidence of its effectiveness in treating nipple cracking or inflammation. If applied to the breast, do so after breastfeeding and clean before the next feed.

Calendula (Calendula officinalis) flowers contain triterpene glycosides and aglycones, carotenoids, and essential oils. Topical application of calendula products has been used to treat sore and cracked nipples during nursing, either in homeopathic or pharmacologic preparations,[1][2][3] although little high-quality evidence supports this use.[4] One uncontrolled case series found that a cream containing Mimosa tenuiflora and Calendula officinalis was useful for healing cracked nipples during breastfeeding;[5] however, the lack of a control group and the presence of another ingredient makes the evaluation of calendula's efficacy impossible. Oral calendula has no specific lactation-related uses and no information is available on the oral use of calendula during breastfeeding. Calendula is "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) as a food by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration when used as a seasoning or flavoring. Allergic reactions, including cross-reactions to chrysanthemums, daisies and marigolds, occur rarely. 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.