Chinese Herbs and Breastfeeding
What the US LactMed database, Health Canada, NCCIH and the NHS say about dong quai, licorice, ginseng, astragalus and other Chinese herbs while breastfeeding, and why safety data are thin.
Content last updated . This page has not been medically reviewed.
Start here
Breastfeeding is not a reason to avoid medical care. If you are breastfeeding and thinking about a Chinese herb, tea, postpartum tonic or patent medicine, ask your own doctor, midwife, lactation consultant or pharmacist first. The NHS says you should not take herbal medicines if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. [1] If your baby seems unwell after you took a herb, contact a doctor right away. In the US, call 911 for an emergency or Poison Help at 1-800-222-1222 (see poison help by country).Why the answer is usually "not enough data"
Herbs are rarely tested in nursing mothers or infants. The US Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) says for ginseng that no data exist on safety and efficacy in nursing mothers or infants. [2] The same database notes that dietary supplements can differ between labeled and actual ingredients, so results on one product may not apply to another. [3] In practice, "no data" does not mean "safe." It means nobody has checked.What sources say about specific herbs
Entries below are from LactMed records (read through their PubMed listings), Health Canada and NCCIH. They are not a list of herbs to use.| Herb | What the source says | Label |
|---|---|---|
| Dong quai (Angelica sinensis, dang gui) | LactMed: no generally recognized use in lactation; often part of postpartum herbal mixtures in Asia; may raise bleeding risk with warfarin or antiplatelet drugs and cause photosensitivity; "best avoided during breast feeding" [3]. Health Canada: do not use if pregnant; ask a practitioner before use if breastfeeding [4] | Avoid per LactMed; no infant safety data |
| Licorice (gan cao) | LactMed: usually lowers prolactin, which might reduce milk in early lactation; mothers taking it had raised blood pressure; long-term excessive use can cause hypertension and low potassium, so it should probably be avoided while nursing [5]. Glycyrrhizin is detectable in the breast milk of some women [5] | Avoid long-term or heavy use |
| Ginseng (ren shen) | LactMed: no specific uses in breastfeeding, no data on nursing mothers or infants; many sources advise against it [2]. NCCIH: little is known about its safety while breastfeeding [6] | Insufficient evidence; commonly advised against |
| Astragalus (huang qi) | LactMed: promoted as a milk-supply herb, but no valid clinical trials support this except a study where it was one part of a mixture; no data on infants [7] | No good evidence of benefit for milk supply; safety data lacking |
| Ephedra (ma huang) | NCCIH: use while breastfeeding is considered unsafe [8] | Avoid |
| St. John's wort (Western herb) | NCCIH: breastfeeding infants of mothers who take it can experience colic, drowsiness and lethargy [9] | Evidence of harm (infant effects) |
Milk-supply products
Several herbs are marketed to increase milk. For astragalus and licorice, LactMed says no scientifically valid trials support that use. [7][5] LactMed also says galactogogues should never replace evaluation and counseling on factors that affect milk production. [5] If you are worried about supply, a lactation consultant or your clinician can help look for common, fixable causes.Postpartum tonics, soups and "confinement" products
Traditions of postpartum care use herbal mixtures in many Chinese-speaking communities. LactMed notes that dong quai is often used in a postpartum herbal mixture in Asia. [3] Combination products add uncertainty: you cannot easily tell what an infant is exposed to. Read postpartum confinement (zuo yue zi) and, if relevant, TCM in pregnancy for context, and ask the practitioner for the ingredient list so a clinician can check it.Questions for your clinician or practitioner
- Does any herb in this product have lactation information in LactMed or a similar source?
- Is there a safer way to meet the goal (for example, support for latch or sleep)?
- If my baby is premature, has a medical condition or is under a few weeks old, should I be even more cautious? (Ask: this page found no source on age-specific risk.)
General guidance: pregnancy and breastfeeding.
Frequently asked questions
Is it safe to drink Chinese herbal soup or tea while breastfeeding?
It depends on the ingredients. Ask your clinician or pharmacist to check the full list, because several herbs (dong quai, licorice, ginseng, ephedra) have cautions in LactMed or NCCIH. [3][5][2][8]
Do Chinese herbs increase milk supply?
For astragalus, LactMed found no scientifically valid trials supporting that use. [7] Licorice usually lowers prolactin. [5]
Is dong quai safe while breastfeeding?
LactMed says dong quai is best avoided during breastfeeding. [3]
Should I stop breastfeeding to take a herb?
That decision belongs with your clinician. The NHS says not to take herbal medicines when breastfeeding. [1]
Does the herb pass into milk?
For licorice, glycyrrhizin is detectable in the breast milk of some women. [5] For astragalus, LactMed says no data exist on excretion of its components into breast milk. [7]
More details: evidence, limits and cautions
The details behind this page: cautions, limits of the evidence and where sources disagree. Open any note to read it.
Quality problems add to the risk
Patent medicines can contain undeclared drugs. See undeclared drugs in Chinese patent medicines. Other quality issues, including heavy metals, are in Chinese herbal products: quality and interactions.
References
- NHS (England), Herbal medicines and complementary therapies (page last reviewed 1 May 2026). Read 2026-10-22.
- Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed): Ginseng. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (record revised 2021 Dec 20; read via PubMed record 30000873). Read 2026-10-22.
- Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed): Dong Quai. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (record revised 2026 Jun 15; read via PubMed record 30000896). Read 2026-10-22.
- Health Canada, Natural Health Product monograph: Dong Quai (Angelica sinensis) (Canada). Read 2026-10-22.
- Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed): Licorice. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (record revised 2026 Jun 15; read via PubMed record 30000900). Read 2026-10-22.
- NCCIH, Asian Ginseng (US). Read 2026-10-22.
- Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed): Astragalus. National Institute of Child Health and Human Development (record revised 2026 Jun 15; read via PubMed record 30000951). Read 2026-10-22.
- NCCIH, Ephedra (US). Read 2026-10-22.
- NCCIH, St. John’s Wort (US). Read 2026-10-22.
Education, not medical advice. This page is for general information. It does not diagnose or treat any condition and is not a substitute for care from a qualified health professional. Natural does not automatically mean safe. Ask a clinician or pharmacist before changing your care, especially if you take medication, are pregnant or breastfeeding, or have a health condition.