Mother's Milk Tea: Herbs, Evidence and Safety

A warm cup of tea during a night feed is comforting, and if that tea promises more milk, even better. That’s the appeal of mother’s milk tea, also sold as lactation tea or nursing tea. These herbal blends are some of the most popular milk-supply products on the shelf.

But do they work, and are they safe for you and your baby? This guide covers which herbs they usually contain, what research shows about each one and how to use them sensibly. As with any herbal product, check with your doctor, pharmacist or a lactation consultant (IBCLC) before you start, especially if you have a health condition or take medicines.

What’s in mother’s milk tea?

There’s no single recipe. Each product has its own blend, so always read the ingredient list. Herbs commonly found in lactation teas include:

Herb	Why it’s included
Fenugreek	The most widely used lactation herb
Fennel	Traditional galactagogue; also used for digestion
Anise	Traditional galactagogue; similar flavor to fennel
Coriander	Traditional use in some cultures
Blessed thistle	Traditional galactagogue, often paired with fenugreek
Goat’s rue	Traditional galactagogue
Nettle	Traditional herbal tonic
Spearmint, lemongrass, lemon verbena	Mainly flavor

Some blends also contain other herbs. If a tea lists a “proprietary blend” without amounts, you won’t know how much of each herb you’re getting.

Does mother’s milk tea increase milk supply?

There’s no strong evidence that it does. The Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine (ABM) reviewed the research on galactagogues in its 2018 protocol and concluded that it cannot recommend any specific galactagogue. Herbal products aren’t standardized, and studies of effectiveness and safety are limited.

Looking at the main herbs:

• Fenugreek. LactMed, the US National Library of Medicine’s breastfeeding and medicines database, describes small studies with mixed results, many with design problems. The NCCIH (part of the NIH) also says it’s uncertain whether fenugreek increases milk supply.
• Fennel. LactMed reports two small studies that found some improvements, such as milk volume or infant weight gain, but this isn’t enough evidence to recommend it.
• Blessed thistle. According to LactMed, no scientifically valid clinical trials support its use for milk supply. It describes a small, manufacturer-sponsored study of a lactation tea blend, which LactMed does not consider valid evidence that the herbs work.

Why do many parents feel that the tea helps? Often, they start drinking it at the same time as they feed or pump more often, which is what actually increases supply. Taking a regular break to sit, rest and drink something may help you relax, which can make letdown easier.

Safety: what to know

Side effects of common herbs

• Fenugreek: diarrhea, nausea and other stomach upset are the most common side effects. It can make sweat and urine smell like maple syrup. It can cause allergic reactions, including serious ones, especially if you’re allergic to related plants such as peanuts or chickpeas. The NCCIH says large doses may lower blood sugar.
• Fennel and anise: LactMed notes fennel can cause allergic reactions affecting the skin or breathing.
• Goat’s rue: may lower blood sugar, so take extra care if you have diabetes or take diabetes medicines.

Don’t overdo it

More tea is not better. LactMed describes two newborns who became lethargic, floppy and fed poorly after their mothers drank more than 2 liters (about 8 cups) a day of an herbal tea containing licorice, fennel, anise and goat’s rue to boost supply. The babies improved within a day or two after the mothers stopped the tea and breastfeeding. Researchers suspected anethole, a compound found in fennel and anise, though that wasn’t confirmed. LactMed also mentions a mother who developed raised liver enzymes while drinking a lactation tea containing fennel.

These reports involved large amounts. Normal amounts are unlikely to cause problems for most people, but stick to the package directions.

Who should be careful

Talk to your doctor before drinking lactation tea if you:

• Are pregnant (the NCCIH says fenugreek is not safe in pregnancy in amounts beyond those in food)
• Have diabetes or take blood-sugar medicines
• Take blood thinners or other regular medicines
• Have asthma, or allergies to peanuts, chickpeas, ragweed-family plants or other legumes
• Have a thyroid condition or other chronic illness

Teas are supplements, not medicines

In the US, the FDA does not approve dietary supplements, including herbal teas sold as supplements, before they’re sold. Manufacturers are responsible for safety and labeling, but products aren’t tested by the FDA for effectiveness.

How to use lactation tea sensibly

If you’d like to try it:

1. Check that your supply is actually low. Steady weight gain and enough wet and dirty diapers mean your baby is getting enough. Our milk supply guide explains what’s normal.
2. Fix milk removal first. Ask an IBCLC to check the latch and how well your baby transfers milk.
3. Read the label and check every herb for cautions that apply to you.
4. Stick to the recommended amount and don’t combine several supply products.
5. Watch your baby for unusual sleepiness, poor feeding, vomiting, rash or diarrhea. Stop the tea and call your pediatrician if you notice any of these.
6. Keep the basics going. Frequent feeding or pumping matters far more than any tea.

Avoid teas with large amounts of sage if you want to keep your supply. LactMed notes it is traditionally used to reduce milk.

What works better than tea

Breast milk supply depends mostly on how often and how well milk is removed. Feeding 8 to 12 times a day in the early weeks, getting a deep latch, breast compression and adding pumping after some feeds all have a stronger track record than any tea. Our guide on how to increase milk supply walks you through each step, and power pumping is another option if you pump.

For a closer look at capsules and powders, see our guide to lactation supplements. If you’d prefer to support supply with food, our honest guide to foods to increase milk supply explains what you can expect.

When to get help

Contact a lactation consultant or your baby’s doctor if your baby isn’t gaining weight well, has fewer wet or dirty diapers than expected, seems unusually sleepy or hard to wake for feeds, or if feeding is painful. Get medical help right away if your baby is floppy, very drowsy or not feeding. You can find support through our breastfeeding support page.