Cardamom use while Breastfeeding

Summary of Use during Lactation

Cardamom (Elettaria cardamomum) seed oil contains primarily alpha-terpinyl acetate and 1,8-cineole, with lower amounts of alpha-phellandrene, alpha-pinene, alpha-terpineol, beta-pinene, bisabolene, borneol, camphene, 1,4-cineole, citronellol, geraniol, limonene, linalool, linalyl acetate, myrcene, nerolidol, p-cymene, sabinene, and terpinene. Cardamom has been used during breastfeeding as a treatment for infant colic, and as a galactogogue as part of an herbal mixture with some literature support for these uses.[1-3] It has also been used as a postpartum tonic in Sri Lanka with antioxidant and anti-inflammatory activity attributed to its 1,8-cineole content.[4]

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Drug Levels

Maternal Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Infant Levels. Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Effects in Breastfed Infants

Relevant published information was not found as of the revision date.

Effects on Lactation and Breastmilk

A commercial preparation containing wild asparagus 2 grams, dill 1.5 grams, cumin 1 gram, and cardamom 0.5 grams (Ayush-SS granules, Central Council for Research Ayurveda & Siddha, India) per dose was studied in a randomized double-blind trial in Indian mothers whose infants were experiencing “insufficient lactation”. This dose was given twice daily for 12 weeks beginning when full-term infants failed to regain their birth weight by 14 days postpartum, exhibited a weight gain of less than 20 grams daily between days 15 and 90 of life, or had fewer than six urinations per day. A per-protocol analysis (dropout rate 22%) found that at six months, 74 of 106 (70%) infants in the Ayush-SS group were exclusively breastfed, compared to 47 of 105 (45%) in the placebo group. After 90 days, 81 of 106 infants (77%) in the Ayush-SS group gained at least 20 grams per day compared to 44 of 105 (41.8%) in the placebo group. Maternal perceptions of insufficient lactation were lower in the Ayush-SS group (15% vs. 58%). All of these differences were statistically significant. No severe adverse events related to the intervention were observed.[3] The study was well designed and performed, but no intent-to-treat analysis was performed.

References

1.

Stapleton H. The use of herbal medicine in pregnancy and labour. Part II: Events after birth, including those affecting the health of babies. Complement Ther Nurs Midwifery 1995;1:165-7. [PubMed: 9456733]

2.

Low Dog T. The use of botanicals during pregnancy and lactation. Altern Ther Health Med 2009;15:54-8. [PubMed: 19161049]

3.

Saxena U, Ota S, Rajput S, et al. Clinical evaluation of Ayush-SS granules in exclusively breastfeeding mothers with insufficient lactation: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. Int Breastfeed J 2025;20:26. [PMC free article: PMC11972481] [PubMed: 40188102]

4.

Wakkumbura H, Yahathugoda D, Attanayake D. The evaluation of the antioxidant effect of indigenous herbal formula (Kayam hodda) from different provinces of Sri Lanka in the management of postpartum complications. Journal of South Asian Federation of Obstetrics and Gynaecology 2024;16:650-7. doi:10.5005/jp-journals-10006-254 [CrossRef]

Substance Name

Cardamom

Scientific Name

Elettaria cardamomum Maton

Drug Class

Breast Feeding

Lactation

Milk, Human

Complementary Therapies

Phytotherapy

Plants, Medicinal