By The SABI
Every breastfeeding mother, across every culture, has faced the same whispered fear: am I making enough milk? And for millennia, the answer was sought not in clinics but in kitchens and gardens. The word galactagogue, from the Greek galacto (milk) and agogos (to lead forth) describes the plants believed to support lactation.
Ancient Egyptians prescribed fenugreek infusions; Ayurvedic texts praised shatavari; midwives in Europe steeped fennel and nettle. These traditions pre-date endocrinology, yet intriguingly align with what we now know about prolactin, oxytocin, and milk synthesis.
Today, the conversation has shifted: which of these ancestral remedies stand up to modern scrutiny, and which are better left in the realm of folklore? And, just as importantly, how should they be delivered? Capsules and tinctures abound, but evidence suggests that the infusion - the humble herbal tea - remains the most bioavailable and physiologically intelligent form.
At The SABI, this is exactly why we designed The Breastfeeding Herbata: a carefully layered infusion that combines ancestral galactagogues with modern research to create a daily ritual of nourishment, hydration, and calm.
Why Infusions Make Biological Sense
Infusions aren’t just romantic or ritualistic. They are pharmacologically sound. Hot water extracts water-soluble phytoestrogens, flavonoids, minerals, and essential oils more efficiently than capsules. Once ingested, liquid preparations are absorbed faster in the gut and enter circulation more readily than compressed tablets, which must be broken down first.
Infusions also deliver a “matrix” of compounds, not just isolated actives. For example, fennel’s anethole works synergistically with its flavonoids, while moringa’s minerals enhance the utilisation of its antioxidant polyphenols. Add to this the simple but profound fact that milk is nearly 90% water: every cup of infusion also directly contributes to hydration, one of the most overlooked drivers of supply.
The ancients may not have had PubMed, but they intuited something correct: preparing herbs in hot water wasn’t just ritual. It was the most intelligent way to unlock their power.
Fenugreek and the Power of Saponins
No galactagogue has been studied, or debated, more than fenugreek. Ancient Egyptian papyri mention it for women “whose milk is not abundant,” and it remained a staple of Greco-Roman medicine.
Modern analysis reveals its seeds contain diosgenin, a steroidal saponin, alongside alkaloids like trigonelline. These act as phytoestrogens, molecules that mimic oestrogen and appear to increase prolactin sensitivity in mammary tissue.
Clinical trials are mixed. A Turkish randomised controlled trial found mothers drinking fenugreek tea had a 49% increase in milk volume within the first week postpartum compared to controls (Turkyılmaz et al., 2011). Yet other trials show little or no effect, suggesting wide individual variability. A 2018 Cochrane review concluded that evidence is “suggestive but inconsistent.”
Fenugreek can work, but it is not universal. And side-effects such as digestive upset or maple-syrup odour in sweat remind us why single-herb mega-doses are not always the best approach.
Fennel and the Dopamine Connection
Fennel has been used from Roman baths to Middle Eastern kitchens. Beyond its culinary charm, fennel seeds contain anethole, a phytoestrogen that can bind dopamine receptors. This is important, because dopamine normally inhibits prolactin release; blocking it may lift the brake on milk synthesis.
A 2018 review of fennel supplementation found improvements in both milk volume and infant weight gain, though studies remain small and heterogeneous (Othman et al., 2018). Beyond lactation, fennel is also famed for easing digestion, supporting not only mothers but their colicky babies, through compounds that pass into breastmilk.
The lesson from fennel is not that it is a silver bullet, but that its effects are multifaceted: endocrine modulation, digestive support, and cultural continuity.
Moringa: The Mother’s Best Friend
In the Philippines, moringa, known as malunggay, is not an “alternative” but a mainstay of postpartum nutrition. Leaves are stirred into soups and stews for new mothers, both to strengthen them and to sustain milk production.
Modern research backs this tradition emphatically. Moringa leaves are nutrient-dense, delivering iron, calcium, vitamin A, vitamin C, and potassium. More importantly, several randomised controlled trials confirm that moringa supplementation significantly increases milk output, sometimes within 48 hours of starting intake.
Mechanistically, moringa appears to upregulate prolactin while simultaneously replenishing depleted micronutrients. Few herbs bridge folklore and modern science as convincingly.
Nettle: Mineral Medicine for Mothers
Nettle’s reputation in European folk medicine wasn’t as a direct milk-booster but as a blood-builder. Given the iron loss many women faced during childbirth, nettle’s dense mineral profile was invaluable.
Leaves contain iron, calcium, magnesium, silica, chlorophyll, and flavonoids. nutrients that support red blood cell production, connective tissue strength, and recovery from postpartum depletion. While nettle doesn’t directly raise prolactin, it shores up the body’s reserves, indirectly helping sustain lactation over weeks and months.
Modern trials specific to lactation are sparse, but biochemical assays confirm nettle’s role as a nutrient powerhouse. In the context of an infusion, it doesn’t force supply; it fortifies the mother.
Oat Straw and the Nervous System
Where nettle builds blood, oat straw calms nerves. Steeped for centuries in European herbalism, oat straw is classified as a “nervine”: a plant that supports the nervous system.
It contains B-vitamins, silica, flavonoids, and avenanthramides (the same compounds that make oatmeal soothing to the skin). These compounds reduce inflammation, buffer stress responses, and may lower cortisol, a known inhibitor of oxytocin and let-down.
While no trials link oat straw directly to milk volume, its role is contextual: by calming the mother’s stress axis, it makes the hormonal cascade of breastfeeding flow more smoothly.
Tulsi: Adaptogen for the Postpartum Storm
Tulsi, or holy basil, is revered in Ayurveda as the “elixir of life.” Postpartum, it was traditionally given to mothers to restore balance after the physical and emotional upheaval of childbirth.
Phytochemically, tulsi is an adaptogen, rich in ursolic acid, eugenol, apigenin, and rosmarinic acid. These compounds reduce cortisol, improve blood sugar stability, and enhance stress resilience.
Why does this matter for breastfeeding? Because stress is one of the greatest invisible saboteurs of supply. Cortisol doesn’t reduce milk production directly, but it delays oxytocin release, making let-down difficult even when milk is present. By calming this axis, tulsi removes one of the biggest roadblocks mothers face.
When Folklore Meets Formulation
Looked at individually, each of these herbs tells a story: some stimulate prolactin, some restore minerals, some soothe the nervous system. But taken together, they form a network, addressing lactation not as a single switch to flip, but as a system to support.
This philosophy is why The SABI created The Breastfeeding Herbata: a layered infusion of fennel, moringa, nettle, oat straw, tulsi, vervain, cardamom, and cinnamon. Together, they don’t just “increase supply”, they nourish, calm, and fortify the mother so that milk production is sustained naturally, without force.
Reframing Galactagogues
The modern conversation about galactagogues should not be about miracle herbs or quick fixes. It should be about:
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Evidence: which plants hold up under modern research.
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Context: how nutrition, stress, and hydration all shape supply.
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Form: why infusions remain the most bioavailable, safe, and holistic delivery system.
The ancients left us a blueprint. Science is helping us refine it. And the future of breastfeeding support lies not in abandoning tradition, but in integrating it intelligently into daily life.
HORMONAL & PROUD
Created as a brand to help women navigate the toughest moments in pregnancy, childbirth, postpartum — and practically every stage of life –– The SABI is changing the narrative around our hormones from one of taboo, embarrassment, and loneliness to awareness and even, pride. As more than a wellness brand, The SABI offers a carefully-crafted line of products to carry you through your hormonal journey, including rituals, supportive tools, and ancient herbal remedies that have been tested time and time again by women and now come backed by medicine. The SABI is a blend of science and nature conceived by women who have experienced the joys and deep struggles of bringing a child into the world, the pains of a heavy, difficult period, miscarriage, and difficulty conceiving.
We invite you to get to know your body and its cycles better –– to really understand what is going on inside. Learn to use your hormones to your advantage no matter your stage of life, and know that you can support and balance your hormone levels. We are here to help with the information, understanding and natural tools to support your body and the emotional process along with it.
DISCLAIMER
The SABI blog and articles are not meant to instruct or advise on medical or health conditions, but to inform. The information and opinions presented here do not substitute professional medical advice or consultations with healthcare professionals for your unique situation.
References
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Turkyılmaz C, et al. The effect of fenugreek on breast milk volume. J Altern Complement Med. 2011.
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Othman A, et al. Fennel and lactation outcomes. Phytother Res. 2018.
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Estrella MCP, et al. Moringa and milk production. Philipp J Pediatr. 2000.
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Heinrich M, et al. Pharmacognosy and Phytotherapy. 2012.
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Cohen MM, et al. Tulsi as an adaptogen. J Ayurveda Integr Med. 2014.
