HOME REMEDIES TO IMPROVE THE FLOW OF MILK
The usual causes of decreased milk secretion are-stress, emotional disturbances, worries, lack of sleep, etc. The following are some of the home remedies that help to promote the secretion of milk from the mammary glands in a nursing mother:1. Alfalfa-Alfalfa is taken as sprouts or in tea or the juice of fresh leaves of alfalfa is taken with carrot juice, half cup daily in the morning.
2. Almonds-Eating four almonds in the morning that have been soaked overnight helps to improve the flow.
3. Amaranth -Mix amaranth , black gram dal (urad dal) and parsley, 25 gms each, soak them in water for a couple of hours and grind the mixture into a paste. Have one tablespoonful of this paste daily to increase the flow.
4. Aniseed-Aniseed, also known as velaiti saunf or anisi is taken on an empty stomach. Soak 10 gms of anisi in a glass of water overnight. Have this water along with the seeds the next morning.
5. Bitter gourd (karela)-Prepare a paste from leaves of bitter gourd (karela) and apply it over the breasts overnight, or, if possible, throughout the day. Use fresh leaves every day.
6. Brewer's yeast-This is an excellent milk -producing food and is also a rich source of high-quality protein.
7. Cottage cheese (paneer)-Cottage cheese, especially the homemade ones, and fresh milk is also a rich source of protein and calcium. This enhances the production of high quality breast milk.
8. Dill leaves (sowa bhaji) / Dill seeds (anethum sowa)-A handful of leaves or seeds are boiled in two cups of barley (jau) water and drunk daily.
9. Long pepper (lindi peepar)-Hot milk with half teaspoonful of both powdered long pepper (pipli) and powdered black pepper is given at bedtime.
10. Muskmelon (kharbooja/shakkar teti)-Have half a muskmelon daily with lunch.
11. Papaya-Eat half raw papaya daily with breakfast.
12. Potato-Whole potatoes, baked or roasted in their skins should be included in the daily diet.
13. Sesame seeds (til)-These are a potential source of calcium, thus useful for lactation.
14. Eat plenty of whole-grain cereals, fruits and fruit juices (especially apple and grape juice), dark leafy vegetables like turnip, dandelion and collard greens, endive, watercress (jalkumb), Brussel sprouts, broccoli and carrots, all these are useful when taken by the nursing mother.
