Evidence supporting the use of: Fennel
For the health condition: Breast Milk (dry up)

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Synopsis

Source of validity: Traditional
Rating (out of 5): 2

Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) has been traditionally used in various cultures, especially in Mediterranean and Middle Eastern regions, to support breast milk production rather than to "dry up" breast milk. In traditional herbal medicine, fennel seeds are considered a galactagogue—an agent that promotes or increases the flow of a mother's milk. Historical texts and folk medicine often recommend fennel tea or extracts for nursing mothers experiencing low milk supply. The active compounds in fennel, such as anethole, are thought to have mild estrogenic properties, which may explain its use in lactation support.

However, there is little evidence, either traditional or scientific, for fennel being used to “dry up” breast milk. Most references to fennel in relation to lactation are about increasing, not decreasing, milk supply. Some small-scale clinical studies have explored fennel’s effectiveness as a galactagogue, but evidence is limited and often not robust. There is a lack of high-quality, large-scale clinical trials confirming its efficacy, and no substantial scientific evidence suggests it dries up milk. On the contrary, its traditional use is the opposite. If the intent is to reduce or dry up breast milk, fennel is not the herb of choice in either folk medicine or current scientific practice.

In summary, fennel's use in relation to breast milk is primarily traditional and focused on increasing, not decreasing, milk supply. There is minimal clinical evidence to validate even this traditional use, and it is not supported for the purpose of drying up breast milk.

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