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

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Synopsis

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

Nettle (Urtica dioica) has a long history of use in traditional herbal medicine, particularly in Europe and parts of Asia, for various women's health issues, including lactation. In traditional herbalist texts, nettle is more commonly described as a "galactagogue," meaning it is believed to help support and increase breast milk production, rather than suppress or "dry up" milk. However, some folk practices suggest that nettle’s astringent properties might help reduce breast milk in cases of weaning or engorgement, but these uses are less documented and are not as widespread as its use to support milk production. Scientific evidence for nettle’s effect on lactation—either to increase or decrease supply—is limited and mostly anecdotal. Most clinical studies investigating herbal galactagogues do not include nettle as a primary focus, and there is little to no peer-reviewed research supporting its use to "dry up" breast milk specifically. The traditional basis comes primarily from herbal compendiums, anecdotal reports, and the general astringent nature of nettle, which was thought to help with fluid regulation. In summary, nettle's use for drying up breast milk is supported primarily by traditional knowledge, and the quality of evidence is weak, with little scientific validation.

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