kristin... anyone? fenugreek

[Coccinelle33]

i had read that fenugreek can be taken to raise progesterone but wanted to know how much to take and when and if it was something that needed to be weaning off? i have some here that i was taking to increase breast milk and have a short lp and was thinking about using it but i don't know anything about it. thanks.

[kaseybaby]

I would love to know the answer too. I drink Fenugreek tea for my milk supply. Can I drink it in conjunction with my peppermint tea?

[purplepoet20]

I would love to know the answer too. I drink Fenugreek tea for my milk supply. Can I drink it in conjunction with my peppermint tea?

If you are nursing you shouldn't be drinking peppermint it can decrease your milk... one of the nono's a LLL person told me about.

[Out of the Blue]

If you are nursing you shouldn't be drinking peppermint it can decrease your milk... one of the nono's a LLL person told me about.

I'm nursing and have been drinking a lot of Peppermint tea. If we're not supposed to drink it while nursing, does anyone know of anything else to lower Testosterone? It appears that there aren't that many options while BF. I think lowering mine may be vital to my pink sway.

I don't know about Fenugreek in conjuction w/Peppermint tea and am curious about Fenugreek in general...hoping someone can post more details...

[Flava]

sorry I only know about FG that it did not help me at all when I was BF.

[kaseybaby]

If you are nursing you shouldn't be drinking peppermint it can decrease your milk... one of the nono's a LLL person told me about.

I totally forgot about the peppermint lowering our milk supply. Thank you for the reminder.

i am actually not taking it now, as my DS is in the process of weaning. I am not starting the Peppermint tea until mid-May.

[lindi]

Here is a bunch of info:

Fenugreek seeds contain diosgenin, a phytoestrogen compound that seems to mimic the effects of the hormone estrogen. Fenugreek has been used for many years as a form of natural hormone replacement therapy for menopausal women. The diosgenin in fenugreek is thought to help increase libido lessening the effects of hot flashes and hormone-induced mood fluctuations; however, fenugreek is also traditionally used to promote weight gain and stimulate breast growth. In fact, fenugreek is often used as an active ingredient in natural breast enlargement supplements, and fenugreek sprouts are said to be particularly effective for breast enlargement.

It has historically been used by nursing mothers to increase milk production. Studies on fenugreek are scant, but it has been shown to decrease blood sugar levels of type II diabetics.

Recently, fenugreek has found its way into bodybuilding supplements as as testosterone enhancer. There is no proof at all that this is true. Because of it's effect on blood sugar levels it could be useful as a cutting supplement used to lower blood sugar and insulin spikes.

However a study published in the Phytotheraphy Research journal showed that the daily supplementation of fenugreek extract can maintain normal testosterone level and boost libido in men.

Although there is an unsubstantiated claim that women in harems were fed fenugreek seeds to increase their breast size, no studies confirm fenugreek can result in breast enlargement.

Fenugreek contains a compound called diosgenin. In laboratories, diosgenin can be converted to estrogen and progesterone but that same conversion doesn't occur naturally in the body.
People who are allergic to peanuts or soybeans may also be allergic to fenugreek. Side effects from oral fenugreek supplements may include diarrhea and gas. Fenugreek, in large quantitites, may cause hypoglycemia (low blood sugar). It should not be combined with diabetes medication unless under a doctor's supervision.

There is some stuff I read that fenugreek increases ALL hormones, and that might be something you want to avoid in swaying pink.

[Coccinelle33]

thanks lindi i think i'll avoid it

[Coccinelle33]

peppermint tea has not dropped my milk supply and i've been using it for 2 months.

[Out of the Blue]

Wow, Lindi...Thanks for that info! No Fenugreek for me! Thinking I'll still keep drinking Peppermint tea...DS#2 is 14 mos now so he doesn't need that much milk if it does happen to reduce my supply.

[DoulaMama]

I find the peppermint does nothing to my milk supply either...I still have enough for 3 kids!! LOL

[lindi]

p.s.- that was from just a quick little bit of limited research, sometimes phytoestrogens can act to lower your actual estrogen because the body "thinks" it has more estrogen than it really has, so lowers its own estrogen production. Flax seeds work this way. Whether a phytoestrogen can increase CM I don't know, but if it can't, this might actually have some girl sway benefits. The low blood sugar is good, and it is questionable about the testosterone. Don;t think the weight gain is a plus though. Atomic probably has solid info.

[kaseybaby]

I wonder where Atomic is?

[atomic sagebrush]

Thank you lindi! You are my hero!

[atomic sagebrush]

I wonder where Atomic is?

My FIL is really sick and we had to go to their house to build a wheelchair ramp. I thought I would be able to get online while I was there but once I got there I realized they were in very low spirits and it felt kinda inappropriate to go onto the computer so I just tried to be as supportive as I could. I"m sorry!!!

[atomic sagebrush]

p.s.- that was from just a quick little bit of limited research, sometimes phytoestrogens can act to lower your actual estrogen because the body "thinks" it has more estrogen than it really has, so lowers its own estrogen production. Flax seeds work this way. Whether a phytoestrogen can increase CM I don't know, but if it can't, this might actually have some girl sway benefits. The low blood sugar is good, and it is questionable about the testosterone. Don;t think the weight gain is a plus though. Atomic probably has solid info.

No, I had read a Q about this before we left and then got interrupted before I could answer it. I found the same things that you did, there is info pointing both directions so until we get more to go on it's best to just leave it out.