Last update Oct. 31, 2018

Box

Limited compatibility

Unsafe. Moderate/severe adverse effects. Compatible under certain circumstances. Follow-up recommended. Use safer alternative or discontinue breastfeeding from 5 to 7 T ½ . Read Commentary.

The bark and leaves of the tree are used.
It contains steroidal alkaloids such as buxine and potentially toxic derivatives (EMA 2012).
Properties attributed to it: laxative, antiseptic when used topically.

Since the last update we have not found published data on its excretion in breastmilk.

Due to the lack of proven curative effects and potential toxicity, it is included in the European list of potentially dangerous plants (EMA 2012) and its sale has been banned in some countries, such as Spain (MSC 2004).

Precautions when taking plant preparations:
1. Make sure they are from a reliable source: poisonings have occurred due to confusion of one plant with another with toxic properties, poisonings due to heavy metals that are extracted from the soil and food poisoning due to contamination with bacteria or fungi (Anderson 2017).
2. Do not take in excess; follow recommendations from experts in phytotherapy. “Natural” products are not good in any quantity: plants contain active substances from which much of our traditional pharmacopoeia has been obtained and can cause poisoning or act as endocrine disruptors (they contain phytoestrogens: Powers 2015, Zava 1998) if consumed in exaggerated quantities or periods of time.

Suggestions made at e-lactancia are done by APILAM team of health professionals, and are based on updated scientific publications. It is not intended to replace the relationship you have with your doctor but to compound it. The pharmaceutical industry contraindicates breastfeeding, mistakenly and without scientific reasons, in most of the drug data sheets.

Jose Maria Paricio, Founder & President of APILAM/e-Lactancia

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José María Paricio, founder of e-lactancia.
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References

  1. Anderson PO. Herbal Use During Breastfeeding. Breastfeed Med. 2017 Abstract
  2. Powers CN, Setzer WN. A molecular docking study of phytochemical estrogen mimics from dietary herbal supplements. In Silico Pharmacol. 2015 Mar 22;3:4. Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  3. EMA-EFSA. Compendium of botanicals reported to contain naturally occuring substances of possible concern for human health when used in food and food supplements. European Food Safety Authority (EFSA). 2012 Abstract Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  4. MSC - Ministerio de Sanidad y Consumo de España. ORDEN SCO/190/2004, de 28 de enero, por la que se establece la lista de plantas cuya venta al público queda prohibida o restringida por razón de su toxicidad. BOE 2004; 32:5061-6065 Full text (link to original source) Full text (in our servers)
  5. Zava DT, Dollbaum CM, Blen M. Estrogen and progestin bioactivity of foods, herbs, and spices. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1998 Abstract

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e-lactancia is a resource recommended by Academy of Breastfeeding Medicine - 2015 of United States of America

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