Caralluma

The Caralluma are a genus of succulent species, cacti, of the apocynaceae family. Several of them are used in traditional medicine for the treatment of diabetes, inflammatory processes, leprosy, obesity and rheumatism (Adnan 2014, Dutt 2012). They contain pregnane glycosides, flavonoid glycosides and flavones. (Adnan 2014, Dutt 2012

Caralluma fimbriata is widely used in India as food and to reduce appetite. Anorexigenic and slimming properties are attributed to it, without proven scientific evidence. (Jayawardena 2021, Arora 2015)

Caralluma europaea, distributed in Morocco, Sicily and southeastern Spain, are traditionally attributed numerous medicinal properties (antidiabetic, anti-infectious, anti-inflammatory), pending scientific confirmation. (Ouassou 2021)

At the date of the last update we have not found published data on its excretion in breast milk.

There is very little published data on the therapeutic use of this plant, but it appears to be devoid of toxicity.

Given its wide traditional use and its lack of toxicity, moderate consumption would be compatible with breastfeeding.

Precautions when taking plant preparations ^{(Anderson 2017, Powers 2015, Posadzki 2013, Efferth 2011, Kopec 1999, Hsu 1995)}:

• Make sure they are from a reliable source: poisonings have occurred due to confusion of one plant with another with toxic properties ^{(Hsu 1995)}, poisonings due to containing heavy metals extracted from the soil, and food poisoning due to contamination with bacteria or fungi. ^{(Anderson 2017)}
• Do not take in excess; follow the recommendations of expert phytotherapy professionals. “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 if consumed in quantity or for an exaggerated time because they contain phytoestrogens. ^{(Powers 2015, Zava 1998)}