Last update June 10, 2018

Common gromwell

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 flowering tops of this plant from the Boraginaceae family are used in infusions.
It contains lignans (lithospermic acid), phenolic acids (caffeic, chlorogenic and ellagic), catechin tannins, flavonoids (rutoside, quercetoside), naphthoquinone derivatives (shikonin) and pyrrolizidine alkaloids (lithosenine, acetylthystenin).
Properties attributed without any clinical verification: diuretic, urinary antilitiasic.

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

Given this plant’s scarce bibliographical references, its lack of proven indications (Grases 1994), its possible antithyroid effects (Auf'mkolk 1985) and the fact it contains pyrrolizidine alkaloids that could be hepatotoxic or carcinogenic (Yan 2016, Kristanc 2016), its use is non-essential and even more so during breastfeeding.

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

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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References

  1. Anderson PO. Herbal Use During Breastfeeding. Breastfeed Med. 2017 Abstract
  2. Kristanc L, Kreft S. European medicinal and edible plants associated with subacute and chronic toxicity part I: Plants with carcinogenic, teratogenic and endocrine-disrupting effects. Food Chem Toxicol. 2016 Abstract
  3. Yan X, Kang H, Feng J, Yang Y, Tang K, Zhu R, Yang L, Wang Z, Cao Z. Identification of Toxic Pyrrolizidine Alkaloids and Their Common Hepatotoxicity Mechanism. Int J Mol Sci. 2016 Abstract
  4. 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)
  5. Zava DT, Dollbaum CM, Blen M. Estrogen and progestin bioactivity of foods, herbs, and spices. Proc Soc Exp Biol Med. 1998 Abstract
  6. Grases F, Melero G, Costa-Bauzá A, Prieto R, March JG. Urolithiasis and phytotherapy. Int Urol Nephrol. 1994 Abstract
  7. Auf'mkolk M, Ingbar JC, Kubota K, Amir SM, Ingbar SH. Extracts and auto-oxidized constituents of certain plants inhibit the receptor-binding and the biological activity of Graves' immunoglobulins. Endocrinology. 1985 Abstract

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