Last update July 31, 2018
Likely Compatibility
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.
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Verbena is also known as
Verbena in other languages or writings:
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The flowering tops are used.
It contains iridoids, flavonoids, phenylpropanoids and essential oil.
Properties attributed to it without proven evidence: hypnotic, antitussive, sedative.
Indication from the Commission E of the German Ministry of Health: given the lack of evidence of its effectiveness, none (Blumenthal 1998 p 380).
Since the last update we have not found published data on its excretion in breastmilk.
Given its lack of toxicity at correct doses, moderate consumption would be compatible with breastfeeding.
It has not been possible to prove greater antioxidant capacity in the breastmilk of women who drank infusions of verbena and other plants (Kavurt 2013), nor effects on insomnia (nal Prescrire 2005).
It is one of the six plants with the highest content of phytoestrogens that can compete with human estrogen receptors (Zava 1998).
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 (contain phytoestrogens: Powers 2015, Zava 1998) if consumed in exaggerated quantity or periods of time.