Anise Seed Tea for Lactation
While anise seed tea is well regarded in many countries across Europe and Asia, in the Middle East, anise seed tea is considered a cultural favorite. Known by the name ‘yansoon’, the licorice flavor of anise seeds has helped this tea to remain popular over many centuries. It is known to offer a variety of health benefits, and is often used to encourage relaxation and ease digestive upset, gentle enough even to be given to children. It is also a known galactagogue, and is commonly given to mothers of newborns to improve lactation.
The Importance of Breastfeeding
The introduction of baby formula has made breastfeeding, or at least exclusively breastfeeding, far less common than it was in generations past. However, many experts now maintain that breastfeeding plays a significant role in the health and development of a child. The act of nursing is important for developing the relationship between mother and child; furthermore, many studies have shown that skin-to-skin contact between a mother and her newborn has a noticeable positive effect on the child’s growth and development. Breast milk itself is also considered the best possible food source for an infant. It is personally formulated by each mother with all necessary proteins, vitamins, minerals and other micronutrients essential to a baby’s growth. It also helps to develop the child’s immune system by passing along the mother’s immunity to diseases. Many studies have shown that breastfeeding lowers the risk of disease as the child grows, and may even reduce the risk of SIDS. Most experts recommend that exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of growth is ideal for a newborn.
How Anise Seed Tea Benefits Mothers
The gentle nature of anise seed tea makes it an excellent choice for nursing mothers. Anise seed tea is known as a galactagogue, a food that promotes the production of breast milk. This is because of anethole, a chemical compound found in anise seed that acts as a phytoestrogen. Phytoestrogens are plant chemicals that mimic estrogen in the body, thus increasing the body’s ability to enact estrogen-based processes. This includes the production of breast milk. By giving the body higher estrogen levels, anise seed tea can help mothers to improve their breast milk supply and make it easier for them to nurse their infants.
