Galactagogue

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Substance promoting lactation

title: "Galactagogue" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["galactagogues", "biologically-based-therapies", "breastfeeding", "systemic-hormonal-preparations"] description: "Substance promoting lactation" topic_path: "philosophy" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Galactagogue" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary Substance promoting lactation ::

::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1c/galegaofficinalis03.jpg" caption="Goat's rue (''Galega officinalis'') is one plant that is thought to promote lactation"] ::

A galactagogue, or galactogogue (from [γαλακτ-], milk, + ἀγωγός, leading), also known as a lactation inducer or milk booster, is a substance that promotes lactation in humans and other animals. It may be synthetic, plant-derived, or endogenous. They may be used to induce lactation and to treat low milk supply.

Pharmaceutical

Synthetic galactagogues such as domperidone and metoclopramide interact with the dopamine system in such a way to increase the production of prolactin; specifically, by blocking the D2 receptor. There is some evidence to suggest that mothers who are unable to meet their infants' breastfeeding needs may benefit from galactogogues. A more recent study questions the effectiveness of commercial lactation cookies finding no significant difference. Galactagogues may be considered when non-pharmacologic interventions are found to be insufficient. For example, domperidone may be an option for mothers of preterm babies who at over 14 days from delivery and after full lactation support still have difficulty expressing breast milk in sufficient quantity for their child's needs. Lactation induction may also be possible in certain circumstances for women planning to adopt an infant.

Domperidone (like metoclopramide, a D2 receptor antagonist) is not approved for enhanced lactation in the USA. By contrast, Australian guidelines consider domperidone to be the preferred galactagogue when non-pharmacological approaches have proved insufficient. Unlike metoclopramide, domperidone does not cross the blood–brain barrier and does not tend to have adverse effects such as drowsiness or depression.

Other drugs which may increase lactation include:

Progestogens like progesterone, medroxyprogesterone acetate, and cyproterone acetate have been found to produce lobuloalveolar development of the breasts, which is important for lactation as milk is produced in the mammary lobules.

Herbal

Herbals and foods used as galactagogues have little or no scientific evidence of efficacy, and the identity and purity of herbals are concerns because of inadequate testing requirements. The herbals most commonly cited as galactagogues are:

Other herbals that have been claimed to be galactagogues include:

References

References

  1. (2002). "Galactogogues: Medications that induce lactation". Journal of Human Lactation.
  2. [http://www.merriam-webster.com/medical/galactogogue Merriam-Webster: galactogogue]
  3. (2012). "The use of galactogogues in the breastfeeding mother". Ann Pharmacother.
  4. (2008). "Infants admitted to neonatal units—interventions to improve breastfeeding outcomes: a systematic review 1990-2007". Matern Child Nutr.
  5. (2012). "Effect of domperidone on insufficient lactation in puerperal women: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials". Obstet Gynecol Int.
  6. (October 2012). "The use of galactogogues in the breastfeeding mother". Ann Pharmacother.
  7. (July 2025). "Medications for increasing milk supply in mothers expressing breastmilk for their preterm hospitalised infants". Cochrane Database Syst Rev.
  8. (2014). "What To Expect: The First Year". Workman Publishing.
  9. (2004). "Domperidone for lactating women". Canadian Medical Association Journal.
  10. (2011). "ABM Clinical Protocol #9: Use of Galactogogues in Initiating or Augmenting the Rate of Maternal Milk Secretion (First Revision January 2011)". Breastfeeding Medicine.
  11. (2011). "Breastfeeding—evidence based guidelines for the use of medicines". Aust Fam Physician.
  12. Zuppa, Antonio. (2010). "Safety and Efficacy of Galactogogues: Substances that Induce, Maintain and Increase Breast Milk Production". Journal of Pharmacy & Pharmaceutical Sciences.
  13. (2007). "Progesterone signaling in mammary gland development". Ernst Schering Found Symp Proc.
  14. (2014). "Pharmacological overview of galactogogues". Vet Med Int.
  15. (January 2000). "Short-term and long-term histologic effects of castration and estrogen treatment on breast tissue of 14 male-to-female transsexuals in comparison with two chemically castrated men". Am J Surg Pathol.
  16. (May 2013). ["Systematic review of the efficacy of herbal galactogogues"](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0057268/}}{{dead link). J Hum Lact.
  17. (2004). "Use of galactogogues in initiating or augmenting maternal milk supply".
  18. (2006). "Lactagogue effects of Torbangun, a Bataknese traditional cuisine". Asia Pac J Clin Nutr.
  19. (2009). "Herbs for Increasing Milk Supply". Canadian Breastfeeding Foundation . Fondation canadienne de l'allaitement.
  20. (May 4, 2023). "Moringa use while Breastfeeding".

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galactagoguesbiologically-based-therapiesbreastfeedingsystemic-hormonal-preparations