Safety and Benefits of Pluk Fai That Recipe in Breastfeeding Mothers

Abstract

Pluk Fai That recipe is a herbal drug in the Maha-Chotirat medical scripture and the Thai National List of
Essential Medicines. There are indications for stimulating milk production and blood circulation for breastfeeding mothers; and there had been no reports about the effect of milk ejection, including the safety and adverse effects, in using the medication among such mothers. This prospective cohort study aimed to investigate the milk ejection, maternity health, adverse effects and contentment after using the Pluk Fai That recipe in 58 breastfeeding mothers at Thoen Hospital, Lampang province. Data were collected and analyzed to determine means, percentages and standard deviations, and to compare milk ejection scores, waist size, uterus-apex level and maternity health conditions before and after Pluk Fai That medication with paired t-test. The results showed that after 7 days of using Pluk Fai That recipe of, postpartum mothers, 60.4% had milk ejection at a good level and 96.6% had the milk characteristics change to good or milky white milk which corresponds to Pathom-Jinda medical scripture. A decrease in waist size and the level of uterus-apex decreased significantly (p < 0.05). As for maternity health, there were a significant increase in breast-milk amount, breast engorgement, improved defecation and less perineal pain (p < 0.05). There were only 2 cases with burning sensation in the throat and palpitations that disappeared within 1–2 hours after using the drug. Of all postpartum mothers, 96.6% were satisfied with the milk stimulation properties and interested in continuing such medication, and would use the drug in the next childbirth.