Effects of Herbal Lactagogue Remedy (Por Khao Chiab-Laem’s Formula) in Postpartum Women: An Open-Label Placebo-Controlled Clinical Trial

Abstract

The herbal lactagogue decoction formula of Por Khao Chiablaem, a well-respected local folk healer, has been used in postpartum women at Nong Song Hong Hospital, Khon Kaen province, since 2013. To establish clinical evidence on its efficacy, the effects of this herbal formula on milk flow score, volume of one-hour milk production, uterine fundal height, and lochial discharge were studied. The open-label, placebo-controlled trial was conducted in two groups of postpartum women at Nong Song Hong and Waeng Noi Hospitals as treatment group and control group, respectively.  The treatment group was given the lactagogue decoction at the dose of 4 L/day for 10 days (the first dose was given right after the delivery), while the control group took the same dose of warm water. It was found that the cumulative number of participants who had milk flow score of 4 in the test group was higher than that in the control group from 3 to 36 hours postpartum. At the 36^th hour, the cumulative number of such participants was 24/36 (66.7%) in the test group vs 13/36 (36.1%) in the control group (p = 0.009). The volume of milk production in one hour at 48 hours postpartum was 16.48±15.37 mL in the test group, compared to 10.06 ± 9.31 mL in the control group (p = 0.037). On day 14 postpartum, the test group had significantly lower uterine fundal height (1.50 ± 2.52 cm) than the control group (3.97 ± 3.88 cm) (p = 0.003). Meanwhile, the amount of lochial discharge and the time for the change of lochia color from blood red to yellow were not different between the two groups. In conclusion, this study shows that herbal lactagogue remedy (Por Khao Chiablaem’s formula) can promote early milk flow and increase milk production at 48 hours postpartum, as well as promote uterine involution, while not affecting lochial discharge.