Publication

Abstract : Breast milk insufficiency is a significant public health concern, as it directly affects infant nutrition and immunity. Inadequate milk production remains a major barrier to effective breastfeeding, and it is reported in approximately 60 -90% of mothers in low- and middle-income countries. Emotional stress, anxiety, lack of sleep, and maternal illness are various psychological and physiological factors that influence breast milk production. Galactagogues are used to induce, maintain, and increase breast milk production. Commonly used galactagogues include domperidone, metoclopramide, chlorpromazine, and sulpiride. These medications are associated with side effects such as xerostomia, gastrointestinal disorders, cardiac arrhythmia, lethargy, sedation, and hypertension. In Ayurvedic classical texts, several drugs possessing sthanya janana properties are described. Bhavaprakasha Nighantu and Priya Nighantu mention Śālūkaṃ as sthanya pradam . In an article titled “Report on folklore medicinal plants used for female healthcare in Assam”, a tablet prepared from the rhizome of Nelumbium speciosum Willd. is reported to be used to increase lactation and to manage painful menstruation. Twenty- four female Wistar albino rats were divided into four groups, with six rats in each group. Two trial drug groups received śālūkaṃ chūrṇa (finely powdered dried plant material) at single and double doses, while the control group received standard feed, and the standard group received domperidone from the 5th to the 14th day of lactation. All treatments were administered orally in distilled water using an oral gavage needle at 1:30 PM daily. The chūrṇa of śālūkaṃ is administered by mixing 1.08g/kg of in 10ml distilled water in Single dose group, 2.16g/kg in 20ml distilled water and 1g/kg of Domperidone in 10ml distilled water in standard group. Milk yield was estimated by separating the mothers from the pups for four hours, followed by 60 minutes of suckling, with pre- and post-suckling body weights measured using an electronic balance. The results suggest that the trial drug double-dose group demonstrated better galactagogue activity than the standard drug domperidone group in parameters serum prolactin and cortisol levels and trial drug single dose group demonstrated better galactagogue activity than the standard drug domperidone group in parameters serum prolactin and milk yield of 10 days. The findings suggests that the double dose group demonstrates stronger galactagogue potential.