Is it safe for a breastfeeding mother to use ginger to support her immunity while nursing a newborn?

Safety of Ginger Use During Breastfeeding

Yes, ginger is safe for breastfeeding mothers to take for immune support while nursing a newborn, and it may even increase breast milk volume in the early postpartum period.

General Safety Framework for Breastfeeding Mothers

The American Academy of Pediatrics establishes that most medications and substances taken by breastfeeding mothers are compatible with breastfeeding, with only a limited number of agents contraindicated 1. The most comprehensive resource for evaluating safety is the Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) from the National Library of Medicine 1.

Evidence Supporting Ginger Safety During Breastfeeding

Clinical Trial Data on Safety

• A randomized controlled trial of 63 postpartum women receiving 500 mg dried ginger capsules twice daily for 7 days reported no side effects in either mothers or infants 2.

• A larger study involving mixed herbal supplementation containing fenugreek, ginger, and turmeric (three capsules three times daily for 4 weeks) in 50 breastfeeding mothers found no differences in adverse effects between the herbal and placebo groups 3.

Potential Benefits Beyond Immunity

• Ginger supplementation (500 mg twice daily) significantly increased breast milk volume on the third postpartum day (191.0 ± 71.2 mL/day versus 135.0 ± 61.5 mL/day in placebo, p < 0.01) 2.

• Mixed herbal supplementation containing ginger showed a 49% increase in milk volume at week 2 and 103% increase at week 4 compared to placebo 3.

• These increases in milk volume occurred without affecting milk nutrient content 3.

Dosing Recommendations Based on Evidence

For safety during breastfeeding, limit ginger intake to 1 gram of fresh ginger root per day (or equivalent dried ginger of approximately 500 mg twice daily) 4, 2. This dosage has been studied specifically in breastfeeding populations without adverse effects.

Important Caveats and Considerations

Quality Matters

• Beyond quantity, ginger quality is important from a safety perspective 4. Use pharmaceutical-grade or reputable supplement brands to ensure purity and avoid contaminants.

Limited Long-Term Data

• While systematic reviews of herbal supplements note that dietary/herbal supplements have not been evaluated in high-quality clinical trials with limited evidence supporting long-term safety 5, the available short-term studies (up to 4 weeks) in breastfeeding women show no safety concerns 3, 2.

When to Exercise Caution

• If taking ginger for reasons beyond general immune support (such as treating specific medical conditions), consult appropriate references for potential drug interactions 1.

• Physicians should inquire why herbals are being used, what benefits the patient seeks, and whether the herbal agent is truly critical during breastfeeding 6.

Practical Clinical Approach

Ask the breastfeeding mother:

• What specific immune support benefit she expects from ginger
• What dose and formulation she plans to use
• Whether she has any underlying medical conditions or takes other medications that might interact

Recommend:

• Limiting intake to ≤1 gram fresh ginger root daily (or 500 mg dried ginger twice daily)
• Using pharmaceutical-grade products from reputable manufacturers
• Monitoring for any unusual infant symptoms (though none have been reported in clinical trials)

Reassure that:

• Ginger at recommended doses has demonstrated safety in breastfeeding populations 4, 2
• It may provide the additional benefit of increasing milk volume in early postpartum 2
• Good hand hygiene before breastfeeding remains important for infection control regardless of supplements taken 7, 8