Biofreeze | Menthol Patch while Breastfeeding

What is Biofreeze | Menthol Patch used for?

I am breastfeeding mother and I am using Biofreeze | Menthol Patch. Can it have any bad effect on my kid? Shall I search for better alternative?

Menthol while Breastfeeding

Herb which is widely used by many cultures. It has been used even for pain relief during pregnancy and colicky pain in fussy babies (without proved data on this). Since it is non toxic at appropriate dose and a tiny excretion into breast milk of active metabolite Menthol, a moderate consumption is believed compatible while breastfeeding. Dessicated leaves and essential oil of the plant that contains Menthol are used. Properties that have been demonstrated and approved indications are: as spasmolytic for Dyspepsia, Irritable Colon and flatulence. It has been used for the treatment of cracked nipple with best results than placebo or Lanolin. Although with no proven effectiveness, it is traditionally used for cough relief, common cold, pain or itching by local application or inhalation. Overdosing of essential oil may be harmful. Do not expose infants to inhalation of products that contain Menthol (irritation of the air way) In case of use on the nipple, do it after feeding the baby and cleanse thoroughly the surface before the next one.

Menthol while Breastfeeding

Peppermint (Mentha x piperita) contains menthol, menthone, menthyl acetate as major ingredients. Minor ingredients include 1,8-cineole, pulegone, bitter substances, caffeic acid, flavonoids, and tannins. Peppermint is a purported galactogogue; however, no scientifically valid clinical trials support this use.[1] Galactogogues should never replace evaluation and counseling on modifiable factors that affect milk production.[2] Topical peppermint gel and solutions have been studied for the prevention of pain and cracked nipples and areolas in nursing women. The peppermint preparations were more effective than placebo and expressed breastmilk, and about as effective as lanolin,[3][4][5][6] although a meta-analysis concluded that application of nothing or breastmilk may be superior to lanolin, but good studies are lacking.[7] Menthol is excreted into breastmilk in small quantities; the excretion of other components have not been studied. Peppermint is "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) as a food by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Large doses can cause heartburn, nausea and vomiting. Allergic reactions, including headache, have been reported to menthol. If peppermint is used on the nipples, it should be used after nursing and wiped off before the next nursing. Dietary supplements do not require extensive pre-marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Manufacturers are responsible to ensure the safety, but do not need to the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements before they are marketed. Dietary supplements may contain multiple ingredients, and differences are often found between labeled and actual ingredients or their amounts. A manufacturer may contract with an independent organization to verify the quality of a product or its ingredients, but that does certify the safety or effectiveness of a product. Because of the above issues, clinical testing results on one product may not be applicable to other products. More detailed information #about dietary supplements# is available elsewhere on the LactMed Web site.

What should I do if I am breastfeeding mother and I am already exposed to Biofreeze | Menthol Patch?

I am nursing mother and my doctor has suggested me to use Biofreeze | Menthol Patch, is it safe?

If I am using Biofreeze | Menthol Patch, will my baby need extra monitoring?

Who can I talk to if I have questions about usage of Biofreeze | Menthol Patch in breastfeeding?