Effectiveness of Complementary Therapies for Breast Milk Production and Related Lactation Outcomes: A Systematic Review
Abstract
Difficulties with breast milk production remain a concern among postpartum women and may contribute to early breastfeeding discontinuation. Complementary therapies have been explored to support lactation; however, the available evidence remains heterogeneous. This systematic review aimed to synthesize the evidence regarding complementary therapies for breast milk production and related lactation outcomes among postpartum and breastfeeding women. PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar were searched for original studies published in English or Indonesian between 2021 and 2025. Eligible studies included postpartum or breastfeeding women who received herbal galactagogues, aromatherapy, reflexology, massage, or mind-body therapies, compared with usual care, placebo, or control interventions. Outcomes of interest included breast milk volume, perceived milk sufficiency, and other lactation-related measures. Risk of bias was assessed using RoB 2 and ROBINS-I tools, and findings were synthesized narratively. Eleven studies were included, comprising seven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and four quasi-experimental studies. Overall, the findings were favorable but heterogeneous. Herbal galactagogues consistently increased breast milk volume across various preparations. Manual and mind-body therapies, such as emotional management combined with oxytocin massage, significantly increased key lactation hormones, including oxytocin (p = 0.007) and prolactin (p = 0.006). Lavender aromatherapy was associated with adequate milk supply in up to 83.3% of mothers. Foot reflexology increased milk volume (23.51 vs. 12.43 mL), although the difference did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.065). Complementary therapies may improve certain lactation outcomes; however, the overall certainty of the evidence remains limited because of heterogeneity and small sample sizes. Further high-quality randomized controlled trials are needed to establish the effectiveness and safety of these interventions.
Keywords: Breastfeeding, Complementary Therapies, Human Milk, Lactation, Postpartum
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DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.30829/contagion.v8i3.30763
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