Galact Granules For Improving Lactation

Galact Granules from Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd. is formulated for breastfeeding mothers with deficient milk secretion. It is based on Ayurvedic principles and contain well-known herbal ingredients and helps to increase lactation (breast milk/mothers milk) by Galactagogue and Phyto-estrogenic activity.

Breastfeeding is boon for the baby and offers many health benefits. Mother’s milk contains the right balance of nutrients to help the infant to grow physically and mentally. It is easy to digest and protects the baby against some common childhood illnesses and infections. Every mother should try to give her baby breast milk for at least the first six months of life.

Here is given more about this medicine, such as benefits, indication/therapeutic uses, composition, and dosage.

Manufacturer:

Emcure Pharmaceuticals Ltd., Emcure House, T-184, M.I.D.C, Bhosari, PUNE  411 026 India

1.  Availability:  Online and at medical stores
2. Type of medicine: Proprietary Herbal Medicine
3. Main Indication: Decreased Lactation
4. Suitable for: Women
5. MRP/Price: 200 grams granules – Rs. 264

Galact Granules Composition

Ingredients present in this formulation are given below:

1. Asparagus racemosus 15 gram
2. Pueraria tuberosa 1 gram
3. Anethum sowa 1 gram
4. Tribulus terrestris 2.5 gram
5. Glycyrrhiza glabra 1 gram
6. Cuminum cyminum 1 gram
7. Lepidium sativum 1 gram

Know the Ingredients Galact Granules

Shatavar:  Asparagus racemosus (Wild Asparagus) is known as Shatavar or Shatavari. The fascicled tuberous roots of the plant are of medicinal importance.

The roots are dried after harvesting and may be boiled, peeled and cut into pieces. The dried roots are then ground to make a powder (Shatavri Churna) which is used alone or with other ingredients. Shatavar contains saponins, steroidal glycosides, and aglycones, flavonoids including quercetin, rutin and hyperoside, alkaloids and mucilage.

Shatavar is a renowned tonic for the female reproductive system. It is a uterine tonic and regulates the periods. Shatavari is very useful in menopausal symptoms with hot flushes, irritability, irregular memory and dryness.

According to Ayurveda, Shatavari is heavy, cold, bitter, nutritive; it relieves vata and Pitta and is a Rasayana.

1. Taste/Rasa: sweet/madhur, bitter/tikta
2. Potency/Veerya: cold/sheeta
3. Quality/Guna: heavy/guru, unctous/snigdha
4. Post digestive/Vipak: sweet/madhur
5. Dosha: Reduces Vata and Pitta and increases Kapha
6. Tissue/Dhatu: all tissues

Shatavar is galactagogic, antispasmodic, nervine, anti-inflammatory, demulcent, cooling, diuretic, general Tonic, expectorant, antibacterial, antitumor, and antacid. It is nourishing, soothing, lubricating and is useful in conditions when the diseases are due to excess heat inside the body.

Shatavari’s main action is on the female reproductive tract. It has a phyto-estrogenic effect and supports lactation. It nourishes Rasa dhatu and improves milk flow and quantity.

Shatavar use is contraindicated in acute lung congestion, high kapha, low digestive fire, and high Ama.

While taking Shatavar one should avoid, any activity which generates body heat, eating non-vegetarian or heavy food, hot potency food items, tobacco, sleeping during the day, excessive work, sexual intercourse, and exercise.

 Gokhru, Gokhura, Gokshuru, Gochurak, Trikantaka (Sanskrit), Caltrops, Puncturevine (English), Nerunchi Mul (Siddha) all are synonyms of Tribulus terrestris (Fam. Zygophyllaceae). Gokhru consists of dried, ripe, entire fruit of Tribulus terrestris

Gokhru is bitter, sweet in Taste/RASA, Cooling in Potency/VIRYA, Heavy and Unctuous in Quality/GUNA, and Sweet after Digestion/VIPAK. It mainly acts on Urinary, nerve, reproductive and respiratory system. It is a cooling, diuretic, tonic, and aphrodisiac, Improves muscle building, stamina and endurance.  It increases libido-fertility and makes one strong and healthy.

Gokhru should be taken cautiously with antipsychotic drugs as It increases the breaking down of the medication in the digestive system, thus reducing the effectiveness of the drug.

Vidarikand consists of tuberous roots of Pueraria tuberose. As per Ayurveda, it is a good nutrient, energizer, and aphrodisiac. It is sweet, galactagogue, spermatogenic, cooling, greasy, diuretic and calms burning sensations in the body.

In Ayurveda, Vidari is described as Balya (Strengthening), Brmhaniya (Weight-increasing), Stanyavardhana (Increases breast milk) Shukrala (Increases sperm count) and Rasayana (Rejuvenator).

Vidarikand has emmenagogue, significant oestrogenic and progesteronogenic activities with no toxicity. It is highly effective in dysmenorrhoea, dysfunctional uterine bleeding and in menopausal syndrome. It improves the quality and quantity of breast milk. Vidarikand increases serum prolactin level and thereby increases lactation. For a lack of milk after childbirth, 5 g of powder is given to mothers in cow’s milk.

Mulethi: Licorice Root (Glycyrrhiza glabra) is extensively used in Ayurveda. It relieves coughs, sore throats, respiratory problems, abdominal pain, and hyperacidity. It is used to prepare cough remedies, skin preparations, and in combination with other plants for the treatment of ulcer. It should not be used in high blood pressure, fluid retention, diabetes, and certain other conditions.

Chandrashura: Chandrika, Chand Shura, Halim, Allivirai, Adityalu, Aadalu, all are synonym for Lepidium sativum. In Ayurvda, Chandrashura consists of the dried seeds of Lepidium sativum Linn. (Fam. Cruciferae) a small erect, annual herb, about 15-45 cm high, cultivated throughout India. The seeds are light brown or reddish brown, oblong, 3 by 1.2 mm., with a depression on the inner margin, and a white spot at one end, have a pungent, cresslike taste, and become coated with transparent mucilage when soaked in water. They are Tonic, aphrodisiac, and diuretic. The seeds are used to reduce Vata and kapha and to improve strength.

Ayurvedic Action of Galact Granules

Stanya janana: These herbs can increase lactation; e.g. fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and shatavari (Asparagus racemosus).

Brmhaniya: These are nourishing herbs that are full of the water element.

Biomedical Action Galact Granules

1. Anti-inflammatory: Reducing inflammation by acting on body mechanisms.
2. Antioxidant: Neutralize the oxidant effect of free radicals and other substances.
3. Carminative: Preventing the formation or causing the expulsion of flatulence.
4. Estrogenic: Shatavar contains estrogenic compound or phytoestrogen and hence balance estrogen levels, stop bleeding, and support the restoration of the endometrium. Phytoestrogens are a naturally-occurring plant nutrient that exerts an estrogen-like action on the body. They are structurally and/or functionally similar to mammalian estrogens and their active metabolites.
5. Galactagogue: Promotes lactation in humans and other animals.

Galact Granules Health Benefits

1. It balances Vata and Pitta.
2. It is a completely natural non-hormonal supplement.
3. It prevents Weakness and assures adequate nutrition.
4. It improves the quality and quantity of breast milk without any adverse effects.

Galact Granules Therapeutic Uses

This medicine is indicated in Inadequate lactation. Inadequate lactation is the production of less milk than is needed for breastfeeding a child.

The Dosage of Galact Granules

• The recommended dosage of medicine is 2 teaspoonfuls or 10 grams.
• It should be taken twice a day, in the morning and evening.
• It is to be taken with milk.
• Or take as directed by a doctor.

Suggestions, Contraindications, Interactions, Side-effects, and Warnings

1. It is completely safe to take this medicine in recommended doses.
2. Keep away from the sight and reach of children.
3. Do not overdose.
4. It has an estrogen-like effect.
5. Don’t take in case of acute lung congestion, high kapha, low digestive fire, high ama.
6. It may increase weight when taken for a longer duration.
7. It may have additive effects with conventional antidiabetic drugs and may alter the absorption of a number of drugs by delaying gastric emptying.
8. Do not use if congested or with Ama.
9. Do not stress. Take proper rest.
10. Drink plenty of water.
11. Include wholesome fruits, vegetables, whole grains, protein, and calcium-rich foods.
12. A nursing mother should not eat fish. Avoid non-vegetarian foods.
13. Avoid smoking, tobacco chewing, and alcohol during the lactating period. Nicotine affects prolactin release in response to a sucking stimulus and smoking mothers may have decreased milk yield.
14. Keep your nipples and breasts clean.
15. The feed from both breasts at each feeding.
16. Avoid using soap or ointments that contain astringents or other chemicals on your nipples.
17. If you have very sore nipples, you can ask your doctor about using non-aspirin pain relievers.
18. Baby only need breast milk for the first six months of life. Breast milk provides all the nutrition for a baby. Giving cereal may cause your baby to not want as much breast milk. This will decrease milk supply.
19. Almost all medicines pass into breast milk in small amounts, most have no effect on the baby and can be used while breastfeeding. But there are few which can’t be used while breastfeeding.
20. Try to keep track of the food item that you eat. It helps to know how the baby reacts to the food item eaten each time (fussiness, gassiness, colicky behavior, etc.). For example, in some cases eating beans, cauliflower, or broccoli, etc. makes the baby gassy; after eating spicy foods, some babies don’t seem to like the taste of breast milk.
21. Strict dieting or skipping meals is not recommended. While breastfeeding, it is best to lose the extra weight gradually, a loss of up to about 0.5 kilograms per week is suggested.