Insufficient Lactation

Insufficient lactation refers to the common clinical symptom that milk secretion of a nursing mother is insufficient to feed the baby . In some cases there may even be no secretion of milk at all . Ancient people named it as lack of milk and halted milk flow due to deficiency of qi and blood or to stagnation of the liver qi . It is clinically divided into deficiency and excess types .

Etiology and Pathogenesis

a ) Deficiency of qi and blood : Milk is transformed from qi and blood , the origin of which are nutrient substances of food or the acquired essence . Either the weakness of the spleen and stomach or profuse loss of qi and blood during delivery may effect the formation of milk . Zhang Jingyue in his book Observations of Women points out , The qi and blood in women's Chong and Ren Meridians turn into menses when it descends , and transform into milk when it ascends . The delayed or insufficient secretion of milk after delivery is due to the insufficiency of qi and blood . Those who have no milk secretion definitely suffer from the weakness of the Chong and Ren Meridians .

b ) Liver qi stagnation : It is caused by mental depression after delivery impaired dispersing of the liver qi , disorder of qi and blood , blockage of the meridians , and obstructed flow of milk . finally bringing on the insufficient lactation . The book The Literati's Care of Parents goes , Sobbing , crying , grief , anger , depression lead to obstruction of the milk passage .

Differentiation

a ) Deficiency of qi and blood :

Main manifestations : Insufficient secretion of milk after delivery or even absence of milk , or decreasing secretion during lactation period , no distending pain in the breast , pale complexion , dry skin , palpitation , lassitude , poor appetite , loose stools , pale tongue with little coating , weak and thready pulse .

Analysis : Because of the deficiency of qi and blood , the weakened transforming source of milk leads to scanty secretion without distension in breasts . Insufficient qi and blood makes pale face and dry skin . Palpitation ensues on malnutrition of the heart and blood . Dysfunction of the spleen and insufficiency ofqi in the middle jiao give rise to lassitude , poor appetite and loose stools . Pale tongue and weak thready pulse are signs of deficiency of both qi and blood .

b ) Liver qi stagnation :

Main manifestations : Absence of milk secretion after delivery , distending pain in breast , mental depression , chest distress and hypochondriac pain , epigastric distension , loss of appetite , pink tongue and string - taut pulse .

Analysis : Liver carries out the dispersing function of qi . Mental depression after delivery impairs liver qi , which obstructs the milk flow , leading to the distending pain in the breast , and hypochondriac pain . Disharmony of the stomach causes epigastric distension and loss of appetite . String - taut pulse is another sign of stagnated liver qi .

Treatment

Method : Mainly select the points from the Foot - Yangming Meridian . Acupuncture is given with reinforcing method and moxibustion in case of deficiency of qi and blood to tonify the qi and blood so as to promote lactic secretion . Acupuncture with either reducing or even movement or with appropriate moxibustion in case of liver qi stagnation is to remove the stagnation of liver qi , free obstruction from the meridians and promote secretion of milk .

Prescription : Rugen ( S 28 ) , Tanzhong ( Ren 17 ) , Shaoze ( Si1 ) . Supplementary Points : Deficiency of qi and blood : Pishu ( B 20 ) , Zusanii ( S 36 ) , Sanyinjiao ( Sp 6 ) .

Liver qi stagnation : Qimen ( Liv 14 ) , Neiguan ( P 6 ) , Taichong ( Liv 3 ) .

Explanation : Since breast is where Foot - Yangming Meridian passes and Rugen ( S 28 ) is located on the Stomach Meridian of Foot - Yangming at the breast , Rugen ( S 28 ) is used here to restore the free flow of qi in the Yangming Meridian so as to promote the lactic secretion . Tanzhong ( Ren 17 ) , the Confluential Point of qi , serves to regulate qi and promotes the flow of milk . Shaoze ( Si1 ) is an effective and empirical lactogenic point . Pishu ( B 20 ) , Zusanii ( S 36 ) and Sanyinjiao ( Sp 6 ) are used to regulate and tonify spleen and stomach , promote the transformation of milk from blood . Qimen ( Liv 14 ) and Taichong ( Liv 3 ) are to remove stagnation of liver qi . Neiguan ( P 6 ) is added to regulate qi flow in the chest and restore the free flow of milk .

Remarks

While receiving acupuncture for insufficient lactation , the mother should also be advised to have nutrient diet , to take plenty of soup , and to apply correct nursing method .