Papeja, Herbal Potions During Breastfeeding in Madura (Indonesia) : The Use, Perceived Effectiveness, and Documentation of the plants used

Abstract

Papeja is herbal potions used to enhance breast milk production by Madurese women. The World Health Organization recommends breastfeeding as the normal infant feeding method. Women often face challenges in their efforts to breast-feed their infants. One of these challenges may be a real or perceived insufficient milk supply. Poor breast milk production is the most frequent cause of breastfeeding failure in preterm babies. This study aimed to identify the pattern of use of herbal medicines during breastfeeding in Guluk-guluk and Pasongsongan Districts and to document plants used for papeja.  Data was collected with the aid of semi-structured questionnaire using interviewer-administered method after informed consent had been taken from each participant.. Sixty two women, 18 years or older, breastfeeding or had breastfed in the past 24 months, and midwifery  were interviewed. Simple descriptive statistics were used to summarise the demographic profile,  attitudes of respondents and data of plants used as galactagogues.  Most of the participants (n = 48) had perceived that these herbal galactagogues were effective in promoting breastfeeding adequacy. Forty six plants were identified from the study, from 27 families. Some of the plants have recorded scientific values for enhancing milk supply, whereas others are yet to be tested. It is important to validate these plants scientifically for possible galactagogues  properties that may be harnessed for future use. Documentation of ethnomedicinal species with their therapeutic uses shall promote further   phytochemical and pharmacological investigations and possibly, lead to the development of new drugs.

Keywords :Papeja, breastfeeding, herbal galactagogues