galactagogue

English

WOTD – 6 February 2013, 6 February 2015

Etymology

Fenugreek is a traditional galactagogue

From Ancient Greek γάλακτος (gálaktos) (genitive of γάλα (gála, “milk”)) + ἀγωγός (agōgós, “guide”).

Pronunciation

• (General American) IPA^(key): /ɡəˈlæk.tə.ɡɑɡ/
• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /ɡəˈlæk.tə.ɡɒɡ/

  • Audio (Southern England):

    (file)

• Hyphenation US: ga‧lac‧ta‧gogue, UK: gal‧ac‧ta‧gogue

Noun

galactagogue (plural galactagogues)

1. A substance that induces lactation.
   • 2005, Jan Riordan, Breastfeeding and Human Lactation‎^[1], 3rd edition, page 303:

     Galactagogues are agents that promote milk production, such as drugs, herbs, or foods. […] Domperidone, though not commercially available in the United States, is used as a galactagogue in other countries.

   • 2009, Gerald G. Briggs, Michael P. Nageotte, Diseases, Complications, and Drug Therapy in Obstetrics: A Guide for Clinicians‎^[2], page 44:

     The safety of dopamine antagonists has not been adequately studied when used as galactagogues, but all have potential safety concerns for mothers, infants, or both.
     Fenugreek is an herbal product that is frequently used as a galactagogue, although no scientific evidence exists on its use for this purpose.

   • 2011, Marsha Walker, Breastfeeding Management for the Clinician: Using the Evidence‎^[3], page 592:

     It is estimated that at least 15% of breastfeeding women use herbal galactagogues at some point (The National Children′s Study, 2003).

Related terms

• galactagogic
• galactorrhea
• demagogue
• pedagogue
• synagogue

Translations

substance that induces lactation

• Chinese:

  Mandarin: 催奶劑／催奶剂 (cuīnǎi-jì)

• French: galactagogue (fr) m
• German: Galaktagogum (de) n
• Italian: galattagogo m
• Spanish: galactagoga, galactogoga
• Welsh: blithogydd m

See also

• lactogenesis

French

Noun

galactagogue m (plural galactagogues)

1. galactagogue

Adjective

galactagogue (plural galactagogues)

1. galactagogic

Further reading

• “galactagogue”, in Trésor de la langue française informatisé [Digitized Treasury of the French Language], 2012.