As both a doctor and a holistic nutritionist, I’ve walked a path where science and nature often meet in the most beautiful ways. Throughout the years, I’ve witnessed how food isn’t just fuel—it’s information, medicine, and sometimes, pure magic. There are countless moments that have affirmed this truth in my life, both in my own body and in the healing journeys of my patients. But if I had to choose one story—one deeply personal and transformative experience—it would be from the most sacred period of my life: the early days of breastfeeding my daughter.

After a cesarean birth, I was overjoyed to hold my baby in my arms—but also overwhelmed. I didn’t have milk for the first two or three days. My daughter, stubborn in the most adorable way, refused any formula or bottle offered at the clinic. As she cried with hunger, slowly losing weight, my heart broke and my stress grew. And with that stress, the milk stayed away—trapped in a cycle of tension, fatigue, and worry that many new mothers know all too well.

That was the moment where both science and intuition whispered to me—and I listened.

I remembered something small yet powerful I had read during my studies: fennel seeds. Curious and desperate, I decided to make a tisane—a warm infusion—using a simple spoonful of fennel seeds, just as tradition described. I poured boiling water over them, let it sit, cool slightly, and drank.

And something shifted.

The very next day, milk began to flow. And with it, relief, connection, nourishment—for both me and my baby. I breastfed for a long time (how long exactly, I’ll leave to your imagination), and from that day forward, I became a devoted advocate for this gentle, natural support.

Over the past 30 years, I’ve helped hundreds of young mothers struggling with milk production, often on the verge of giving up. And almost every time, this simple fennel seed tisane has worked like a charm.

Doctors who see the results in their patients are often amazed—”How is this possible?” they ask. And I smile. Because I know.

And there’s more.

One of the most wonderful side effects of this tisane is that it also helps calm colic in babies. Through the mother’s milk, the soothing properties of fennel are passed on to the child, gently relaxing their tiny digestive systems, easing gas and abdominal tension. So not only does fennel help create the milk itself—it also helps make breastfeeding more peaceful, for both mother and baby.

Here is the recipe I share with all expecting mothers:

Fennel Seed Tisane for Breastfeeding Support & Baby Colic Relief

• From the eighth month of pregnancy (as long as you’re not allergic to fennel), begin this ritual:
• Every morning and evening, place 1 soup spoon of whole fennel seeds in a cup or mug.
• Pour boiling water over the seeds.
• Let the infusion cool to a drinkable temperature.
• Sip slowly, with intention and calm.

Continue this every day—from late pregnancy, through the first days after birth, and for as long as you wish to breastfeed. It is gentle. It is powerful. It is nature’s quiet support in a moment when you need it most.

This is more than a recipe. It’s a reminder that the body is wise, that food can heal, and that sometimes, the most extraordinary results come from the simplest things.

To all the mothers—present and future—I raise a warm cup of fennel to you. You’ve got this.

1. McKenna, M., & Shankar, R. (2009).
   “Management of breast milk oversupply and underproduction.” Pediatrics in Review, 30(6), e42-e49.
   ➔ Highlights how galactagogues like fennel have traditional support in stimulating milk production.
2. Alem Gena, B., & Feyera, T. (2019).
   “Review on medicinal values of fennel (Foeniculum vulgare Mill.): A multipurpose medicinal plant.” Medicinal & Aromatic Plants, 8(5).
   ➔ Details the pharmacological actions of fennel including galactagogue (milk-producing) effects.
3. Reeder, C., & Newman, J. (2000).
   “Galactagogues: Medications and Herbs That Improve Milk Supply.” The Canadian Journal of Clinical Pharmacology, 7(2).
   ➔ Fennel seeds are among natural substances recognized for gently enhancing lactation.
4. Bar-Sela, G., et al. (2006).
   “The efficacy of herbal galactagogues as a treatment for low milk production.” Clinical Obstetrics and Gynecology, 49(3), 638–651.
   ➔ Studies traditional remedies including fennel for boosting breast milk, with positive findings on efficacy and safety.
5. Dawood, M. Y., & Khan-Dawood, F. S. (1982).
   “Clinical Pharmacology of Natural Galactagogues.” Obstetrics and Gynecology, 60(6), 678–681.
   ➔ Discusses how phytochemicals in plants like fennel mimic natural prolactin stimulation.
6. Foeniculum vulgare (Fennel). (2020).
   Natural Medicines Comprehensive Database.
   ➔ Lists fennel as a traditional agent for milk stimulation and relief of infant colic symptoms through maternal consumption.
7. Natural Medicine Journal (2011).
   “Fennel (Foeniculum vulgare) and Colic in Breastfed Infants.”
   ➔ Overview of fennel’s properties passing through breast milk, soothing infant digestion and reducing colic.
8. World Health Organization (WHO).
   “Breastfeeding and Maternal Nutrition.”
   ➔ Notes that maternal herbal teas are culturally used worldwide to enhance milk supply and infant comfort.