Is Peppermint Tea Safe While Breastfeeding?

Partly: Plain peppermint tea may be compatible with breastfeeding when consumed occasionally, but menthol has reduced milk-production signals in laboratory research, and the effect of tea on human milk supply is unknown.

If you want to drink peppermint tea, the main uncertainty is whether it can reduce milk supply. There is not enough human research to establish a safe amount or predict an individual response.

Is occasional peppermint tea safe while breastfeeding?

An occasional cup of plain peppermint tea is unlikely to be the same exposure as a concentrated peppermint product. Even so, occasional use has not been proved risk-free for every breastfeeding parent or baby, and the amount of menthol in tea can vary.

Be especially cautious if your milk supply is low or still being established, or if your baby has feeding or weight-gain concerns. In those situations, ask your healthcare professional or a lactation consultant before drinking peppermint tea regularly.

Peppermint tea is not a reliable way to reduce milk supply, either. If you want to stop breastfeeding or reduce milk production, ask a healthcare professional for an appropriate plan rather than relying on peppermint tea.

Why might peppermint tea affect breastfeeding?

Peppermint contains menthol. In a laboratory and mouse study, peppermint oil and menthol suppressed signals involved in milk production in mammary cells; menthol also affected those signals in lactating mice. This suggests a possible mechanism, but the study did not establish that drinking peppermint tea reduces milk supply in breastfeeding people.

The distinction matters because peppermint oil is concentrated, while peppermint tea is an infusion. The laboratory findings do not tell us what amount of tea, if any, would change milk production or how an individual baby might be affected.

Other breastfeeding research has examined peppermint applied to the skin rather than consumed as tea. A 2024 systematic review and meta-analysis found that topical peppermint reduced nipple trauma in the studies reviewed. Those findings do not establish the safety of drinking peppermint tea or its effect on milk supply.

There is also insufficient evidence to say how much menthol from peppermint tea reaches breast milk or whether it affects a breastfed baby. A lack of clear evidence of harm should not be mistaken for proof that every amount is safe.

How much peppermint tea can you drink while breastfeeding?

There is no established safe maximum for peppermint tea during breastfeeding. An occasional cup of plain peppermint tea is a cautious choice for someone without supply or infant-feeding concerns, but it is not a dose proven safe by clinical trials.

Choose a product that contains only peppermint if you want to avoid uncertainty from other herbal ingredients. Check the label on blends: their effects cannot be assumed to be the same as those of plain peppermint tea.

Do not ingest peppermint essential oil. Oils and concentrated extracts are different from tea, and essential oils can be toxic if swallowed. Ask a healthcare professional before using peppermint supplements or other concentrated preparations while breastfeeding.

If you notice a possible change in feeding or milk supply after drinking peppermint tea, stop using it and contact a healthcare professional or lactation consultant for assessment. A change does not prove that the tea caused it; feeding and supply can be affected by several factors.

When should you talk to a doctor?

Talk to your healthcare professional or a lactation consultant before using peppermint tea regularly if you have low milk supply, are working to establish supply, or have a history of feeding difficulties. Get individual advice as well if your baby was born prematurely, has a medical condition, or is having trouble gaining weight.

If you are pregnant as well as breastfeeding, ask your clinician about herbal products before using them regularly. If you take medications or have a medical condition, check with your clinician or pharmacist rather than assuming a herbal product is suitable for you. Do not stop prescribed medication without medical advice.

Contact your baby's healthcare professional promptly if your baby is feeding poorly, has fewer wet diapers than usual, or is not gaining weight as expected. Do not rely on a change in how full your breasts feel, or on a pumping result alone, to judge whether your baby is getting enough milk.

Seek emergency care if your baby is difficult to wake, has trouble breathing, or appears severely dehydrated. For yourself, seek prompt medical advice for a painful, red breast accompanied by fever or feeling unwell; these symptoms need assessment rather than a change in tea intake alone.