I don't have much milk but it keeps overflowing. What's going on?

During the lactation period, the secretion of milk is definitely very important and directly affects the growth and development of the child. However, it is very easy for milk secretion to become abnormal during lactation. Some mothers have little milk but it always overflows. If this continues for a long time, the consequences will definitely be serious, and the cause naturally becomes the most concerning thing. So, what’s going on if there isn’t much milk but it keeps overflowing?

Postpartum milk discharge disease is the name of this disease in traditional Chinese medicine. It refers to the natural overflow of milk from a mother during the lactation period without being sucked by the baby, which is called "spontaneous milk discharge". Also known as "leaking milk". If the wet nurse is in good health, has vigorous Qi and blood, has abundant milk, and has full breasts that overflow, or if the milk is difficult to stop and comes out on its own during weaning, it is not considered pathological. It is equivalent to postpartum milk deficiency. The prognosis of this disease is generally good, but nipple discharge is more complicated. If the leaked milk is bloody or there are lumps in the breast, you should be alert to breast cancer.

Dialectical points

This disease is divided into deficiency and excess, and should be diagnosed based on whether the breasts are swollen and painful, whether they are soft, and the thickness of the milk. If the milk is clear and thin and the breasts are soft, it is mostly due to weak qi and blood; if the milk is thick, the chest and flanks are swollen and painful, it is mostly due to stagnation of heat in the liver meridians.

Treatment principles

Those who are deficient should replenish qi and retain milk, while those who are excessive should clear away heat and retain milk.

Syndrome and Treatment Classification

1. Qi deficiency and loss of control

Main symptoms: spontaneous milk secretion after delivery, small amount and thin texture, soft breasts without swelling, dull complexion, fatigue; pale tongue, thin white fur, and weak pulse.

Treatment method: Replenish Qi and blood, and assist with consolidating the body.

Representative prescription: Buzhong Yiqi Decoction with Euryale ferox and Schisandra chinensis.

Prescription: Ginseng, Astragalus, Atractylodes, Angelica, Tangerine Peel, Licorice, Bupleurum, and Cimicifuga.

2. Liver meridian stagnation and heat syndrome

Main symptoms: spontaneous secretion of thick milk after delivery, breast tenderness, depression or irritability, bitter taste in the mouth and dry throat, constipation, and yellow or red urine. The tongue is red, the tongue coating is thin yellow, and the pulse is stringy and rapid.

Treatment method: Soothe the liver and relieve depression, clear away heat and restrain milk.

Representative prescription: Danzhi Xiaoyao Powder without ginger, and add raw rehmannia, herb Prunella vulgaris, and raw oyster.

Prescription: Cortex Moutan, Gardenia, Angelica, White Peony Root, Bupleurum, Atractylodes, Poria, Mint, and Roasted Licorice.

Other treatments

Acupuncture therapy: For deficiency syndrome, needle Qihai, Tanzhong, and Zusanli, and use the tonifying method; for excess syndrome, needle Yanglingquan, Xingjian, and Zhigou, and use the draining method.