What is That Dark Residue in My Motherlove Product?

We have had several customers recently wonder about a dark residue on the dropper when they open up a bottle of More Milk Plus. Some have even been concerned that it appears to be mold in the dropper!

Fear not – what may appear to be mold in the dropper or inner seal of a Motherlove product is most assuredly NOT mold. So what is it? We are so glad you asked!

This “gunk” is a completely normal residue resulting from sediment of extracted herbs. Because Motherlove products contain actual herb particles, this characteristic is typical of herbal liquid extracts, and in no way compromises the quality of the product. Sediment often collects inside and around the dropper; and shaking the bottle prior to use can help release some of the particles. The dark color is from the herbs in each product; and can vary in color from a green, to a very dark brown or black.

The alcohol or vegetable glycerin in each liquid extract acts as a preservative and inhibits mold from developing. The alcohol-free formulas (where the alcohol has been steamed off and replaced with glycerin) often have a greater collection of herbs in and around the dropper because glycerin is sticky and causes more particles to adhere to surfaces.

Furthermore, all Motherlove supplements are made in an FDA registered and GMP certified facility. Each individual herb is quality tested prior to use in our products; and all finished formulas are then independently tested for mold, bacteria, E. Coli, microbial contamination, and heavy metals by a third party lab.

We know that what you put into your body when you are breastfeeding affects both you and your baby, so rest assured and know that your Motherlove herbal extract is safe for consumption!

Using Goat’s Rue to increase your milk supply

Goat’s rue ( Galega officinalis) is an herb which has been long used to increase milk supply.

Never heard of it?  That may be because it’s a popular galactagogue in France but is less well known in the U.S.  But we think that’s going to change as more people get to know this pretty and powerful plant.

What’s special about this herb?

Developing mammary tissue. Goat’s rue is one of the most potent herbs to stimulate the development of mammary tissue.  For this reason, it can be particularly helpful for women who did not experience breast growth during pregnancy, women with insufficient glandular tissue/breast hypoplasia, women who have had breast surgeries, and adoptive mothers.  It’s even used to increase breast size in non-lactating women.

Polycystic Ovary Syndrome (PCOS). Goat’s rue may also be helpful for mothers who have low milk supply as a result of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).  In a guest post on PCOS on our blog, Lisa Marasco, IBCLC explained: “Metformin was originally developed from the herb goat’s rue, which is known for its antidiabetic properties as well as its reputed ability to stimulate milk production and breast gland development. This makes goat’s rue particularly appropriate for women with PCOS who are struggling with low milk supply.”

Motherlove sells goat’s rue in several forms:  As a single-herb liquid extract and liquid capsule and in More Milk Special Blend.  More Milk Special Blend is our best-selling More Milk Plus formula with added goat’s rue – a product we developed at the request of lactation consultants.  It’s sold as a liquid extract, an alcohol free liquid extract, and alcohol free liquid capsules.

For more information on the use of goat’s rue to increase milk supply, see this page on Low Milk Supply.

These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration.  This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.  Image source: Wikimedia Commons.

At Motherlove, Every Day is Earth Day

This week, communities around the world will celebrate Earth Day.  Here at Motherlove, we’re not doing anything special.

That’s because we observe Earth Day every day of the year.

Motherlove was born from a deep respect for the gifts from the natural world, and we aim every day to create our products in ways that protect and preserve it.  Our products are truly gifts from nature, and we aspire to honor that generosity in every choice we make.

Here are just a few of the ways we maintain our commitment to the environment:

• Our certified organic ingredients reduce the use of pesticides and create a healthier product for you.  All of our products score a “zero” (zero toxins) on the Environmental Working Group’s Skin Deep cosmetic safety database.

• We manufacture using wind credits, lessening the use of non-renewable energy sources which contribute to global climate change.

• All of our office supplies, packaging, and company literature is made from recycled materials.

• We use glass packaging for our salves - a choice which reduces the use of plastic, permits endless recycling, and allows for safe and creative reuse!

• None of our products are ever tested on animals and all are completely cruelty-free. We are third-party certified by Leaping Bunny, which means that not only our end products, but also the ingredients (where most animal testing occurs) are third-party certified. There are lots of bunny seals, but only Leaping Bunny is a third-party certification and not just a company statement.

• Through our Nurturing Life Foundation we support environmental education for kids at places like The Mountain Park Environmental Center.  Over 10% of all Motherlove Herbal Company’s profits are donated to organizations that help nurture life and give children the opportunity to experience and explore the beauty and wonder of the natural world.

• Our founder, Kathryn Higgins, teaches on the gifts of the natural world through her lectures and writing on the use of herbs for nutrition, medicine, and body care.  Kathryn’s first book, Pocket Guide to Wild Edible and Medicinal Plants, not only showcases the ingredients found in Motherlove’s products, but focuses on using native plants and sustainable harvesting methods. Kathryn is currently working on her second book, Sowing Seeds: Growing our Future, which focuses on growing herbs with children.

We are constantly striving to make Motherlove as respectful of the planet as we can, and encourage everyone to do what they can to make every day Earth Day!

Why do we use glass containers?

Here at Motherlove, we are dedicated to creating the highest quality herbal care products to support you in pregnancy, birth, breastfeeding, and in caring for your baby.  We use the utmost care in our choice of ingredients and methods of production.

We don’t just say that, we really mean it. We were making these products long before stores like Whole Foods Market were popular.

And our dedication extends to the packaging of our products.   We take great care to ensure that our products come to you in the safest, most environmentally responsible manner.

We have always packaged our salves (Nipple Cream, Diaper Rash & Thrush, Rhoid Balm, etc.) in glass containers.  As more and more evidence is produced that glass is the safest and most responsible packaging, we feel even more confident that this has been the right choice.

Here are a few of the reasons why:

Glass doesn’t leach chemicals into our products.

Salves are poured warm/hot into the container you buy. They are poured hot as a liquid and then cool into the consistency you use out of the jar. We have always felt that pouring a warm liquid into any plastic was not the safest choice, and while many companies are now using BPA-free plastics, new research evaluating more than 450 plastic products has concluded that “Almost all commercially available plastic products…leached chemicals having reliably-detectable EA [estrogenic activity], including those advertised as BPA-free. In some cases, BPA-free products released chemicals having more EA than BPA-containing products.”  Now more than ever it’s clear that glass is the safest packaging choice.

Glass is Fully Recyclable

Our containers can be recycled into new glass products, and glass can be endlessly recycled. Current estimates are that only about 10% of plastic is recycled, and the plastic bottles that are recycled can’t be turned into new plastic bottles but have to be “downcycled” into other, lower quality products.  There they often hit a recycling “dead end” – so degraded that they can’t be recycled further – and form  a permanent waste stream.

Glass Reduces Plastic Production

It’s sobering to think that every piece of plastic we’ve ever used and thrown away still exists.  And all that plastic is generally made using petrochemicals – a non-sustainable resource that contributes to global climate change.  Every glass jar we use is one less plastic container created and discarded.

Glass is Reusable

Our blue glass jars are safely reusable, and we encourage you to find new uses for them.  Line up our bottles on your windowsill with little bouquets of spring flowers.  Use our jars to hold jewelry, a votive candle, or even your own homemade lip balm.  We hope you’ll use your imagination!

Finally, we think that our blue glass containers are beautiful.  We hope you do, too!

More Milk Special Blend Caps are Back!

The More Milk Special Blend Capsules are finally back!

Thank you so much for your understanding and patience while we were out of stock.

How We Test Our Ingredients and Products

Here at Motherlove we know how much can change when you become a mother. There is so much new information, cautions and suggestions bombarding you every day.  In between the feedings and diaper changes it can be a bit overwhelming to try to navigate product information. Everyone wants to know what’s in their products, if they are tested on animals, are they organic, and most importantly are they safe.

Quality and effectiveness of our products is extremely important at Motherlove.  Before we place an order for an ingredient we receive a certificate of analysis and a sample. The certificate of analysis from the supplier shows test results for coliforms, salmonella, yeast & mold, bacterial plate count, heavy metals and pesticide residue. Herb samples are also evaluated for color, smell and strength before approval. Along with certificates of analysis for each ingredient, we also have the organic, kosher and cruelty free certification documents on file.

Motherlove’s herbal supplements are made in an FDA registered, GMP certified facility and have a certificate of analysis for each finished product.  Before any product is sold it is tested by an independent lab for bacteria, coliforms and heavy metals to ensure quality in every bottle.

We know how important quality, safety and effectiveness are, and we want you to feel confidant when you choose Motherlove.

Breastfeeding, Breastfeeding and more Breastfeeding!

People always say this, but it really does seem like time has just flown by the past few weeks. We had an inspiring and energizing experience at ILCA in late July and then World Breastfeeding Week went by in a blur of celebrations and news from the breastfeeding scene. National Breastfeeding Awareness Month is almost over and we’ve been brainstorming some ideas here at Motherlove about how to keep all the momentum going. We’d love to hear any tips you have!

We announced sponsorships with La Leche League, Best for Babes Foundation, Holistic Moms Network and #bfcafe this month, and we’re donating 20% of the proceeds from More Milk Plus to Best for Babes to help them spread the word about avoiding the Booby Traps™. As we move into harvest season and leave all this breastfeeding awareness behind, we’ll be focusing on more mundane things like shipping all that More Milk Plus, but we’ve committed to doing more this year than ever to raising awareness all year long of the benefits of breastfeeding. Look for some exciting announcements from us in the upcoming months.

All Motherlove Products are Rated Zero on Skin Deep!

The Environmental Working Group has created a database of cosmetics called Skin Deep to help inform consumers of clean and not so clean cosmetics. Here is their mission statement from the website.

http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/

“It’s our mission at the Environmental Working Group to use the power of information to protect human health and the environment.

Often, that means building databases. EWG’s data gives you practical solutions to protect yourself and your family from the health risks we all face from everyday exposures to myriad industrial chemicals.

In 2004 we launched Skin Deep, an online safety guide for cosmetics and personal care products. Our aim was to fill in where companies and the government leave off: companies are allowed to use almost any ingredient they wish, and our government doesn’t require companies to test products for safety before they’re sold. EWG’s scientists built Skin Deep to be a one-of-a-kind resource, integrating our in-house collection of personal care product ingredient listings with more than 50 toxicity and regulatory databases.

Now in its fourth year and third major update, our Skin Deep database provides you with easy-to-navigate safety ratings for nearly a quarter of all products on the market — 61,972 products with 7,628 ingredients. At about one million page views per month, Skin Deep is the world’s largest and most popular product safety guide.”

At Motherlove we are thankful that there are resources out there like Skin Deep to help everyone navigate ingredients on labels. We are also proud to say that our entire line of products have a zero rating, the cleanest rating a product can get. We can all make a conscience effort to learn about our skin care, stop putting toxins on our bodies and stand up to companies that put toxins in our skin care products.

Goat’s Rue Capsules Are Back in Stock!

Goat’s Rue capsules are back! 

Thank you for your patience and understanding while we were out of stock.

I Love Plantain!

The most valuable herb at our house during the summer months would be considered by many to be a “weed”. Plantian is no doubt familiar to you as the volunteer growing in the garden, lawn, or along traveled pathways.

Plantain is easily recognizable by its low growing rosette of either broad, roundish or thinner, blade-like leaves. Both varieties have large veins and flattened stems giving it the name “ribwort”. In our house we call it “natures band aid”. The leaves take the pain and itch from bug bites – mosquitoes, spiders and bees.

When my youngest daughter was foolishly poking a beehive built into a hole in our backyard, the angry bees swarmed. Before I could pull her away, she was stung several times. Together we picked a plantain leaf, which I chewed into a mash to put on her bites. Within two minutes she was happily playing again. I have also used plantain leaves on hives, poison ivy and cuts.

 Motherlove’s Green Salve made with plantain, helped me survive three kids all with the itch of chicken pox at the same time. When fresh plantain is not available we always keep a jar of Green Salve with plantain on hand ready to use!

Kathryn Higgins
Motherlove Founder