Sage, peppermint, and parsley are the three herbs most commonly used to help reduce breast milk supply. All three have a long history in traditional medicine for this purpose, though it’s worth knowing upfront that none of them have been proven effective in rigorous human clinical trials. That said, many lactation consultants recognize their traditional use, and some women report noticeable results within a few days of consistent intake.
Sage
Sage (the common kitchen herb) is the most frequently recommended herb for drying up milk. It contains compounds including tannins, essential oils, and flavones that are thought to have an estrogen-like effect, which could interfere with prolactin, the hormone responsible for milk production. The Drugs and Lactation Database (LactMed) notes that sage “purportedly reduces lactation and has been used to aid with weaning or an overabundant milk supply,” but also states that no scientific studies have formally evaluated this effect in humans.
The most common way to use sage is as a tea. Many women steep one teaspoon of dried sage leaves in hot water for 10 to 15 minutes and drink it up to three times a day. Sage tea has a strong, slightly bitter flavor, so adding honey or lemon can make it more palatable. Sage is also available in tincture and capsule forms. Because sage contains thujone, a compound that can be toxic in very large amounts, it’s best used in normal culinary or tea quantities rather than concentrated essential oil form.
Peppermint
Peppermint is another herb with a traditional reputation for reducing milk supply. Its active compound, menthol, has been shown to suppress milk production in cell cultures and in animal studies at high doses. In one small human study, 18 lactating women were given 100 mg of menthol in capsule form, but the body rapidly converts menthol into a different metabolite after ingestion, and researchers aren’t sure whether that metabolite retains any milk-suppressing effect. The bottom line from LactMed: peppermint is used to suppress lactation, but no clinical trials have demonstrated it actually works in humans.
Women who try peppermint typically drink strong peppermint tea several times a day. Some use peppermint oil capsules. If you’re still partially breastfeeding during a gradual wean, keep in mind that even small amounts of menthol do pass into breast milk and can change its flavor, which some babies dislike. This is actually one reason peppermint sometimes helps with weaning: the baby nurses less, which signals the body to produce less milk.
Parsley
Parsley is commonly used by breastfeeding mothers as a natural way to reduce excessive milk production. It contains compounds called myristicin and apiole, which may increase estrogen production. Since estrogen works against prolactin, higher estrogen levels could theoretically lower milk supply. Parsley also has phytoestrogenic properties similar to sage. However, the exact mechanism by which parsley might reduce milk has not been formally documented, and no valid clinical studies exist in humans.
To use parsley for this purpose, you’d need to consume it in quantities well beyond a garnish. Some women eat large handfuls of fresh parsley daily, blend it into smoothies, or take it in capsule form. Occasional use in cooking is unlikely to have any noticeable effect on supply.
Jasmine Flowers (Topical)
This one works differently from the herbs you drink. Applying fresh jasmine flowers directly to the breasts has actual clinical data behind it. In a study of 60 postpartum women, researchers compared jasmine flowers applied to the breasts (replaced every 24 hours for five days) against bromocriptine, a prescription drug used to suppress lactation. Both treatments significantly reduced prolactin levels. While the drug lowered prolactin more dramatically on paper, the two approaches were equally effective at reducing breast engorgement, milk production, and the need for pain relief. Notably, some women on the drug experienced rebound lactation afterward, while the jasmine group did not.
The researchers concluded that jasmine flowers are “an effective and inexpensive method of suppressing puerperal lactation.” If you can find fresh jasmine (Jasminum sambac specifically), stringing the flowers and wearing them against the breasts under a soft bra is the traditional method.
Chasteberry: Use With Caution
Chasteberry (also called vitex) has a complicated relationship with milk supply. At low doses, it may actually increase prolactin and boost milk production. At high doses, it appears to do the opposite, decreasing prolactin and potentially suppressing lactation. Some of its compounds bind to dopamine receptors in the pituitary gland, which is the control center for prolactin release.
The problem is that this dose-dependent flip makes chasteberry unpredictable. In a study of 352 nursing mothers given chasteberry tincture, side effects included skin rashes, hives, itching, and early menstrual periods. LactMed’s conclusion is blunt: “Because of concerning safety data and possible lactation suppression, chasteberry should be avoided during lactation.” If you’re still breastfeeding at all during a gradual wean, this is one to skip.
What About Cabbage Leaves?
Cabbage leaves aren’t an herb, but they come up so often in this conversation that they’re worth addressing. Placing cabbage leaves inside your bra (chilled, frozen, or room temperature) is a popular home remedy for engorgement. Studies have found that cabbage leaves do help with breast pain regardless of temperature. However, a meta-analysis found no good evidence that they actually reduce engorgement better than doing nothing, since engorgement tends to improve on its own over time. One study even found that women who used cabbage leaves breastfed exclusively for slightly longer than those who didn’t, possibly because the pain relief made nursing more comfortable. So cabbage leaves may help you feel better during the process, but they probably won’t speed up the drying-up itself.
Herbs That Don’t Dry Up Milk
Two herbs that sometimes appear on informal lists are oregano and thyme. Research actually shows the opposite effect. Studies in dairy animals found that oregano and thyme essential oils increased mammary gland development and boosted milk yield at different stages of lactation. Thyme supplementation specifically increased both milk production and the length of the lactation period. If you’re trying to reduce your supply, these two herbs are worth avoiding in large or concentrated amounts.
What to Realistically Expect
Herbs alone are unlikely to shut down milk production overnight. They work best as part of a broader strategy: gradually dropping feeding or pumping sessions, avoiding breast stimulation, and wearing a supportive (not tight) bra. When your body gets fewer signals to produce milk, supply naturally decreases over days to weeks.
The jasmine flower study gives the best timeline data available. Women in that trial were evaluated at 72 hours, with treatment continuing for five days total. Scores for milk production and engorgement were assessed daily, and treatment was considered unsuccessful if symptoms remained high after three days. This suggests that even with active intervention, you should expect the process to take at least several days, with most women seeing meaningful reduction within the first week.
If you’re weaning gradually rather than stopping abruptly, the process is gentler on your body and carries less risk of plugged ducts or mastitis. Using sage tea or peppermint tea during this period may help nudge your supply down faster, even if the effect is modest. Many women combine two or three of these approaches, drinking sage tea while also applying cold cabbage leaves for comfort during the transition.