Oh, you will love this study. It is always nice, even if it's rare, when scientists research something that is natural and there is really no way to make it into a product to sell.

This is why I'm so excited about this paper that summarizes studies focusing on medicinal uses for human breast milk, beyond its nutritional value.

I have read many messages from moms reporting that using their milk on their baby's skin had done wonders for diaper rash and eczema, and even for fresh stretch marks. I haven't tested the stretch mark claim myself since I used my Bump Butter with Frankincense and Neroli during my pregnancy, and had no stretch marks to worry about. I still use it and love it at least a couple of times a week. Mama needs a little luxurious self-care ritual.

I have not found any studies proving that milk reduces and heals fresh stretch marks yet, but if you try it and see positive results, please take before and after pictures and let me know!

Let's delve into some of the exciting findings from recent research into human breast milk and how it can help you prevent stress, save money and time and reduce pain and suffering of your baby.

Atopic Eczema and Diaper Dermatitis

Human breast milk has shown promising results in treating atopic eczema and diaper dermatitis. In one study, 104 infants were treated with either human breast milk (HBM) or 1% hydrocortisone. By day 21, the improvement rates were 81.5% for the HBM group and 76% for the hydrocortisone group. This suggests that HBM can be as effective as hydrocortisone and more but without the associated side effects and costs.

Similarly, for diaper dermatitis, research found that HBM was equally effective as hydrocortisone in reducing symptoms over a seven-day period. Another study reported that 80% of infants treated with HBM showed significant improvement compared to only 26.1% in the control group (group that used no treatment).

Umbilical Cord Care 

HBM also plays a beneficial role in umbilical cord care. Scientists found that the mean time for umbilical cord separation was significantly shorter in infants treated with HBM (7.14 days) compared to those treated with chlorhexidine (13.28 days). This faster healing can reduce the risk of infection and other complications associated with prolonged umbilical cord attachment. 

Preventing Neonatal Conjunctivitis

Another remarkable use of HBM is in the prevention and treatment of neonatal conjunctivitis. Applying HBM drops has beneficial effects in preventing conjunctivitis along with antibacterial effects on other eye-endangering bacteria.

Healing Corneal Epithelial Defects

In studies with mice, HBM has been shown to promote faster and better healing of corneal epithelial defects compared to other treatments. Topical HBM drops resulted in quicker healing of corneal defects in mice, showcasing its potential benefits for eye health.

Wasn't that fun?!

The versatility in use for natural remedies with few or no side effects is just beautiful. And modern medicine is seeing the proof in these kinds of studies. I'm absolutely sure that there are many more uses for mother's milk that we don't know or don't have confirmed yet.

Your breast milk stands out as a powerful, low-cost, and hopefully plenty-available treatment option for various baby health issues. So next time you or your mom friend face a common infant health problem, consider the natural healing power of breast milk.

Let's talk about practical application. Here are a few I heard from an experienced doula and lactation consultant.

Breast milk contains certain proteins that prevent against infection. As you breastfeed your baby, the saliva from the baby's mouth influences the structure of your milk to support your little one in the best way possible. These protective qualities make breast milk a wonderful natural remedy. 

1. Diaper rash remedy

As we talked about earlier, studies are proving the effectiveness of breast milk as diaper rash remedy, perhaps even more effective than hydrocortisone. That said, this is wonderful as an emergency treatment. For regular maintenance, to prevent the pain and stress of a painful diaper rash, a good cream that supports the skin in building a solid and healthy skin barrier. The zinc oxide paste is anti-inflammatory, but also messy and requires scrubbing to remove and replace. Which is quite irritating on diaper rash. 

This is why I formulated our butters, versatile enough to be your one tin go to solution. Our First Touch formula is perfect for a newborn and our Baby Body and Bum Butter formula in Pink is ideal for girls to help curb growth of yeast and prevent Thrush and Yeast infection. 

2. Eczema remedy

Some of the above mentioned studies also show that breast milk is equally as effective and more than hydrocortisone when it comes to repairing skin affected by eczema. This is wonderful news, because the use of hydrocortisone comes with challenges. Despite healing the skin barrier, the use of steroids actually thins the skin over time and causes a skin addiction. Leading to long term issues. Besides, medicated creams use petrolatum as their base, which offers no nourishment to the skin.

I formulated our butters because I had to deal with skin issues my baby girl struggled with including eczema and learned that one of the approaches absolutely needs to be nourishing of the skin and supporting it with nutrients that are building blocks for healthy and strong skin. 

Our Baby Body and Bum Butter in Blue is the ultimate eczema treatment and eczema relief for babies. Made with fatty acids that are well balanced to deeply nourish the skin and to protect it's surface too. I chose Cacao butter for the base, because the fatty acid structure of Cacao Butter matches that of baby skin. Rich in saturated fatty acids, baby skin is unique and different from that of an adult. This is the reason why baby skin is so soft and plump and forms those adorable dimples and folds. We lose this type of fat under our skin as we age. 

But I also added some deeply healing and supportive oils such as Castor oil. Skin surface rebuilding oils like Oat Kernel oil, Argan oil and Tamanu oil used in Indonesia as a natural remedy for skin issues and abrasions. 

This butter is the perfect formula to prevent and support existing cases of eczema in a natural and holistic way. 

3. Teething remedy

Teething is challenging and painful, bringing in a lot of stress and anxiety for you and your baby. Cooling the gums as the teeth are pushing through, numbs the pain and helps the baby cope. Making popsicles out of your breastmilk takes care of baby's pain and nourishment at the same time. Teething babies are often too young for water or fruit juices. Freezing your milk for this use is a clever way to soothe the pain. 

4. Treating baby acne

Baby acne appears on your baby's skin usually due to hormonal issues. But occasionally it can be caused by overgrowth of yeast that commonly lives on the skin. In this case breast milk rubbed into your baby's skin or a milk bath with your milk added to the bathwater will be helpful. 

But if you don't produce enough milk or appreciate another option, our Baby Body and Bum Butter in Pink is going to support you greatly. I formulated this butter with anti-fungal essential oils to support girl's health, because diaper environment and girl's biology in that area can very quickly lead to inflammation called vulvovaginitis and from there to a full blown Yeast infection. When this spreads, it becomes Thrush and you pass it between you and your baby leading to prolonged pain and stress. 

Formulated by a certified aromatherapist, our skincare is safe for babies and will support you in a holistic and safe way through natural ingredients and healing botanicals and essential oils. 

5. Cradle cap remedy

Cradle cap affects nearly all babies at the beginning of their lives. It is intimidating crusty, scaly and yellow layer on their head and face, sometimes around other areas of the body too. Well, who knew, breast milk is a great moisturizer for cradle cap and eczema, which sometimes are related to allergies or a fungal infection. 

Our butters serve as a wonderful support in this case as well. And help to soften the crusty parts, soothe the area where the crust is removed and help the skin balance and produce just the right amount of sebum, rather than over produce it to create a crusty and flaky layer that you then struggle with. Any of our butters will serve well in this case. But I would recommend sticking with the First Touch formula for babies younger than 3 months. 

6.Umbillical cord care

Antibacterial function of the breast milk makes for a great treatment for the umbilical cord. As the study mentioned, the speed of healing and detaching for the umbilical cord after birth can be cut in nearly a half if breast milk is used. 

7. Cuts and scrapes remedy

A young baby rarely ends up with cuts or scrapes, but as our babies become mobile, it can be a challenge to keep them out of trouble. Thanks to the antibacterial nature of breast milk, it works as a preventative antibiotic treatment. Simply dab some of your breast milk on the affected area. 

8. Preventative eye treatment for newborns

As we have seen from the studies above, breast milk is very supportive for eye health. In North America it is common for the birthing support staff to apply antibiotic cream to a newborn baby's eyes. 

The reason for this is to avoid the small percentage possibility of your baby getting an eye infection due to gonorrhoea, chlamydia and other common bacteria that you may be transferring to your baby during vaginal birth. Most mothers get tested for STI's at the beginning of their pregnancy. I was too and despite me letting my midwife know that I have never had a sexually transmitted disease in my life, the antibiotic cream was applied to my baby's eyes. Had I known then, I would have asked for them not to do it. Your personal choice may be different from mine, this is by no means medical advice, but if you have never had an STI and want to stay clear of antibiotic treatment, using your breast milk, is clearly the answer. 

As the studies above show, the antimicrobial nature of mother's breast milk is irrefutable. Simply put a few drops of your breast milk in your baby's eyes like eye drops. 

Here is another super fun way to use your breast milk instead of just rubbing it into your baby's skin. 

Milk baths 

Milk baths are relaxing and beautifying for the skin. As the studies prove, you are not crazy if you have excess of your breast milk, to add some to your baby's bath to soothe their skin. 

And you can use animal milk too as long as it's pasteurized, and avoid splashing it into the baby's eye to avoid eye infection. Full fat milk is best. So is coconut milk. Just add a few ounces to your baby's bath water. You can make it extra fun by adding lemon or orange slices, herbal tea steeped in advance such as Chamomile or petals from fresh flowers, please make sure the flowers were not chemically treated or coloured. 

If you are not able or interested in breastfeeding, do not worry, we have a few great options for you coming. Sign up for our email newsletter to get the first dibs at our botanical soaks that are coming this summer. They are formulated for baby and you and will support you through many of the common struggles new moms face. 

You will love them for their convenience, but mainly because they are incredibly healing and if you don't know me yet, my rule is that cosmetics need to go beyond the skin and offer holistic care to be worth spending money on.

I am formulating with botanical extracts that dissolve in water quickly and offer benefit without you needing to source any herbs and steep them in advance. Some will feature essential oils in safe volumes for baby and mom to make your job a lot less stressful and a whole lot more pleasurable. 

Share this blog post with your bestie!

Your favourite certified aromatherapist, Henrieta

Source: Milk Therapy: Unexpected Uses for Human Breast Milk