Chilled cabbage leaves and chilled gelpaks are equally effective in reducing breast engorgement. - GreenMedInfo Summary
A comparison of chilled cabbage leaves and chilled gelpaks in reducing breast engorgement.
J Hum Lact. 1995 Mar;11(1):17-20. PMID: 7718101
This study compared the effectiveness of chilled green cabbage leaves and chilled gelpaks in reducing breast engorgement in postpartum mothers. Thirty-four lactating women with breast engorgement used chilled cabbage leaves on one breast and chilled gelpaks on the other for up to eight hours. Their pain levels were established pre-treatment and compared post-treatment for both conditions. There was no difference in the post-treatment ratings for the two treatments. Mothers reported a statistically significant drop in pain with both treatments; 68 percent obtained relief within one to two hours. The majority of mothers preferred the cabbage leaves.