Jasmine (Jasminum spp.) flowers contain a variety of chemicals, although none have been identified with specific pharmacologic activity. In India (ayurvedic medicine), jasmine has been used to suppress lactation, and one published study found that jasmine leaves applied to the breasts suppressed postpartum lactation as effectively as oral bromocriptine.[1-3] However, the study was not of high quality. No data exist on the excretion of any components of jasmine into breastmilk or on the safety and efficacy of jasmine in nursing mothers or infants. Jasmine is "generally recognized as safe" (GRAS) as a food ingredient by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Occasional allergic reactions to jasmine have been reported. It is unlikely typical jasmine intake, such as drinking small amounts of jasmine tea, would be harmful during nursing.
Dietary supplements do not require extensive pre-marketing approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Manufacturers are responsible to ensure the safety, but do not need to prove the safety and effectiveness of dietary supplements before they are marketed. Dietary supplements may contain multiple ingredients, and differences are often found between labeled and actual ingredients or their amounts. A manufacturer may contract with an independent organization to verify the quality of a product or its ingredients, but that does not certify the safety or effectiveness of a product. Because of the above issues, clinical testing results on one product may not be applicable to other products. More detailed information about dietary supplements is available elsewhere on the LactMed Web site.