The Effectiveness of Cabbage Leaf (Brassica oleracea) Compress in Breast Engorgement with Insights from Other Natural Anti-Inflammatory Agents: A Narrative Review

Giska Putri; Muhammad Rasyid Ridha; Lucky Nadia; Fitrina Syawalani Idwar

doi:10.60084/mp.v4i2.398

Authors

Giska Putri Department of Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh 23111, Indonesia
Muhammad Rasyid Ridha Department of Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh 23111, Indonesia
Lucky Nadia Department of Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh 23111, Indonesia
Fitrina Syawalani Idwar Department of Medical Education, Faculty of Medicine, Universitas Syiah Kuala, Banda Aceh 23111, Indonesia

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.60084/mp.v4i2.398

Keywords:

Breast engorgement, Cabbage leaf, Lactation, Non-pharmacological therapy, Postpartum care

Abstract

Breast engorgement is a common problem among lactating women that can cause pain, swelling, breast firmness, and discomfort, potentially interfering with successful breastfeeding. Cabbage leaf (Brassica oleracea) compresses have been widely used as a simple non-pharmacological intervention; however, their clinical effectiveness and underlying anti-inflammatory mechanisms require further synthesis. This narrative review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of cabbage leaf compresses in managing breast engorgement and to explore the biological mechanisms that may support their therapeutic effects. A structured literature search was conducted using PubMed, Scopus, ScienceDirect, and the Cochrane Library. Of 128 initially identified records, 18 studies were included in the qualitative synthesis after duplicate removal, screening, and eligibility assessment. Overall, the evidence indicates that cabbage leaf application can reduce breast pain, swelling, firmness, and discomfort in lactating women, with several comparative studies reporting outcomes comparable to conventional cold or gel-pack therapy. Mechanistic evidence further suggests that cabbage-derived bioactive compounds, including flavonoids, polyphenols, glucosinolates, isothiocyanates, and sulforaphane, may exert anti-inflammatory and antioxidant effects through suppression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, oxidative stress, and nuclear factor kappa-B signaling. Despite these promising findings, considerable heterogeneity in study design, intervention protocols, and outcome assessment limits the strength of the current evidence. Cabbage leaf compresses therefore represent a practical, accessible, and potentially effective non-pharmacological option for managing breast engorgement, although further well-designed randomized controlled trials with standardized clinical and biomarker-based outcomes are warranted.

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