Herbal Remedies that Soothe Colic

Does your infant experience crying spells several times a week-and at approximately the same time of day? Does he seem to be in pain when he's crying? Does he pull his legs up to his chest or kick his feet? While only your doctor can tell you if the symptoms your baby is displaying are related to the medical condition known as colic, there are things you can do to reduce your child's discomfort. If your baby is experiencing colic, ask your doctor about including natural and herbal therapies into your child's daily regimen.

Acidophilus & Colic

While it didn't focus on herbal remedies, a 2005 study directly linked imbalances in intestinal flora to colic. If the results of this study are true, increasing the "good" bacteria in your baby's intestinal tract may help alleviate some of his colic symptoms. If you'd like more information about using Lactobacillus acidophilus for your baby's colic, ask your baby's pediatrician to recommend a brand especially formulated for infants.

Herbal Teas & Colic

Despite centuries of use by parents of colicky babies, herbal preparations haven't been extensively studied. Perhaps the best study to look at herbal teas for colic was a 1993 study published in the Journal of Pediatrics. This study looked a tea made from a combination of chamomile, fennel, vervain, licorice and balm-mint. In more than half of the infants studied, this tea, in the words of the study's authors, "significantly improved" symptoms.

Today, you can find "colic teas" in just about any health food store. If you'd like to try an herbal tea on your own child, ask his pediatrician if these herbs are safe for him.

Gripe Water

It may not sound like an herbal remedy for colic but gripe water, which is made with essential oils of dill, caraway, clove, among others, is an old English remedy for colic that's growing in popularity here in North America. Though gripe water hasn't been extensively studied, and the formulation varies dramatically from manufacturer to manufacturer, some of the ingredients in gripe water have a long history of use for intestinal conditions like colic.

If you're interested in trying gripe water for your baby's colic, ask his pediatrician to recommend a specific brand that he or she trusts.

Are Herbal Remedies Safe For Your Baby's Colic?

Only your doctor can tell you if these popular colic remedies are appropriate for your child. If you have any questions about the safety of these or any other colic treatments, consult a qualified health care practitioner for the information that's right for you and your child.

REFERENCES:

Savino, F., Bailo, E., Oggero, R., Tulio, V., Roana, J., Carlone, N., et al. (2005). Bacterial counts of intestinal Lactobacillus species in infants with colic.

Weizman, Z., Alkinawi, S., Goldfarb, D., Bitran, C. (1993). Efficacy of herbal tea preparation in infantile colic.

Blumenthal, I. (2000). The Gripe Water Story. Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine.