Alternative Remedies For Colic

Thursday, 30 October 2008

Alternative Remedies For Colic
by Nurse Jenna
Colic causes many new moms to pace the halls, both night and day, pondering how to quiet her inconsolable baby. Though the medical community does not have a lot of good answers for treating colic, a traditional Ecuadorian remedy might offer something new to try when it seems other options have been exhausted. In my travels to Ecuador, I have spoken to many wise mothers who have passed down generations of baby rearing advise, and today while browsing a spice market, I found out about an new use for an old spice.
Colic, which is unexplained crying in an otherwise healthy baby, can affect 1 in 5 babies, appears between 1 and 4 months of age, and usually subsides on its own by the time a baby is 4 months old. It is usually diagnosed by loud crying that lasts a minimum of 3 hours a day, at least 3 times a week, for 3 weeks or more. It is important to make sure other potential intestinal problems have been ruled out by your provider. But try telling a mom who is dealing with an endlessly screaming baby to just wait out the 4 months of crying and you will soon also have a mother in tears, whose screaming rivals that of her baby´s! So what can an exhausted mom do besides the investment in a good pair of earplugs?
Though colic is not dangerous, and there really are no cures to speak of. The American Academy of Pediatrics recommends either laying your baby tummy-down across your knees and gently rubbing its back, or walking around with a soft-sided, front carrier to help provide pressure to alleviate some of the gas and discomfort. When a baby burps or passes gas, it may, or may not end the attack. Frequent burping can help minimize colic symptoms for some babies. It is recommended that bottle-fed babies are burped every 0.5-1 oz and breastfed babies every 5-10 minutes.
Though homeopathic remedies have been tried by some parents (and it is always best to discuss any herbal treatments with your doctor or nurse practitioner), the mothers of Ecuador that I have spoken with swear by mixing a small amount of ground anise powder in with the baby´s formula or pumped breast milk once a day. I am told the screaming of colic is almost completely alleviated. I have not yet had a chance to observe this myself, but I thought I would pass this along to you, as they did to me.
Did your baby have colic? What did you try to help relieve the crying? Have you tried any homeopathic remedies for colic or any problems?

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Comments (8)

Anise works,and so does cinnamon. My oldest son had colic and I was told to try anise powder . I did it worked even better than cinnamon.Something really strange? Pepsi worked for a while.I do not advise any of it I am just telling you what worked for him. My last son also had colic and the closest comfort I could find for him was ginger tea. Every child is different.
- 10/30/2008 6:42 PM
- uptoyou2@xanga (message)
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My oldest did and I used mylacon drops. It seemed to work really well for him.
- 10/30/2008 7:11 PM
- happygirl7798@xanga (message)
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Gripe Water works great!!!!
- 10/30/2008 9:33 PM
- MommasBbyKnJke@xanga (message)
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the vacuum cleaner was effective in calming my 2nd daughter, however, not very feesible...I asked our local massage therapist who's into all those home remedies for adivce even though I was a skeptic, I was ready to try anything. She advised taking dill seed, boiling it in water, straining it, and giving my daughter a couple drops of the "tea". It worked wonders. She also brought up the anise with me but said since the dill was cheaper to start with that, since it worked, we never had to try the other!
- 10/31/2008 10:26 AM
- beverly4@xanga (message)
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@MommasBbyKnJke@xanga - My mother in law recently brought that home for me....and it has been working great! I only wish I had heard of it sooner...but I agree gripe water is a great natural colic soother. Well not for me...but for my daughter.
- 10/31/2008 10:50 AM
- Lottbaby08 (message)
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Chiropractic care can be very effective, a few sessions completely solved my friend's baby's colic
- 10/31/2008 11:07 AM
- Riftsong@xanga (message)
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fascinating! i had never heard any of these remedies before, i'll file them away until/if i need them.
- 10/31/2008 11:13 PM
- draco1531@xanga (message)
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