Colic Treatment Recipes

Colic is defined as excessive crying in an otherwise healthy infant. “Excessive” means crying that lasts more than three hours a day for more than three days a week. During the first six months, this harmless but distressing condition afflicts about 20 percent of newborns.

Crying is typically more intense in the evening. Difficulty falling and staying asleep is common. Scientific studies suggest colicky babies aren’t in pain (even though colic derives from the Greek word for “pain”). Nevertheless, they often look uncomfortable, their faces a furious red, legs drawn up to their belly.

The cause is unknown, though experts suspect immaturity of the nervous system or gastrointestinal system may be to blame. Compared to their more placid peers, colicky babies typically become overstimulated more easily and have more difficulty unwinding. As with most conditions of mysterious origins, a cure for colic remains elusive. Fortunately, it doesn’t last forever.

RECIPES TO TREAT COLIC

Hold That Baby
Your baby may not cease crying when you pick him or her up. Remind yourself that you’re obeying your instincts and teaching your infant that you’re reliable and trustworthy. Your baby You
Preparation and use:
Pick up your infant. Experiment with the position. (Some babies get more relief from being held head up; others feel better with their belly draped over someone’s thighs.) The gentle pressure of your legs (or shoulders) against the baby’s belly may feel good. The belly-over-the-thighs position can help expel intestinal gas. Gently rubbing the baby’s back is soothing and can also help speed the process. Experiment with gentle rhythmic movement: rocking, swinging, car rides, or stroller rides. Some babies soothe to movement; others quiet to stillness. (Never roughly shake the baby, as this could rupture veins inside the baby’s skull, causing a fatal injury.)
Yield: 1 (perhaps interminable) Session
How it works:
Finding a comfortable position can help shift pressure inside the baby that may cause pain and discomfort. Slight pressure against the baby’s belly can help expel gas. Soothing movement helps lull a baby to sleep.

Swaddle Up
Swaddling is a time-honored means of soothing a baby. Baby A clean baby blanket
Preparation and use:
Lie the baby backside down on a blanket’s diagonal. Starting with the triangle below his or her feet, carefully wrap each triangular end over the infant’s legs, arms, and belly to securely enclose his or her tiny body in the blanket cocoon.
Yield: 1 application
How it works:
Newborns startle when their arms and legs are flapping about. Swaddling helps a baby feel secure.

Infant Tummy Massage
2 tablespoons (30 ml) carrier oil (apricot oil is nice) 3 to 4 drops essential oil of lavender, German chamomile, mandarin, or lemon balm
Preparation and use:
Blend the drops of essential oil of choice into the carrier oil. Lay your baby on your lap, facing you. Dip your fingertips into the oil. Using light pressure, move your fingertips in circles around the abdomen in the direction that the large bowel empties. Start in the lower right corner of your child’s belly (lower left from your perspective). Move up, under the ribs, then down the left side. Watch your baby’s response. If he or she doesn’t enjoy the massage, stop.
Yield: 1 massage Session
How it works:
Massage is calming and may also relieve colic. Your peaceful intention and the smooth movements of your hand can soothe you, too. (Your agitation only adds to your baby’s distress.) Moving your fingers along the direction of the large intestine may help expel gas. Lavender, chamomile, and lemon balm are calming, antispasmodic, and expel intestinal gas. Mandarin, a member of the citrus family, calms and aids indigestion. Note: Don’t try belly massage right after eating.

Baby Bike 
You can combine this with the previous recipe for a full baby massage.
Your baby
You
Preparation and use:
On your lap, place your baby on his or her back, facing you. Move your child’s legs in a circular motion as if he or she were riding a bicycle.
Yield: 1 Session
How it works:
The repetitive circular motion helps expel gas from the digestive system.

Warm Relief 
A hot water bottle
Warm water
A clean towel or baby blanket
Preparation and use:
Fill the water bottle with warm, not hot, water. Test the bottle on your own skin for a few minutes to make sure it’s warm but not hot. Place the water bottle over your lap and cover it with the towel or blanket. Place your baby belly down. Gently rub his or her back.
Yield: 1 Session
How it works:
Warmth and massage helps some colicky babies. As mentioned earlier, studies support infant massage. We don’t know of studies specifically addressing the effectiveness of hot water bottles. However, many pediatricians recommend them and mention of them occurs in the pediatric literature.

Soothing Bath
In my experience, warm baths can help. When my son was an infant, he quieted if I got in the bath with him and nursed. (Caution: The baby may poop in the tub.) ~ LBW Warm water 3 to 4 drops essential oil of lavender, German chamomile, mandarin, or lemon balm (Use only 1 to 2 drops if using a small infant tub.)
Preparation and use:
Fill an infant tub with water, checking that the temperature is pleasantly warm but not hot. Drop in the essential oil and frisk the water with your hand to disperse. Slowly lower your infant into the water, being sure to support his or her head. Gently scoop water over the baby’s chest and belly. Do not leave your infant unattended. After the bath, pat your baby’s skin dry with a towel and dress.
Yield: 1 Session
How it works:
Warm water is soothing and helps calm some colicky babies. The essential oils have relaxing effects. Lavender in particular can have a muscle-relaxing or sedative effect.

Herbal Bath Relief 
1 quart (946 ml) water ¼ cup (6 g) dried catnip leaves ¼ cup (6 g) dried chamomile flowers ¼ cup (6 g) dried lemon balm leaves
Preparation and use:
In a large pot, boil the water. Turn off the heat, add the herbs, and cover. Steep for 20 minutes. Strain this infusion into warm bathwater. Check the temperature before lowering the baby into the water.
Yield: 1 herbal bath 
How it works:
All three herbs are calming and relieve intestinal gas and cramping.

Tummy Tea for Nursing Mothers 
Many chemicals in these time-tested herbs for colic cross into the breast milk and deliver the needed effect to the baby. 3 cups (710 ml) water 1 teaspoon (0.5 g) dried chamomile flowers 1 teaspoon (2 g) fennel seeds 1 teaspoon (0.5 g) dried lemon balm
Preparation and use:
Boil the water in a small saucepan. Turn off the heat and add the herbs. Steep for 15 to 20 minutes. Start sipping an hour or two before your baby usually starts crying to be fed.
Yied: 3 Servings
How it works:
Two studies have shown decreased crying when colicky infants drank small amounts of a tea made with herbs that relieve intestinal spasms and gas such as chamomile, vervain, licorice, fennel, and lemon balm. Fennel, vervain, chamomile, and lemon balm relax the intestines; the latter three herbs relax the nervous system. Licorice is anti-inflammatory and soothes mucous membrane linings. However, the general rule is, until the age of six months, infants should consume either breast milk or infant formula. They need the nutrients. Supplementing breast milk with anything risks decreasing a woman’s milk supply. And, there’s the risk of contamination. Because many chemicals in herbs cross into the breast milk, a safer bet is for the mother to drink the tea. Warning: Some people are allergic to chamomile. Also, never give honey to infants under twelve months of age because of the risk of botulism. Recipe Variation: Experiment with other timehonored herbs for colic, such as catnip, spearmint, dill seeds, caraway seeds, and aniseeds (not star anise).

When Simple Doesn’t Work
See your doctor. He or she may recommend simethicone (Mylicon or Phazyme), a medication that helps break up bubbles in the intestinal tract. You might ask your doctor about giving your baby supplements of the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri. In a study published in the journal, Pediatrics, in 2007, the L. reuteri supplement outperformed simethicone.

When To Call The Doctor
Infantile colic is a benign condition that resolves with time. However, it can stress a new family. Plus, infants can and do become ill. Your pediatrician or family doctor’s job is to provide support when you need it. You should call whenever you have questions or simply need reassurance. In addition, call if:
• You suspect your infant is ill.
• Your baby refuses to nurse or bottle feed. (If your baby continues to wet five to six diapers a day, he or she is probably getting enough fluids.)
• Your infant isn’t gaining weight normally. (During the first six months of life, babies gain an average of 5 to 7 ounces [142 to 198 g] a week.)
• You feel physically or emotionally ex - hausted by your baby’s crying.
• You’re concerned that you or someone else might shake or other wise hurt the baby.