Gripe water, an update of a 19th century anti-malarial treatment, is commonly used by new mothers in Europe. Gaining increased popularity in the U.S., Gripe water is suggested for flatulence, teething and hiccups. Gripe water is also commonly used to calm a colicky baby.
Carminative
Colic is loosely defined as excessive crying within the first three months of life. According to the May 1998 article "Effectiveness of Treatments for Infantile Colic" by P L B J Lucassen, et. al. published in the British Journal of Medicine, these intestinal spasms can result from cow's milk allergy, intolerance to the lactose in milk, an immature gastrointestinal tract or excessive gas production. Gripe water's effectiveness is sometimes attributed to carminative herbs, which expel gas.
While the original Woodward Gripe Water trademarked in 1876 contained the carminative herb dill, more recent versions contain fennel and ginger.
Antispasmodic
Some gripe water formulas include chamomile, which can decrease spasms of the GI tract. Chamomile has been shown to be effective in treating colic, according to a 2007 study by Dr. Paula Gardiner published in Pediatrics in Review.
Analgesic
Sugar water also can help relieve colic.A small study conducted by the Department of Pediatrics at the University of Bergen, in Bergen, Norway, published in the Archives of Disease in Childhood in 1997, found that the sweetness of sugar actually exhibited analgesic, or pain-relieving properties.
References
- Alternative Therapies in Health and Medicine: The Effect of Fennel Seed Oil Emulsion In Infantile Colic
- Journal of Royal Society of Medicine: The Gripe Water Story, April 2000
- Pediatric Review: Complementary, Holistic, and Integrative Therapies - Chamomile
- British Medical Journal: Effectiveness of Treatments for Infantil Colic - Systematic Review
- Arch Dis Child; Use of Sucrose as a Treatment for Infantile Colic; 1997
