Gripe water is an herbal, homeopathic solution used to soothe colic and other digestive problems in babies. The first commercial gripe water was produced in England in the mid-1800s and featured alcohol, baking soda, and dill oil among its ingredients. Modern gripe water solutions differ greatly from these early formulas; most, however, feature a basic number of natural extracts thought to be holistically useful for treating digestive problems.
Fennel
According to Drugs.com, fennel is an herb traditionally used to treat indigestion and digestive system inflammations. It is thought to prevent stomach and intestinal cramping by inhibiting smooth muscle contractions within the digestive tract. Fennel seed extract is more commonly used in modern gripe water preparations.
Peppermint
Like fennel, the herb peppermint can decrease digestive pain by relaxing the muscles in the stomach and intestine. Peppermint stimulates the production of bile---the digestive system enzyme responsible for digesting fat---and speeds digestion.
Chamomile
Chamomile has been traditionally used as a soothing agent for both the nervous and digestive systems. In gripe water, chamomile works to stimulate the production of digestive system juices while simultaneously inhibiting muscle spasms.
Caraway
Caraway extract has been employed as a powerful natural anti-flatulence remedy for centuries. As with the other herbs contained in basic gripe water solutions, caraway's ability to help with an infant's digestive system problems is related to its inhibitory effect on stomach and digestive tract muscles.
Ginger
Ginger is mainly known as an effective nausea treatment. However, ginger also improves the flow of blood to the digestive system, stimulates the production of bile from the liver and eases the muscle spasms that cause stomach cramps.
Aloe
According to Coliccalm.com, the juice from the leaves of the aloe plant is especially useful in preventing and treating the buildup of digestive gases in the stomach, intestines and colon. Combined with the gripe water herbal extracts that inhibit muscle spasms, aloe can assist in lessening the pain an infant experiences from digestive upsets.
Lemon Balm
The herb lemon balm is an effective muscle relaxant and digestive gas inhibitor; it is especially effective at treating digestive problems when paired with peppermint.
Vegetable Carbon
Vegetable carbon is also known as vegetable charcoal, and is naturally produced from the breakdown of carbon in vegetable matter. The vegetable carbon used in commercial gripe waters works by attracting and eliminating digestive gases and other substances as it passes through a baby's digestive tract.
