Gripe water is a natural home remedy made from herbs, for infants who have stomach pain, colic, acid reflux or pain from teething. It's given to a baby directly using a dropper or added to his bottle at feeding time. There are several formulations on the market that are either sold as all-natural herbal supplements or homeopathic remedies.
History
For centuries, there have been various home remedies to help infants with stomach ailments. However, "gripe water" was discovered by accident in 1851, by an American pharmacist named William Woodward who was working in England. At the time, there had been an outbreak of malaria and fen fever, and the treatment that doctors and nannies were giving to infants for those diseases seemed to also be soothing babies' gastrointestinal problems.
Woodward created a formula based on that home remedy containing dill oil, sodium bicarbonate, sugar, water and 3.6 percent alcohol. Woodward's Gripe Water is still marketed online, but in 1993 the U.S. Food and Drug Administration stopped it from being sold in the United States because it was an unapproved drug.
Benefits
Gripe water is believed to ease pain and calms the digestive system, because of the herbs that make up the ingredients. These herbs have been used for centuries to treat stomach issues, improve gastric mobility, relieve cramps and acid reflux, absorb gas and calm restlessness in adults and in children.
Ingredients
In the United States, as well as in some other countries, alcohol and sugar are no longer used as the base. There are different formulas available, but generally you'll find glycerin, deionized water, citric acid or sodium bicarbonate, as well as herbal extracts, oils or homeopathic herb formulas. Herbs on the ingredient list may include fennel, ginger, peppermint, chamomile, caraway, aloe, lemon balm, blackthorn, dill and cloves.
Instructions
Thoroughly shake the bottle, and use the dropper provided to measure out a dose from the bottle, according to the instructions; this will usually be 1/2 to 1 tsp. With your baby lying down or in your arms, slowly squirt the dose directly into his mouth, or add it to his bottle of formula or breast milk. Repeat as needed every 30 minutes to every few hours, up to six times a day.
Wash the dropper and let it dry after each use, and discard what you haven't used within six weeks to six months, depending on the directions. Always store the bottle tightly closed, and away from direct sunlight.
Manufacturers
The most popular American brands of gripe water are Baby's Bliss, Colic-Ease and the homeopathic ColicCalm. The first two are classified as herbal dietary supplements, so are not tested for effectiveness or safety. Since ColicCalm is regulated as a homeopathic formula, it has to conform to stricter testing. See the Resources section for links to the official websites of these companies.
