Written By: Debjani Arora | Updated : November 20, 2015 3:18 PM IST
Read this in Hindi.
Newborn babies and infants cry for a number of reasons and this could at times be difficult for a doting mother to interpret. One of the common causes that make a baby cry uncontrollably, apart from hunger, is colic. Colic is tricky to treat; it is believed that newborns and infants swallow some amount of air while taking a feed either at the breast or during bottle feeding. This air that remains trapped in the abdominal cavity, unable to escape, gives rise to pain that s intolerable for babies, hence the crying. A baby suffering from colic pain would be crying restlessly, pulling her legs upward towards the abdomen reflexively. If you aren't able to reach to your doctor for a solution go to your kitchen for an instant remedy. Here are a few kitchen ingredients that can help you counter your baby s colic pain.
Asafetida or hing: Take a few pinches of hing or asafetida and add a little water to it. Make a paste out of it and with your middle finger apply it around your baby s navel area in circular motion. Slowly keep moving away from the navel area and cover the entire abdomen, continuing to do so in a circular motion. Hing that has anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties is known to counter flatulence in babies effectively. It might take a couple of minutes for this ancient remedy to show its effect on your baby and counter the pain, so be patient.
Carom seeds or ajwain: Have a few spoons of ajwain or carom seeds and add it to a pan filled with water. Then put the pan on a burner and allow it to boil for around 10 minutes. Take it out and allow it to cool at room temperature. Strain the water and store it in an air tight steel container. Give your baby a few spoonfuls of the liquid to curb colic pain. Ajwain or carom seeds are known for their efficacy in treating indigestion problems and flatulence. Ideally a mother who is breastfeeding can also have ajwain ka pani, prepared in the same way to help counter problems like acidity, reflux and indigestion to ensure a smooth breastfeeding experience.
Fennel or saunf: Like ajwain, add some fennel seeds or saunf in a pan filled with water and boil it for few minutes. Cool it and strain the liquid and give your baby a few spoonfuls to treat a sudden bout of colic. Alternately, you can make a concoction using both fennel and carom seeds to serve the same purpose. You can store the concoction in an air tight container and use it when required, but it would be ideal if you make a fresh preparation each time when you need it. Since you may never be sure when a bout of colic can take hold, make the preparation in the morning and keep it aside to use when needed during the day.
Raisins: Take handfuls of raisins and cut them into halves, put them in a pan and add water to it. Next, put the pan on the burner and let it boil for some time. Remove it from the flame and allow it to cool. Offer your baby a few spoonfuls of the same after a meal or in the evening to prevent the onset of colic. With raisins, opt for the bigger ones and not the other variety that you use for garnishing sweet dishes.
Baking soda: Like hing, take few pinches of baking soda, add a little water to it and make it into a thin paste. Massage this paste on your baby s stomach in an anticlockwise direction to beat flatulence.
Note:Home remedies are believed to work wonders when it comes to treating colic in infants and newborns. But these remedies might not show effective results with everyone. If you notice that your baby suffers from a bout of colic frequently and these quick fixes aren t enough to provide relief, seek and appointment with your pediatrician and look for a better solution.
Photo source: Getty images
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