Hing -- the Indian remedy for tummy ache in babies

Written By: Debjani Arora | Updated : August 26, 2015 11:27 AM IST

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Most new mums worry about their baby s colic and often don t know how to deal with the wailing that follows. Colic is an unexplained kind of severe abdominal pain that makes a baby cry uncontrollably, pulling her legs up towards the abdomen. Experts believe that this happens when the baby inhales a lot of air with her feed, which causes contraction of the intestines. Here is what you should be doing if your baby can t stop crying due to colic.

While the condition isn t really harmful but till it lasts, it can make your baby uncomfortable, cranky and cause a lot of pain. However, in such cases the traditional Indian way of hing (asafoetida) massage on the baby s tummy works wonders. Here are five other natural remedies to help you combat colic in infants.

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Hing, that comes in a powdered form is an extract of an herbal plant Ferula and is used in many herbal medications. The chemicals present in hing have anti-bacterial and antiseptic properties which help deal with irritable bowel syndrome, colon cleansing, stomach upsets and also breathing problems. However, in the case of infants, hing cannot be given to them directly to combat gastrointestinal problems, so massaging hing is the right way to use it. Here are nine other reasons that could make your baby cry other than colic.

Here is how you to use hing

Mix half a spoon of hing with water to make a sticky paste out of it.

Apply this paste on your baby s tummy in a clockwise direction around the navel area when she is feeling colicky.

Remember the paste should not touch the navel. You can press a wet cotton ball on the navel while applying the paste.

Alternatively, mixing hing with olive oil or mustard oil can also give you the same results.

After application of the paste, allow it to cool and dry on its own.

It might take some time for the hing to work on your child s colic and give relief, but results are usually good.

Once the paste dries, try to burp your baby which will give relief from the gas and reduce stomach pain. Here is the right way to burp your baby.

After a while, wipe off the area with a wet washcloth.

There is no harm in using this ingredient to treat colic as and when required. However, if you think your baby isn t relieved or cries uncontrollably despite trying this method, do not hesitate to call or visit your paediatrician immediately.

Image source: Getty Images

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Reference:

Mahendra, P., & Bisht, S. (2012). Ferula asafoetida: Traditional uses and pharmacological activity. Pharmacognosy reviews, 6(12), 141.