Infant Colic And Treating With Homeopathy

Infantile colic and often indicated homeopathic remedies. It’s also referred as crying baby syndrome.

For anyone with a baby suffering from this problem, it’s a reality that causes significant distress to the infant as well as parents, carers and siblings. A specific cause is as yet unknown and the symptoms involve excessive crying for more than three hours per day for more than three days per week in an infant who is otherwise (clinically) well and thriving. The infant may also have abdominal distension, flatus, borborygmus, a flushed face, clenched fists, may draw their knees up or arch their back, as if in pain. Colic may develop in the early weeks of life, peaking at around 2-8 weeks of age and ceasing by around 12 to 16 weeks but may, in rarer cases, persist for up to 12 months.

The symptoms may occur at any time but more typically arise in the late afternoon or evening. While fewer than 5% of colicky infants are found to have an organic disease, it’s important to differentiate colic from other causes of excessive crying such as constipation, infantile migraine, dairy, soy or some other form of allergy (where these may be associated with an aggravation of symptoms), gastro-oesophageal reflux (which may itself be secondary to dairy or soy allergy), or lactose overload / malabsorption (indicated by frothy watery diarrhoea with perianal excoriation). Other causes of persistent crying may include early teething, urinary tract infection, otitis media or raised intracranial pressure. 
There are a number of symptoms that, when combined with excessive crying, indicate the need for timely medical attention- these include a change in bowel habits, an abnormal temperature, persistent abdominal distenstion, an increase in crying frequency or lethargy.

Very few medications, from allopathic medicine have consistently been found to be effective for colic, but found to have serious side effects. In mothers who are breastfeeding, a maternal hypoallergenic diet, avoiding dairy products, eggs, wheat, or nuts, may improve matters. The rapid acting and low-risk features of homeopathic medicines can make them ideal for use with infants suffering from colic, and following are some of the most frequently prescribed.

Colocynthis: This is one of the most commonly used first-aid medicines for colic. Characteristically, the colic will cause the child to bring the knees up to the chest. Child will be irritable easily angered. There may be co-existing gastro-intestinal bloating, green spluttery diarrhoea, vomiting and a coated tongue. 

Chamomilla: Chamomilla is also a common prescription here. The child in this case usually hot, thirsty, has red cheeks and wants to be carried, cries inconsolably and may angrily reject things that are offered. In colic the appearance is typically one of vomiting, an arched back, restlessness, anger, and the infant is often teething at the same time. The stools may be green and smell of rotten eggs and there may be great abdominal distension with small quantities of flatus being passed. 

Nux vomica: Nux is often associated with nervousness, irritability, anger, as well as hypersensitivity to noise and light. In this instance, colic may arise 1 to 2 hours after feeding, and may be accompanied by retching or vomiting, constipation, flatulent distension of the abdomen, hunger, coating at the back of the tongue, or a stuffy nose. 

Mag phos: The mag phos infant may appear restless, weak and lethargic. There may be muscular spasms or twitching, teething, thirst for cold drinks, belching, constipation, bloating and flatulent colic that causes the child to bend double. 

Dioscorea: In this instance the infant will normally appear to be in severe pain and will exhibit borborygmi. They may be thirstless and have a coated tongue, yellowish diarrhoea and will often belch offensive gas. They will commonly arch their back and may have a history of digestive weakness. 

Pulsatilla: The pulsatilla child is usually sensitive, gentle, weepy and thirstless, despite still wanting the comfort of the breast or bottle, and wants to be held or rocked. They’re frequently seen sleeping with their hands above their heads. Attacks of colic may be aggravated by emotional stress. 

Bryonia alba: Indicated when symptoms develop slowly, irritability, an abdomen sensitive to touch, dry mucous membranes, a yellowish or brown coated tongue, constipation or the passing of large, dry stools, lethargy and a thirst for large amounts of liquid. Food or drink may be vomited soon after consuming it and the infant usually dislikes being carried or raised.

Carbo vegetabilis: Carbo veg is a common prescription for colic pains associated with bloating, offensive belching, and offensive flatulence. The child may appear weak or listless with a puffy face, the rate of respiration is often increased, the tongue may be coated white or yellowish and the skin may feel cold and have a bluish hue. 

Ignatia: This is often indicated where the mother has unresolved grief. The infant in this case may exhibit hyper-acuity of the senses, may be easily excited, apprehensive, moody, rigid and nervous. 

Lycopodium: The lycopodium infant may appear to be thin, weak, anxious, sensitive and apprehensive. Symptoms are worse in the late afternoon or early evening, and better from motion and after midnight.

Lastly, potency and dosage and medicine depends on age of the baby symptomatology and few other factors. It should be taken only as prescribed by homeopathic practitioner only.