-IBIS-1.7.6-
tx
digestive system
colic
Botanicals
primary herbs
Acorus calamus (toxic): relieves flatulence; strengthens digestion (Harper-Shove, 69.)
Anethum graveolens: infusions of the seeds (Anderson Geller)
Capsicum frutescens: with distension; improves circulation, clears congestion (Harper-Shove, 98.)
Carum carvi: with Althea officinalis, Chamamaelum nobilis and Acorus calamus in digestive disorders with flatulence and colic (British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, 49.)
Chelone glabra: intestinal colic (British herbal Pharmacopoeia, 63.)
Cinnamonum zeylanicum
Dioscorea villosa: tenderness on pressure, mild colicky pains (Ellingwood F, 278, Harper-Shove, 69.); with Acorus calamus, Chamamaelum nobilis and/or Zingiber officinale in hot infusion (British Herbal Pharmacopoeia, 79.)
Foeniculum vulgare
Lobelia inflata (toxic): relieves spasm; small doses relieve infantile colic (Felter HW, Lloyd JU. 1203.)
Matricaria chamomilla: with greenish stool, flatulent colic; child relieved if carried about (Harper-Shove, 69, Felter HW, Lloyd JU. 1247.)
Mentha piperita: internally relieves discomfort and gas; oil applied topically (Anderson Geller, Ellingwood, p. 280)
Nepeta cataria (Harper-Shove, 69.)
Petroselinum sativum (root)
Pimpinella anisum (anise seed): flatulent colic in infants (Harper-Shove, p. 69)
Piscidia erythrina (toxic): relieves acute pain and spasm (Ellingwood F. 111.)
Zingiber officinale: with flatulence; warms interior (Felter HW, Lloyd JU. 2111.)
complementary herbs
Matricaria chamomilla (chamomile), Verbena (vervain), Glycyrrhiza glabra (licorice), Foeniculum vulgare (fennel), and Melissa (lemon balm), as tea. A double-blind study found that this combination relieved colic more effectively than placebo. (Weizman Z, et al. J Pediatr 1993 Apr;122(4):650-652.)
footnotes
Schilcher H. Phytotherapy in Paediatrics. Stuttgart: Medpharm Scientific Publishers, 1997.
Weizman Z, Alkrinawi S, Goldfarb D, Bitran C. Efficacy of herbal tea preparation in infantile colic. J Pediatr 1993 Apr;122(4):650-652.
Abstract: We evaluated the effect of an herbal tea preparation on infantile colic in a prospective double-blind study. The use of tea eliminated the colic in 19 (57%) of 33 infants, whereas placebo was helpful in only 9 (26%) of 35 (p < 0.01). The mean colic score was significantly improved in tea-treated infants. No significant differences were noted between groups regarding number of night wakings.