Does your baby cry continuously and painfully? Sure it is normal for them to cry, except for the fact that this particular cry is unusual. Does your baby cry at clocklike times each day? Does this happen about three times a week or more? Is it usually painful? You have probably tried soothing, breastfeeding and everything else, but your baby just won’t stop. Interestingly, your baby is completely healthy. Well, one out of five babies develops the problem - it is colic. Some may stop crying once they have bowel movements or pass gas.
So, the colic situation is brought up by incidents of unwanted gases and indigestion. So how do you unriddle such a case?
You may have been recommended to use fennel seed tea.
Is fennel tea actually safe for babies?
Traditional remedies such as herbal tea efficiently solve the problem. Notably, Fennel tea has a reputation for being an excellent remedy. It is a commonly preferred colic remedy for babies. Mothers are advised to give their babies fennel tea alongside breast milk. It has volatile gases that reduce the chances of bloating in infants. Bloating makes babies uncomfortable and most cry frequently for a prolonged period of time.
If you’ve ever heard about gripe water (a commercial remedy for colic) it actually contains fennel oil, amongst other ingredients.
Concerns
Though fennel tea is recommended for the colic condition in infants, concerns regarding its use have been raised. According to research, fennel tea helps in reducing colic symptoms by reducing the gastrointestinal tract spasm and activating the motility of the small intestine (view abstract here). However, in the research, it was also ascertained that two infants developed neurological complication when their mothers used herbal products containing fennel and other ingredients. Further research should be performed to shed light on the association of the complications with herbal supplement consumption. And that’s why it’s advised to give your child pure fennel tea rather than an herbal supplement containing other ingredients as well.
Benefits
Despite the concerns, there are more benefits associated with using fennel than side effects. Pure fennel tea is good for breastfeeding mothers and their babies. In cases when fennel tea is mixed with other ingredients, there is an increased likelihood that the infants may suffer from brain damage.
Apart from curing colic, fennel acts as a booster for a baby’s immunity due to the presence of both vitamins C and E in the fennel is an added advantage.
The fact that fennel tea has the capabilities also to fight anemia is an added benefit to the baby. Hemoglobin production in red blood cells precursors is boosted, and this makes it an excellent remedy for babies.
Fennel tea fights off respiratory tract issues. Children who are subjected to fennel tea are less likely to develop breathing problems.
It can be beneficial for babies who are prone to ingesting foreign and dirty objects which may in turn impact negatively on their digestive health. Fennel tea has an effective way of ensuring a cleansed digestive system and thus killing internal parasites and bacteria that are reared in the process.
However, it has been established that fennel tea may cause some allergic reactions to some babies. It is advisable for parents to find out whether their babies are allergic to fennel tea before administering it to them. Fennel tea and the herb itself are the only safe preparations that have been proven to be safe for infants.
While research shows that infants with colic conditions showed positive responses when their mothers used fennel tea before breastfeeding, caution must be taken into account. It is far-reaching to seek advice from professionals to avoid any damages bringing to neurological defficiencies of the baby among other complications. The effects that may be associated with fennel tea in babies are therefore caused by overlooking advice from medical practitioners. The actions involved here include overdosing by parents and the use of impure fennel tea.
In the right amounts, fennel seed is much safer.
Conclusion
Before giving your baby fennel tea, you should consult a child pediatrician.
So, how do you make fennel seed tea?
The recipe is simple and involves crushing and boiling the seeds. This releases the essential oils which contain health benefits. Check out this fennel tea recipe.
