Posted on: Saturday, January 17, 2004

PRESCRIPTIONS
Fennel may ease colic in some infants

By Amy Tousman

Q. Is fennel an effective treatment for colic?

A. Fennel may be beneficial in treating colic for some infants. It has a long history of use in Europe, China, and India for this condition, but was not studied here until recently.

According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, "colic is a condition in which an infant cries inconsolably, often screaming. The infant extends or pulls up his legs and passes gas. The baby's stomach may stick out.

"The crying spells can occur at any time, but often seem worse from 6 p.m. to midnight. Crying may occur up to three hours per day. Colic often starts at 2-4 weeks of age and ends around 3 months of age.

"There is not a definite explanation to why this happens. Most often colic means the child is unusually sensitive to stimulation. Sometimes in breast-feeding babies, colic is a sign of sensitivity to a food in the mother's diet. The discomfort is only rarely caused by sensitivity to milk protein in formula."

A study reported in the September 2003 issue of the journal Alternative Therapies found that fennel eliminated or reduced the intensity of inconsolable crying and irritability of some babies. In this study, 125 infants with colic were randomly assigned to receive 5 to 20 ml of a 0.1 percent fennel seed oil emulsion or placebo up to four times a day for one week.

Colic was eliminated in 65 percent of the infants in the fennel treatment group, compared to improvements in 24 percent in the placebo group. No adverse side-effects were reported.

In the past, fennel has been shown to reduce intestinal spasms and to help expel gas. This may be why it may help relieve colic.

The only other medicine known to help colic is Bentyl, but approximately 5 percent of infants treated with this medicine develop serious side-effects. These include breathing difficulties, seizures, dizziness, coma, and even death. This is why physicians rarely prescribe this medication for infants.

When given as a diluted tea, fennel seems to be a safe and effective treatment for colic. Do not use "fennel honey" for infants, as honey is dangerous for infants.

If the usual treatments for colic do not work for your baby, fennel may be worth a try.

Amy Tousman is a registered dietitian with Straub Clinic and Hospital.