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Definition

Spasm in any hollow or tubular soft organ accompanied by pain. Usually refers to the colon, but can be biliary (associated with gallstones), infantile, intestinal (may occur throughout the abdomen), lead poisoning, menstrual, renal (pain in the kidney region), uterine (menstrual cramps). Here we will deal with the infantile only. Babies between birth and one year of age may be prone to colic.
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Causes

In infants; eating too rapidly, excessive air swallowing, indigestion, improper food, constipation.
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Symptoms

Sudden loud crying spells, pulling knees up on the stomach, red face, distended stomach, clenched fists.
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Treatment

Warm catnip tea given in a bottle, and also a catnip tea enema may be beneficial. Sometimes the colic may be avoided if the crying spells come at regular intervals or it can be predicted (after eating, etc.). A very warm bath given an hour before the colic pains start, may prevent an episode. Training the baby to eat more slowly or not allowing the baby to become too hungry, may help in the long run.
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Herbs

• Angelica
• Anise seed
• Arsesmart
• Asafetida
• Ash, prickly
• Balm
• Balm, leon
• Barberry
• Bee-balm
• Bergamot, wild
• Blazing-star, rough
• Blue cohosh
• Buck bean
• Buckthorn bark
• Bunchberry
• Celery seeds
• Capsicum
• Carrot, wild
• Castor bean
• Catnip
• Chamomile, wild
• Colic-root (stargrass)
• Colombo root
• Dill
• Dragon root
• Fennel seeds
• Feverfew
• Flag, sweet
• Fringe tree
• Ginseng
• Gumweed
• Horseredish
• Indigo, cream wild
• Jambul
• Mint, wild
• Mugwort
• Mullein
• Nutmeg
• Onion
• Pennyroyal
• Peppermint
• Pine, longleaf
• Pineapple-weed
• Pleurisy root
• St. Andrew's cross
• Shepherd's purse
• Spicebush
• Squaw weed
• Star grass
• Stoneroot
• Thyme
• Valerian, fragrant
• Walnut, black
• Wintergreen
• Yam, wild

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Suggestions

One source recommends a mixture for the colic, (not given if for adults or for children and infants). Camomile, balm, fragrant valerian, and buck bean mixed in equal parts. Steep 1 tbsp. in 1 cup boiling-hot water for 10 minutes. Drink warm.
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Bibliography

LiveStrong.com: Anise for Colic

Back to Eden, by Jethro Kloss; Back to Eden Publishing Co., Loma Linda, CA 92354, Original copyright 1939, revised edition 1994

The Complete Medicinal Herbal, by Penelope Ody, Dorling Kindersley, Inc, 232 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10016, First American Edition, copyright 1993

Earl Mindell's Herb Bible, by Earl Mindell, R.Ph., Ph.D., Simon & Schuster/Fireside, Rockefeller Center 1230 Avenue of the Americas, New York, New York 10020

The Old Herb Doctor, by Joseph E. Meyer, Meyerbooks, publisher, PO Box 427, Glenwood, Illinois 60425, copyright 1984, sixth printing 1994.

Eastern/Central Medicinal Plants, by Steven Foster and James A. Duke., Houghton Mifflin Company, 215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10000

Indian Herbalogy of North America, by Alma R. Hutchens, Shambala Publications, Inc., Horticultural Hall, 300 Massachusetts Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, 1973

Planetary Herbology, by Michael Tierra, C.A., N.D., O.M.D., Lotus Press, PO Box 325, Twin Lakes. WI 53181., Copyright 1988, published 1992

The Yoga of Herbs, by Dr. David Frawley & Dr. Vasant Lad, Lotus Press, Twin Lakes, Wisconsin, Second edition, 1988.

The Rodale Herb Book, edited by William H. Hylton, Rodale Press, Inc. Emmaus, PA, 18049., 1974

The Herb Book, by John Lust, Bantam Books, 666 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY. copyright 1974.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration: When Baby Arrives

Drugs.com: Anise

PubMed.gov: Neurotoxicities in infants seen with the consumption of star anise tea.

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