I haven't posted about making herbal remedies lately, so I thought I'd do a quick one here. If you live in Canada or England then you know what gripe water is. Gripe water is used to treat stomach upset in babies. Often colicky babies are given this the most as they tend to suffer from digestion problems. However, every baby is "gassy" from time to time ;-) So what's a mother to do? You could run out to your local grocery/drug store and buy some gripe water or make your own.
In the USA, I have found only a few places that sell it, and they are usually stores that specialize in foreign foods, especially English foods. So if you are looking for it to settle your baby's tummy and live in the USA, then try a local specialty "English" shop or do a search online.
Otherwise, you can make an easy one from scratch in your own kitchen. This is what I do because with 5 children it can be a daunting task to go to the grocery store for just one thing :)
So, here is my easy recipe:
1 tsp chamomile flowers, dried
1/2 tsp catnip herb, dried
1/4 tsp fennel seeds, from the herbal section of the health store (not just from the spice rack)
If you can't find fennel seeds, omit them. If you can't find catnip, omit it. If you have nothing else, chamomile will work. Fennel on it's own is great too.
Boil some water, about 12 oz and pour over herbal mix in a large cup or bowl. Cover tightly and leave for at least 10 minutes. Place in the fridge. It will store for about 3 days. Give it to your baby in a dropper, starting with about 1/2 - 1 tsp (3-5 mls).
Always test it before administering it to a baby. And as always, check with your doctor before giving any remedies to your baby, as I am not certified to give advice! Oh, and you could sweeten it with some rapadura (sugar cane juice), but remember to never give honey to a baby under 1 year old. It's mild enough that I find it isn't necessary to sweeten it.
You could make this as a remedy in vegetable glycerine which is naturally sweet. This would keep for about 1 year. More on this another time!
In the USA, I have found only a few places that sell it, and they are usually stores that specialize in foreign foods, especially English foods. So if you are looking for it to settle your baby's tummy and live in the USA, then try a local specialty "English" shop or do a search online.
Otherwise, you can make an easy one from scratch in your own kitchen. This is what I do because with 5 children it can be a daunting task to go to the grocery store for just one thing :)
So, here is my easy recipe:
1 tsp chamomile flowers, dried
1/2 tsp catnip herb, dried
1/4 tsp fennel seeds, from the herbal section of the health store (not just from the spice rack)
If you can't find fennel seeds, omit them. If you can't find catnip, omit it. If you have nothing else, chamomile will work. Fennel on it's own is great too.
Boil some water, about 12 oz and pour over herbal mix in a large cup or bowl. Cover tightly and leave for at least 10 minutes. Place in the fridge. It will store for about 3 days. Give it to your baby in a dropper, starting with about 1/2 - 1 tsp (3-5 mls).
Always test it before administering it to a baby. And as always, check with your doctor before giving any remedies to your baby, as I am not certified to give advice! Oh, and you could sweeten it with some rapadura (sugar cane juice), but remember to never give honey to a baby under 1 year old. It's mild enough that I find it isn't necessary to sweeten it.
You could make this as a remedy in vegetable glycerine which is naturally sweet. This would keep for about 1 year. More on this another time!
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