Many of us, when we we’re a child, we’re used to gripe water as a means of curing common ailments and clearing the infections in our bodies. Traditionally, gripe water has been given to children when they cry because of colic infections and to provide relief from several ailments. This article looks at the potential benefits and side effects of gripe water when it is used for colic relief. There is lot of debate about the kind of ingredients from the different brands that the gripe water was made. Of particular interest, it is the presence of alcohol and soybean in the gripe water that can have a deleterious effect on infants.

The point here is that parents, especially mothers of infants need to be educated regarding the effect of giving gripe water to infants. While there are many advantages of the same, there are some side effects as well. Some of the brands of gripe water contain some herbs and other formulations that need to be administered with care to infants. Though tradition demands that gripe water could be the solution for colic relief, there are some safety precautions to be followed when giving gripe water to infants.

To come to the positive effects of gripe water for colic relief, it is a well known fact that gripe water has curative properties that result in the beneficial effects to infants when they are suffering from colitis and other afflictions. Colitis is a disease that results in inflammation of the colon and leads to digestive disorders. In this context, gripe water does have healing effects on children suffering from diseases associated with the colon. This is more evident for infants who find it hard to digest food stuffs and hence need periodic infusions of gripe water to keep their digestive system healthy and strong.

Many of the ads for gripe water show mothers administering gripe water when the baby is crying non-stop for hours on end. This is one way of showing the beneficial effects of gripe water on infants suffering from colon related illnesses. However, care must be taken to ensure that the baby does not get more the prescribed dosage and that the baby responds positively to gripe water. Mothers should be advised to look out for the composition of gripe water before they buy one. Many brands have this listed on their labels and it is common for chemists to explain the composition upon request.

So, is gripe water good for colic relief? This question can be answered depending on the ability of the infant to respond to gripe water and the symptoms exhibited by the baby. In many instances, the babies respond well leading to repeated dosages of gripe water. This is a good enough indication that gripe water is good for the baby. However, as outlined in the previous paragraphs, there should be some sort of moderation in the way the gripe water is administered, and it is always better to consult the doctor before giving a gripe water.

Mark Perry

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