Mercola on How to tame a colicky baby

January 26, 2007

Dr. Joseph Mercola has done this one very well; it is the closest to

an ayurvedic discussion sans terminology I've heard him make:

A friend of yours highly recommends you read this health article:

http://www.mercola.com/display/router.aspx?docid=34728 This article

comes from http://www.mercola.com, one of the Web's most visited and

trusted health information sites.

We don't get colicy babies to deal with very often, so I don't have a

comparative how long our recommendations take to work. But even

drinking milk (ayurvedically prepared and taken with proper food

combining considerations) when Mom is taking in the right foods, the

result turns around in my experience more quickly than these very good

results. Of course, our mothers are not eating leftovers, cold foods

and drinks, salads, red meats, heavy cheeses, and other harder to

digest foods either under this guidance.

Dr. Bhate, do you have colic very often among clients coming to you?

How long does it take to turn around the long crying spells and tummy

discomfort? What about you, Janel?

Warmly;

Ysha

January 26, 2007

I saw that Mercola too Ysha. But the next morning I read the paragraph below on

a lactnet group I am on which seems to say it doesn't matter what the mother

eats, the milk composition is the same. So I wonder if it would be better to

just give the baby the probiotics directly. For that matter I am tempted to

think breastmilk is perfect just the way it is, and shouldn't require any

additions. " still a point of some confusion for me. The other thing is I don't

believe in colic anyway, but that babies cry for other reasons. But that's

another whole story. I think Janelle will understand. Vicky

> " ......references seemed to underlie the statement that a maternal diet high in

refined sugars

>could lead to lactose overload and lack of fat in the breastmilk. The only

>one I had at hand was Riordan and Auerbach, and what R and A say is that the

>proportion of fat in breastmilk is unaffected by maternal diet, though the

>composition of the fat component will reflect the composition of the fat in

>her diet. To sum up: this reference does not support the claim that high

>carbohydrate and low fat intake by the mother leads to high carb, low fat

>breastmilk.

>I'm sceptical to such a claim at the outset; babies need milk of a certain

>nutritional composition. We can give mothers vitamin D supplements to the

>point of toxicity without increasing the amount in their milk, likewise for

>iron. Women in areas of famine continue to provide perfect milk for their

>babies, until they are in very advanced stages of starvation. Most people

>in the western world following a special diet are doing so because they are

>carrying around their very own depots of fat. I think the relative lactose

>overload sometimes seen as problematic in breastfed babies is from how the

>baby is feeding, not from some flaw in the milk synthesis. Just my NSHO.

>Rachel Myr

>Kristiansand, Norway

>

Rachel, I agree with you. I have one of the other references here -

the one by Abakada and Hartmann. This is from 1988, so quite old. I

have heard Peter Hartmann say many a time that the fat content of

milk is related to the degree of breast emptiness and *not* the

maternal intake. Only the fatty acid profile changes with diet. "

vicky york

Lactation consultant, postpartum doula

postpartum care services

.

Oregon

vmyork Work : 5412556368

Review me at iKarma Want to spread your own reputation?

-

Ysha Oakes

ayurveda

Thursday, January 25, 2007 6:07 PM

PerinatalAyurveda forum Mercola on " How to tame a colicky baby "

Dr. Joseph Mercola has done this one very well; it is the closest to

an ayurvedic discussion sans terminology I've heard him make:

A friend of yours highly recommends you read this health article:

http://www.mercola.com/display/router.aspx?docid=34728 This article

comes from http://www.mercola.com, one of the Web's most visited and

trusted health information sites.

We don't get colicy babies to deal with very often, so I don't have a

comparative how long our recommendations take to work. But even

drinking milk (ayurvedically prepared and taken with proper food

combining considerations) when Mom is taking in the right foods, the

result turns around in my experience more quickly than these very good

results. Of course, our mothers are not eating leftovers, cold foods

and drinks, salads, red meats, heavy cheeses, and other harder to

digest foods either under this guidance.

Dr. Bhate, do you have colic very often among clients coming to you?

How long does it take to turn around the long crying spells and tummy

discomfort? What about you, Janel?

Warmly;

Ysha

January 29, 2007

ayurveda , <VMYORK wrote:

> Women in areas of famine continue to provide perfect milk for

their

> >babies, until they are in very advanced stages of starvation.

Most people

> >in the western world following a special diet are doing so

because they are

> >carrying around their very own depots of fat. I think the

relative lactose

> >overload sometimes seen as problematic in breastfed babies is

from how the

> >baby is feeding, not from some flaw in the milk synthesis. Just

my NSHO.

> >Rachel Myr

> >Kristiansand, Norway

The fat storage for the baby is already built during pregnancy

itself. the development of breast, hips etc starts right from

puberty itself to make a teenager ready for motherhood. The fat

content uncorrelated to motehrs diet is easily berifiable statement.

One more thing is true breast milk does not have same content of

lactose and fat even during the same feed. Initial feed is rich in

lactose so that babies brain gives early satiety signal and last

feed is rich in fat, protein a little. What is important to know

that breast milk content of fat is much less than many of our fatty

diet items, at the time when baby is growing fastest both by body

and intelligence!

Peter Hartmann say many a time that the fat content of

> milk is related to the degree of breast emptiness and *not* the

> maternal intake. Only the fatty acid profile changes with diet. "

>

> Dr. Bhate, do you have colic very often among clients coming to

you?

> How long does it take to turn around the long crying spells and

tummy

> discomfort? What about you, Janel?

In india, colicky babies is a rare sight since most mothers also

give Janma-ghuti to babies right from the day they raech home from

the hospital if it was hospital birth. This Janma ghuti takes care

of most of the digestion, gas, stomach pain, constipation, parasites

complaints of babies. Janma ghuti contains many herbs (approximately

15-21) and has even dried dates, almonds. Author learnt the

importance of dates this way only. We get complete set of 15-21

herbs in a single packing termed Janma-Ghuti. Of curse pharmacies

have stepped in here too, and sell tablets for grinding them into

paste, the paste mixed with a little milk and licked by baby.

In case when colic develops, simple massage around navel with warm

oil in which asfoetida, ajwain, turmeric (sometimes ginger and

garlic) are heated till goldenbrown is applied and massge in

clockwise motion comforts baby in just 10 minutes.

another method for externally fed babies in villages is to boil milk

with a little lime water (the water floating on top of calcium

hydroxide paste). this makes milk digestible.

The leaves of castor plant, papaya plant coated with castor oil

applied to belly and then apply hot water bag/bottle also solves the

problem. Castor oil fomentation is last resort. This passes gas,

relief from constipation without baby straining too much.

dr bhate

February 6, 2007

Hi Vicki;

Forgive the delay, I " m not looking back yet what I said that started

this conversation off...but must comment to me the mother's well

being/health is so much a part of baby's, if mother is not taking

enough good fats for herself, she is hurting baby by hurting

herself.

But the comment of your lactnet group about research on breast milk

composition not changing, hence it is always a perfect food.

Firstly, we are not at issue about whether breastmilk is best food

for Baby, in hardly any case. However, we must persue this

conversation once begun. What aspects of the breast milk

compositoin were tested? Was it jsut quantity ratio of

fats/proteins/sugars etc,or did it assess also the doshic factors,

sourness, heaviness, digestibility, dryness/astringency, color,

taste, and other influences? There are many influences, which as

SUsan Weed's institute claims can reach the breast milk if ingested

in tea form within 5 minutes, changing the effects in some ways.

Same amount of fat may be there, but even the quality of the fat I

would guess can change.

>>Women in areas of famine continue to provide perfect milk for

> their babies, until they are in very advanced stages of

starvation.

Rachel's comment below is interesting and may be very appropriate,

as we have discussed in other posts -

> Most people in the western world following a special diet are

doing so because they are carrying around their very own depots of

fat. I think the relative lactose overload sometimes seen as

problematic in breastfed babies is from how the baby is feeding, not

from some flaw in the milk synthesis.

But how much is lactose relative overload and how much influences

come from other factors, I believe we have not lined up all the

discusions for accurate reporting and balance in the conversation.

>

> Peter Hartmann says many a time that the fat content of

> > milk is related to the degree of breast emptiness and *not* the

> > maternal intake. Only the fatty acid profile changes with diet. "

The fatty acid profile as we know is very important...

These things or variations sound mostly doable, Dr. Bhate, except

for the incovenience of staining with turmeric, and for not having

recipe for Janma Ghuti or its use, nor papaya nor castor leaves.

Perhaps this Janma Ghuti is a preparation sold in a little box in

Indian stores, brand I have seen called Katlu? I'm reluctant to use

it after so much about impure herbs sold often in our country in the

stores.

> In india, colicky babies is a rare sight since most mothers also

> give Janma-ghuti to babies right from the day they raech home from

> the hospital if it was hospital birth. This Janma ghuti takes care

> of most of the digestion, gas, stomach pain, constipation,

parasites complaints of babies.

ARe there antiparasitic preparations safe to use in preganancy,

particulary in early pregnancy? ONe current fertility consulting

client is already pregnant, hence her needs different and the

recommended parasite cleanse on hold though some sypmtoms exist.

Ysha

Janma ghuti contains many herbs (approximately 15-21) and has even

February 6, 2007

Vicky, I believe there is much more to the story than commonly

understood in both the dietary and the birth/communication/emotional

stressors and structural factors.

>>I don't believe in colic anyway, but that babies cry for other

reasons. But that's another whole story. I think Janelle will

understand. Vicky

You have such a wealth of caring for babies experience. What happens

with babies you care for with full on " colic " ?

re: " seems to say it doesn't matter what the mother eats, the milk

composition is the same " . please see my comment on the other post

this subject. What aspects of composition are being measured?

Breastmilk is just awesome!!!! AND not or, there are influences in it

which may be influences for more or less infant comfort/benefit.

>>So I wonder if it would be better to just give the baby the

probiotics directly.

Not remembering what Mercola cited, but we are never recommending

these except after antibiotic use. Just as surgery or yes, even some

medical drug may be lifesaving and therefore appropriate additionj,

there may be some nutrient focus that will be valuable for baby's well

being, whatever it is though, does not in my opinon diminish the value

of breastfeeding nor breast milk as the perfect food for babies.

>>For that matter I am tempted to think breastmilk is perfect just the

way it is, and shouldn't require any additions. " still a point of

some confusion for me.

More than 80% nourishment is non-physical, according to one of the

enlightened masters walking the planet these days. Whether this is

true in exact measure or similar for babies, is not really my

concern. I do not believe it is wise however to make a mother feel so

all powerful that she looses her place in the circle as a child of

Nature herself. This Nature is her own nature, Baby's nature, and Ma

Nature has both gifts and laws of nature which make a big difference

in quality of life. I hpe I said that right, it is getting late.

Love is still the central message for sure.

Ysha

February 7, 2007

Ysha, Vicky, others ...

I saw Ysha question to me about colic and ended up writing another

chapter about it that I posted on my blog,

http://hospitalbirthdebate.blogspot.com/2007_01_21_archive.html

It's about a third of the way down on that page ... called " Colic,

attachment and all that " I think. It has a link to my webpage about

colic. The way I see the world, anyway....

best to all,

janel

February 8, 2007

Ysha, mainstream studies won't probably be looking at doshas, but more the

composition of breastmilk.

And sometimes people talk about lactose overload, but they are just guessing,

not even sure it IS a lactose problem, or that there is any such thing. At the

least it becomes a catch-all for many unexplainable symptoms in the absence of

evidence or knowledge and the unwillingness to consider psychological/spiritual/

doshic and many other influences.In some of the instances they are just trying

to determine the cause of too much crying. And I am doubting the crying is

always about the milk. I think the issues involved in crying have to do with

many things, inner womb experiences, birth experiences, hospital interventions

and crazy practices, too much mother/baby separation from birth on. Feeding too

often, for the wrong reasons.

Re: herbs, I am hesitant to acknowledge the usefulness of giving babies spices

and herbs if they are breastfeeding. I can see it for later when they are eating

less than perfect foods, the wrong foods for their types, etc., but I consider

breastmilk the perfect food...even if the mom needs improvement in her diet. On

this note, I am wondering how a new baby can already have parasites in his

perfect body? I need more education on this.

Anyway, as I have said before, the dictionary defines colic as a sharp stabbing

pain to the abdomen, which is subjective. How can every baby who has frequent

crying spells be having sharp, stabbing pain to the abdomen and how can we know?

This crying is shown in studies to occur mostly between 3 weeks and 3 months. It

could be anything from not enough skin-to-skin contact with parents to diet to

mother/baby separation, to needing craniosacral therapy for body rhythm

interruptions, to whatever. So when, as a postpartum doula, I get calls about

what to do about colic, I have to take a deep breath and wonder how much the

caller is willing to consider.

Vicky

vicky york

Lactation consultant, postpartum doula

postpartum care services

.

Oregon

vmyork Work : 5412556368

Review me at iKarma Want to spread your own reputation?

-

Ysha Oakes

ayurveda

Monday, February 05, 2007 10:14 PM

Re: PerinatalAyurveda forum Mercola on " How to tame a colicky baby "

Hi Vicki;

Forgive the delay, I " m not looking back yet what I said that started

this conversation off...but must comment to me the mother's well

being/health is so much a part of baby's, if mother is not taking

enough good fats for herself, she is hurting baby by hurting

herself.

But the comment of your lactnet group about research on breast milk

composition not changing, hence it is always a perfect food.

Firstly, we are not at issue about whether breastmilk is best food

for Baby, in hardly any case. However, we must persue this

conversation once begun. What aspects of the breast milk

compositoin were tested? Was it jsut quantity ratio of

fats/proteins/sugars etc,or did it assess also the doshic factors,

sourness, heaviness, digestibility, dryness/astringency, color,

taste, and other influences? There are many influences, which as

SUsan Weed's institute claims can reach the breast milk if ingested

in tea form within 5 minutes, changing the effects in some ways.

Same amount of fat may be there, but even the quality of the fat I

would guess can change.

>>Women in areas of famine continue to provide perfect milk for

> their babies, until they are in very advanced stages of

starvation.

Rachel's comment below is interesting and may be very appropriate,

as we have discussed in other posts -

> Most people in the western world following a special diet are

doing so because they are carrying around their very own depots of

fat. I think the relative lactose overload sometimes seen as

problematic in breastfed babies is from how the baby is feeding, not

from some flaw in the milk synthesis.

But how much is lactose relative overload and how much influences

come from other factors, I believe we have not lined up all the

discusions for accurate reporting and balance in the conversation.

>

> Peter Hartmann says many a time that the fat content of

> > milk is related to the degree of breast emptiness and *not* the

> > maternal intake. Only the fatty acid profile changes with diet. "

The fatty acid profile as we know is very important...

These things or variations sound mostly doable, Dr. Bhate, except

for the incovenience of staining with turmeric, and for not having

recipe for Janma Ghuti or its use, nor papaya nor castor leaves.

Perhaps this Janma Ghuti is a preparation sold in a little box in

Indian stores, brand I have seen called Katlu? I'm reluctant to use

it after so much about impure herbs sold often in our country in the

stores.

> In india, colicky babies is a rare sight since most mothers also

> give Janma-ghuti to babies right from the day they raech home from

> the hospital if it was hospital birth. This Janma ghuti takes care

> of most of the digestion, gas, stomach pain, constipation,

parasites complaints of babies.

ARe there antiparasitic preparations safe to use in preganancy,

particulary in early pregnancy? ONe current fertility consulting

client is already pregnant, hence her needs different and the

recommended parasite cleanse on hold though some sypmtoms exist.

Ysha

Janma ghuti contains many herbs (approximately 15-21) and has even

February 8, 2007

Thank you Janel: For writing so eloquently what I know less about and have less

patience to write what I do know about. We've learned so much from APPPAH, and

their founders, haven't we? I copied your article and hope to hand to many new

mothers if it is ok with you. Wonderful article. Vicky

February 8, 2007

Thanks, Vicky -- yes, give to parents, and with the assurance that

there is new understanding and therapuetic techniques for healing

the breaks you spoke of.

You said, " How can every baby who has frequent crying spells be

having sharp, stabbing pain to the abdomen and how can we know? "

When I was first working with " colicky " babies I went on the hunt

for " what is colic? " I was curious about the label with medical

community so easily saying they don't know what causes it, what it

is, or how to fix it. ????

Well, " colic " I found is the name of neurons in the gut. This lead

me to believe they DO know what the cause is. These neurons not

firing adequately, but why? Since then I have learned to do visceral

manipulation and work the intestines and organs of the body --

cranosacrally. I was MESMERIZED by the intestines -- the mesentary

that is FULL of neurons and connections. Miles of intestines all

held in place with massive mesentary and neurons. It is quite

beautiful. There is a book I have yet to read, but intend to ---

" The Other Brain " which is about the intestinal system. Then in

cranio training I also learned about the Vagus cranial nerve that

intervates the entire heart and gut system. I learned that someone

who falls on the butt on ice (roller skating, off a swing set, etc)

or has a whiplash in a car wreck will later, maybe even a year,

start to have " stomach problems " , BECAUSE the Vagus nerve is

impeded. Like your garden hose can get a crimp in it and the water

dribbles out. YOu have to go shift the hose to release the crimp.

Same thing with the nerves -- especially those that go through the

foramen near the spinal cord and occipital base of the scull. This

is where the impact of such previously listed falls can cause an

immediate shift that impacts the nerves. Our bodies are meant to

maintain and grow --- the body adjusts and adjusts and adjusts to

compensate. Eventually, though, something has to give, or feel. Pain

is the symptom, many times, of compensation, and is often not where

the original pain is. It made perfect sense to me that if the brain

is unable to send and receive neuronal messages to the colic nerves

then the lack of energy will cause contraction. Pain.

THAT, along with the REASON for the baby --- the mishandling of the

head and shoulders at birth, being forced through the pelvis (with

pitocin contraction) against a bony structure, especially when the

mother is supine and baby's neck is forced up and over the sacral

prominance bone --- where she has massive bundle of nerve endings.

RARELY, in hospital birth is the baby not forcefully pushed from the

womb --- coaching by medical caregivers. RARELY is the baby's head

not grabbed and rotated to accomodate caregiver to do immediate

suctioning done. At this point, the baby's body is in a distortion

pattern -- head one way and body another as he is process of

turning. This is SO friggin' traumatizing to the baby, sometimes a

torsion pattern can extend from neck to hip. THIS is the first

injury of the body. Unresolved, it accumulates over time. Body is

always in compensation. When baby begins to FEEL the body coming in

betweeen three weeks to 3 months, the baby KNOWS why s/he has the

pain --- so is feeling it, remembering it, and telling it. The lack

of neuronal energy flow, I believe, in my HUMBLE, NON- MEDICALLY

TRAINED opinion, is that the baby's gut doesn't get enough energy to

work properly, is in pain -- gut pain hurts!! -- and needs to be

acknowledged and heard and needs to hear from someone that they are

sorry that happened to them -- ie., the doctor handled your head so

roughly, I saw that.... I am sorry I didn't know to stop her " or " I

am furious that I was powerless to stop him, and I don't want you to

feel that anymore. " (Babies are sponges for absorbing the energy and

emotions of those in the energy field at birth). " He had no right

to force us just because he was in a hurry. I am going to learn how

to not rush you and to listen to you and what you need. "

WHO AMONG US doesn't need our parents or partners to see us and

engage with us this way????

By the way, the suctioning at birth is shown to be totally useless

in preventing meconium aspiration as is the tubing -- and is even

recommended by the newborn resuscitation training to not be done.

However, it is not being heavily recommended to physicians yet.

SO " being with " the child during the process of coming into the body

is big. This is where is important for the parents to learn the

skill of settling their nervous system to be present (their own

birth and infant sensory, non-verbal memories and unmet needs come

up) and to do their own work about the experience of labor and

birth. EVERYTHING the mother and father felt, but absolutely the

mother, during labor and birth, the baby felt and " knows " in his

body. Forever and ever and ever ... AND, it can be mediated and

resolved. Did mother feel violated and pushed, disregarded? Then

baby did to. SHE needs to learn to differeniate for the baby, so the

baby doesn't " take it on " ... extreme example we've all heard is " He

tore me from here to there and almost killed me. " Child grows up

with unnamed guilt and shame and preverbal feeling of almost killing

mother. How many times do people tell the child's birth story over

and over -- from their perspective? The little bio-computer standing

right there taking it in and being " programmed " with " viruses " ?

An important skill of doulas and post partum doulas is supporting

mother and baby to reconnect after the process of birth -- doesn't

matter if it's home or hospital, there is much to process. Joy and

pain, happy and disappointing. I think especially for the ayurvedic

doulas doing baby massage --- the body KNOWS and TALKS... the story

comes out!!

janel

February 8, 2007

Even the response you just wrote, Janel, I would like to copy for parents and

doulas to read. Thanks so much for explaining more. Amazing. You have been going

to the APPPAH conferences?

Vicky

Recent Activity

a.. 1New Members

Visit Your Group

February 11, 2007

Yes, Janal,

I agree with Vicky, you explained colic so well. Thank you for

sharing your depth of understanding.

Beeara

February 12, 2007

When taming a colicky baby, a male vaidya how he thinks was brought

out by this authors message. How a female vaidya thinks out the

solution, was brought out beautifully by Janel. This brought to the

memory an old posting at ayurveda, a tribute to all of you moms.

http://health.ayurveda/message/4622

ayurveda , Beeara <behomesong

wrote:

> I agree with Vicky, you explained colic so well. Thank you for

> sharing your depth of understanding.

February 13, 2007

Thanks Dr. Bhate ... and, what is a Vaidya? I googled that word and

couldn't find a definiton. Maybe, a practitioner? janel

February 13, 2007

Veda: Knowledge earned through dedication, meditation and insight on

theworking of this universe

Ayurveda: Knowledge about living healthy and blissfully.

Vaidya: Person who knows and practices the art of healing, in

accordance with the principles dictated by ancient acharyas. Other than

theories, herbs, medicine formulations, acharyas gave criteria

regarding who should be a good vaidya. Code of conduct was given by

them. Specifically one point: Vaidya should treat a patient whether he

his going to pay the fees or not. Every service gets paid by God. On

the other hand if patient is suffering from a disease of karma which is

incurable, Vaidya should tell him frankly and ask him to spend his time

meditating on God. Giving false hopes is not a good practice. But if

the disease has arisen due to mental stress, ugly thoughts, Vaidya

should tell the patient to cleanse the mind first.

ayurveda , " Janel Martin-Miranda "

<janel_miranda wrote:

>

> Thanks Dr. Bhate ... and, what is a Vaidya? I googled that word and

> couldn't find a definiton. Maybe, a practitioner? janel

>

February 13, 2007

Hi Vicky - As usual, a pleasure responding. Taking that deep breath...

> Ysha, mainstream studies won't probably be looking at doshas, but

more the composition of breastmilk.

This is part of why I feel it is important to look at deeper causes,

because the mainstream citations are not looking properly at them,

they don't know where to look, and then, where does that get them?

How will they know if we do not begin to talk about them and say,

" let's look here also, and here are some reason's why. " Certainly,

there are always more effective ways we can be using our time,

hopefully the guidance will continue to come from within our

professional associatons like this. The old " target your market "

advice seems to be needing discussion, perhaps, but on another post...?

this sounds like wise big picture assessment!:

> And sometimes people talk about lactose overload, but they are just

guessing, not even sure it IS a lactose problem, or that there is any

such thing. At the least it becomes a catch-all for many unexplainable

symptoms in the absence of evidence or knowledge and the unwillingness

to consider psychological/spiritual/ doshic and many other influences.

>In some of the instances they are just trying to determine the cause

of too much crying. And I am doubting the crying is always about the

milk. I think the issues involved in crying have to do with many

things, inner womb experiences, birth experiences, hospital

interventions and crazy practices, too much mother/baby separation

from birth on. Feeding too often, for the wrong reasons.

> Re: herbs, I am hesitant to acknowledge the usefulness of giving

babies spices and herbs if they are breastfeeding. ...On this note, I

am wondering how a new baby can already have parasites in his perfect

body? I need more education on this.

It is wise to be better educated in Ayurveda before making recs we

don't understand. I'll make the statement also again, that this forum

cannot be construed as personal or globally appropriate advise for

any client; it is for the purpose of encouraging learning in this area

and for beginning the process of sharing more this way. It was

initially designed as an arena for students and practitioners of the

ayurvedic work, but how can we choose to close the doors when we want

to share the benefits of the work with anyone who might listen or be

able to benefit! FYI, there is much I might like to use and cannot of

what our dear mentor Dr. Bhate shares...between languaging beyond my

familiarity, tools, foods, herbs unfamiliar or unavailable here.

Anyway, for the record, not only are there many parasites well known

at issue in third world countries and India, but many European docs

say anyone with pets should be doing a routine all family and all pets

at same time de-parasitization 2X annually. Who does this? Almost no

one even has the concept much less the motivational understanding.

But parasites are abundant for many, and with cats and dogs licking,

on furniture, kissing of adults and childran and babies, even if the

household is otherwise very clean...it may be easily an issue. Not my

expertise, mind you, including it is something I have not given

thought to for newborns as part of the colic picture. Though, for

mothers and others I've considerable detailed protocols for many types

of cleansing and tools ayurvedic and from other sources also very

gentle compared to how most will choose to buy and do off the health

food store shelf or much worse, from allopathic model (which usually

will not pick up on parasites in their type of stool tests).

A friend, recently waiting for the official antiparasitic essential

oil formula, was taking the DiGize blend in capsules to support very

distressed colicy stomach, passed many worms to her surprise and felt

no need to do the other product. It was easier therapy for her

extremely sensitive system then taking of herbs! This can be applied

topical under 1:1 dilution, also on belly with good effect for many.

We have on Dr. Gary Young's authority a protocol and 3-4 forumlas used

in combo which he uses safely with pregnant and postpartum clients. I

don't know why Ayurveda wouldn't have a very simple remedy. I just am

not familiar with it either (the Janmagruti is it?). There are other

ayurvedic protocols for babies we cannot legally recommend in this

country because of mixing up certain informations.

> but I consider breastmilk the perfect food...even if the mom needs

improvement in her diet.

Depends on your definition of perfect, then? And where the

improvement is needed in my opinion it is important not to lean on the

letter of the perfect rule to the exclusion of the wisdom around it,

which is, every baby should be breastfed, and for long time! Not only

is live fresh food better than dried, canned, or another animal

mother's source, but the bonding process, the milk composition in

basic terms, all are so key. And with a few other wisewomen caveats

(latch, frequency, night feedings, time on each breast for hind milk,

etc,) all of which make a difference ... as do some other factors

coming from our culture, which we must remember is very pioneer

experimenatl and do it yourself whatever " works " based not time tested

over centuries like certain other cultures.

So, re herbal use, of course we can only do what is within our safe

scope of practice, in the same way MDs sometimes make the decision for

better or worse (usually latter?) of refusing to listen to or do much

wise natural medicine practices because they do not have a framework

to safely evaluate. Yet to discuss these things in open forum is our

blessing. For this we can be grateful for the freedom of speech and

sharing! The time tested and MD/vaida wisdom is not something to be

glossed over, however. Dr. Bhate's medical training and clinical

experience is profound, like that of other vaidyas, this I know. I am

curioius over how many years?

> Anyway, as I have said before, the dictionary defines colic as a

sharp stabbing pain to the abdomen, which is subjective. How can every

baby who has frequent crying spells be having sharp, stabbing pain to

the abdomen and how can we know?

It is a good question. Have you ever had intense gas pains? Pain is

a red flag word to ayurvedics that most likely, forgive the

terminology but to go deeply into these questions you will have to

become familiar somewhat if this forum will become useful to you,

because the one word says so much more than we can explain in every

post about it...it is symptom of excess vata dosha. The metabolic

principle (dosha) we call vata, which governs change, movement,

nervous system and other things when exacerbated in some ways creates

pain. The causes of sharp stabbing pains in stomach is linked to the

foods mothers and babies eat as well as how it is eaten, emotional

climate, fears, traumas, all these things you describe in differing

balance for different body type and condition profiles. The foods

alone do create these sharp stabbing pains in adults as well, but we

are stronger generally and it doesn't accumulate in the same way. Gas

passing often through tight dry tissues alone can cause this. So can

the energy meridian obstacles of the power center/solar plexus create

horrible pain sometimes. I can vouch personally for both.

>This crying is shown in studies to occur mostly between 3 weeks and 3

months. It could be anything from not enough skin-to-skin contact with

parents to diet to mother/baby separation, to needing craniosacral

therapy for body rhythm interruptions, to whatever. So when, as a

postpartum doula, I get calls about what to do about colic, I have to

take a deep breath and wonder how much the caller is willing to consider.

Yes, I know that deep breath well, just took it again!

Very Warm Regards;

Ysah

February 13, 2007

Hi Janel - Nice work there on the blogger - I posted this there -

Janel, your discussions, perceptions, experience are major gifts. I

really appreciate how well you have described the receptivity and

understanding of the little ones.

I'll restrain myself from engaging deeply into the discusssoin here

due to my own need for rest...but can't resist posting for the record,

re tonights' post at www.perinatalayurveda

where some beginning explanaton of how we can understand the foods may

really be a piece of the picture. Also to mention that the relation of

food is there to increasing the imbalances of emotions and making them

more difficult to heal from food choices, and the other way 'round, of

emotional conditoins creating the same type of conditions in the body

which wrong foods can...is very much worth including in the colic

discussion.

We have the opportunity to take some of the burden off the psychology

to hasten healing of these traumas from whatever combined sources by

using this knowledge. Even the time of day is related to ayurvedic

principles which can be harnessed for better understanding, and

healing throough multiple modalities emotional, physical,

communication, lifestyle.

I appreciate also that looking into what happened at that time of day

is worthwhile. Particularly if you know how to translate the qualities

of that time into balancing qualities in the therapy from physical in

addition to emotional. Claudia Welsch, Chinese and Ayurvedic

practitioner, has a beautiful discusson how to use this information in

her series on Women's Health.

Particularly around the postpartum window, both mothers and babies are

so subtly sensitive, and the physiology is not really " on the ground " ,

having just parted the veil between the worlds as the native

american's have explained, bringing a new soul in a mother's senses go

" way out into the universe " , and what they need help with most is

reintegrating with the earth, water and fire " elements " . Ie,

grounding, warmth, simplicity, connectivity, fluidity, nourishment,

stability, comfort not hardnesses...yes love and caring of course. But

there is reason when you begin to look into ayurvedic principles why

these other words are important too. But I am not practicing what I

wish to share, so enough for now. With invitation to visit the forum.

My friend Gary remembers as an infant, way before learning

words/speech, percieving thought bubbles sort of, kinda visualized

like in cartoons, he knew what people thought and felt. Yes, of course

these things deeply affected him! You may want to interview him

sometime, many valuable and unusual perceptions.

Ysha

>

> I saw Ysha question to me about colic and ended up writing another

> chapter about it that I posted on my blog,

> http://hospitalbirthdebate.blogspot.com/2007_01_21_archive.html

February 13, 2007

Ysha, that post you made about Gary remembering knowing what people thought when

he was a bby, reminded me of something. I remember once only being a baby in a

crib and crying because my mom wasn't there. I " knew " that she was in the apt.

next door at a party and when she came to see what was wrong with me, she was

mad at me for bothering her. I've always wondered how a baby could know those

things, since I can't see through walls and I can't read minds. This is pretty

sobering stuff to think that our babies understand what we are about. Vicky

vicky york

Lactation consultant, postpartum doula

postpartum care services

.

Oregon

vmyork Work : 5412556368

Review me at iKarma Want to spread your own reputation?

-

Ysha Oakes

ayurveda

Monday, February 12, 2007 11:31 PM

PerinatalAyurveda forum Re: Mercola on " How to tame a colicky baby "