Sally Moorcroft
Infantile colic - a literature review of current research on the aetiology of colic in new born babies
Abstract
This study sought to review the current literature on the aetiology of infantile colic in healthy full term infants.
Online searches were carried out to find current research and a range of paediatric and herbal books were reviewed. Reference and bibliography lists were also searched to look for relevant articles.
The results were categorised according to the author’s approach, and discussion of these categories showed there was a wide variation in understanding of this condition and its causes.
The conclusions drawn were that gastrointestinal or nervous immaturity, family and maternal stress and behaviour (including parental inexperience); innate temperament differences; food allergies and feeding practices are the most likely contributing factors. In addition, there is also a whole host of more subtle factors at play.
The varying prevalence found across different cultures was also discussed, and the literature supported the view that actions which lead to close proximity between mother and infant ie. Carrying, feeding on demand and sleeping together, may have a preventative role in the expression of this condition.
In addition the current treatment strategies used in herbal medicine were summarised. It was found that holistic treatment used by herbalists is ideally suited to treating multifactoral, complex conditions like colic.
