Baby Colic and Gas Relief Using Dill Weed Tea
Baby colic and/or painful gas can be a nightmare for parents and their neighbors. A tea made from dill weed or seeds has proven to be a solution in many cases.Of course, many adults have similar problems but don’t announce it quite so freely or loudly.Give the baby 1 – 2 Tbsp. every 15 minutes or so, as needed, until relieved. Do NOT use honey to sweeten unless the child is at least 12 months of age. Babies will generally like the taste of unsweetened dill weed anyway. Adults may drink 3 cups a day, a half hour away from meals, for maximum benefits.If baby colic or painful gas is a common problem for your child and you are nursing, try to avoid eating dairy products and spicy food. Eat lots of garlic though; a study in the New England Journal of Medicine found that when nursing moms eat lots of garlic, babies drink more as the garlic makes the milk taste sweeter.If your child is on formula, you might need to change it, especially if it is a cow’s milk formula, to help avoid future bouts of baby colic. Try alternating it with fresh, strained juice of carrot, celery and apple diluted with half water.Dill weed tea is also known to stimulate milk production in nursing mothers, as well as helping to alleviate menstrual symptoms, including pain.
How to Make Dill Weed Tea:Pour boiling water over 2 teaspoons of dill weed for each cup you wish to prepare, and let it sit for 15 minutes, or longer for maximum benefit, then strain. You may prepare several cups in advance, keep it in the fridge, and warm up as needed.If you are using dill seeds, use the same amount per cup, and just mash the seeds before pouring in the boiling water.Doc Eve
