Once baby is born we are suddenly plunged, often unprepared, into parenthood. The celebration of birth ushers in a new beginning. A new journey begins – you have a real live baby. A joy and a responsibility, the process of growing into our full human potential requires a series of changes and tests both to our physical and psychological body. Here is where natural medicine can shine. Herbs and homeopathy combined with appropriate nutrition support our baby’s own natural defenses into balance.
Encouraging the immune system to work and strengthen increases vital force as opposed to suppressing the symptoms of disease presented. Ayurvedic understanding stresses this time as a nurturing, calm, building time for both mother and child. A supportive family and community make it easier for this to happen.
Warming nourishing food, fairly bland, is best for mum and eases the transition for the child into this existence. Once born your baby experiences huge changes as s/he adapts to a new environment and a vastly different existence. Emotional, spiritual and physical adjustments include breathing, coping with the cold, light, hunger and loneliness to name a few. According to the individual infant these changes may be trouble free or troublesome.
So once again take the help of Mother Nature to ease your way. A wonderful herb for this time is Shatavari, which just happens to be a Galactogogue (i.e. it increases breast milk), a nerve iron – which soothes and calms and an adaptogen so it strengthens immune systems and is also a traditional Ayurvedic herb for mother and child.
Many natural medicines, like gentle herbs, homoeopathics and some oils, come into their own at this young time in a child’s life. Their nurturing gentle magic soothes the infant’s fears and those of the parents at this time too.
Some common complaints of this time are:
Eye infections/Conjunctivitis:
Try breast milk first as it is often the most effective remedy dropped straight into the infant’s eyes. Use eye washes of Chamomile or Calendula herb teas or try Eyebright or Chickweed. Homeopathically Pulsatila would be indicated or Euphrasia. See your homoeopathic if you are unsure.
Mothers should also have warm drinks frequently. Taking Echinacea would also be a good idea.
Jaundice:
Putting baby in the light, a little sunlight works well. Breastfeeding mums should eat or drink Dandelion leaf and root – NOT the roasted kind though. Again have plenty of warm drinks and nurse your baby often.
Colic:
For Colic look to the mother’s diet and stress levels then try Chamomile and/or Fennel tea; it goes through the milk so Mums should drink three to four cups daily. Or try Chamomila or Pulsatila homeopathics. Of course, remembering to breath deep always helps. Slippery Elm can be given to an infant – mixed with a little breast milk or boiled water and apple juice. A Native American tradition was to feed their infants Slippery Elm to relieve Colic and also at times of inadequate breast-milk supply.
Mums are encouraged to sit and relax while feeding to soothe the baby’s digestive process.
Nappy Rash:
Use cloth nappies and change regularly. Wash at every change with warm water or herbal tea such as PauDArco or Chamomile. Don’t use plastic at all. Try the old ‘bums in the sun’ tried and true way, but don’t stay in the sun for too long. Fresh air is wonderful. Use only the purest washing aids. Again, mothers should drink a lot so that the milk is more dilute and in larger quantities. Acidophilous-Bifidus are helpful for both mother and infant. Treat nappy rash externally with a paste of Slippery Elm and honey. There are also wonderful herbal creams – come into Mullum Herbals and we will make you one.
Infections and Fevers:
The baby’s natural defense against infection is fever; however very young children tend to run high fevers that are not good for the brain. Don’t let a high fever run. Wash with cool water and drink Catnip or Peppermint tea. Older infants should drink it themselves. Use Echinacea – the breast-feeding mother taking it three to four times a day. Older infants can have five drops in a little bit of boiled water. If your are confident with homeopathics use them – Belladonna or Chamomila could be indicated. Elder flowers are gentle but effective for fevers too and they taste lovely as well.
Immunisation:
As holistic health practitioners we focus on supporting the vital force (immunity) of the child and therefore we recommend homeopathic immunisation, if you want to immunize at all, as a non-invasive supportive therapy. (See the byronchild #2 for more info. Kits and info available from Mullum Herbals.)
There are of course many, many things large and small that arise through the parenting, family path. Both Jacinta and Elvian have a passion for infant and childhood health so feel free to come into Mullum Herbals in Mullumbimby (if you live around Mullumbimby, NSW) and get advice or have a chat about your children’s health as well as your own!
Published in byronchild/Kindred, Issue 3, Sept 02