Colic condition commonly known as Infantile colic is a common home as well as clinical condition in which an absolutely healthy rose cheeked infant cries or yells frequently and for long durations without any evident cause.

Other name given to this condition is three month colic as it usually appears after 3 weeks of life and always disappears suddenly during third or fourth month of life. It usually occurs early in the morning; however there is no specific time for it. There is no single consensus on defining infantile colic, however few say:”Having ruled out serious causes of crying if an infant cries for more than three hours per day, more than three days per week for more than three months, then it is nothing but infantile colic.”

It is seen that bottle fed infants are more prone to this condition as compared to the breast fed infants because there is more chance of engulfing air in bottle fed infants. However breastfed infants are not absolutely free of this condition. Till now researchers are not united in any single cause of colic but few suggestions show that any one of the following reasons may be responsible for the colic. It may be due to trapped gas in digestive system, may be due to deficiency of Lactobacillus acidophilus (gut flora of infants), infants may have mild gastroesophageal reflux ,it may be due to immature and underdeveloped nervous system of the infant that makes him/her cry easily and without control, it may be due to lactose intolerance in infant.

Whatever the cause currently no specific generally accepted medical or pediatric management is available for colic and the approach varies for doctor to doctor as well as society to society.

Gripe water has a prime role in treating the infantile colic because it is a combination of certain ingredients usually herbal as we as chemical which are proved to be helpful in addressing all the considered causes of colic. For example: Sodium bicarbonate decreases the acidity of the stomach, chamomile decreases irritability, anxiety and insomnia; fennel helps indigestion; caraway for heartburn, gas and intestinal spasm; peppermint as an antispasmodic and for the stimulation of bile flow; cinnamon bark as a carminative, astringent, stimulant and antiseptic; clove bud oil as an antiseptic, antiviral, anti helminthic, and relaxant; blackthorn as an antispasmodic; dill weed seed oil for its antimicrobial properties and to increase appetite; cardamom seed oil as a smooth muscle relaxant. It also seems that the soothing effect of gripe water is derived from its sweet taste and this concept is generally acceptable all over the world these days.

The conclusion is that Gripe Water has indeed a primary role in the management of colic.