Not All Gripe Waters are Created Equal

It’s 3am. Your baby is inconsolably crying, and you’re in need of a solution. You groggily reach for your phone to start searching for remedies and you remember that gripe water helps to soothe colic symptoms.

When you search, the internet delivers results on over 12 different brands of gripe water. You wonder, what ACTUALLY is gripe water? Are the ingredients safe and natural? Can I trust the brand? Is this safe for my baby? 
We think you would be surprised to know that not all gripe waters are created equal. 

The Truth about Dietary Supplements 

Most gripe waters are classified as dietary supplements that are made up of herbal extracts, synthetic ingredients, or a combination of the two.  

Though some dietary supplements rely on herbal extracts for their effects, herbal extracts are cited as potentially toxic by certified experts in therapeutic use of essential oils at the Alliance of International Aromatherapists. The caution is due to purity and allergy concerns. 

Most dietary supplements used for gripe water are made up of synthetic ingredients. Among these synthetic ingredients are simethicone, an anti-foaming agent, and sodium bicarbonate, which is also known as baking soda. Simethicone works to combine gas bubbles and create larger bubbles that are easier for your little one to pass. The problem is that it is a synthetic ingredient that contains artificial colors, emulsifiers and fillers. Synthetic ingredients are a band aid to the problem, as they only solve a baby’s colic issue for a time. 

Baking soda is an antacid that reduces the burning sensation of gastroesophageal reflux by neutralizing stomach acid. This is not ideal, since the body needs stomach acid to absorb vital nutrients from food such as folic acid, calcium and iron. Additionally, hyperacidity is rarely a cause of colic, so baking soda is of little value and may cause alkalosis and milk alkali syndrome if used continuously. 

 
What Separates Colic Calm from the Rest? 

Simply put, Colic Calm is different because our ingredients are effective. Colic Calm utilizes homeopathy, a medical system based on the belief that the body can cure itself. The product uses small amounts of natural substances to stimulate the body’s healing process instead of dietary supplements that simply suppress symptoms. This is particularly helpful for babies with underdeveloped immune systems. 

Also contrary to dietary supplements, Colic Calm is made up of homeopathic dilutions. Homeopathic dilutions are essentially weaker forms of the original substance. For example, Chamomilla (Chamomile) is diluted thirty times with a dilution agent (ethanol, water or lactose) before it is added to the Colic Calm mixture. For every 10 dilutions, a 1X is added to the labeling. Therefore, you will see Chamomila (Chamomile) 3X on our ingredients list. 

A detailed list of the ingredients Colic Calm contains and their roles in digestive relief are as follows: 

1. Carbo Vegetabilis (Vegetable Charcoal) 1X: Gas relief, upset stomach 

2. Carum Carvi (Caraway) 3X: Digestive aid 

3. Chamomilla (Chamomile) 3X: Irritability, hiccups 

4. Foeniculum Vulgare (Fennel) 3X: Gas relief 

5. Melissa Officinalis (Lemon Balm) 3X: Irritability, restlessness 

6. Mentha Piperita (Peppermint) 3X:  Bloating, colic 

7. Prunus Spinosa (Blackthorn) 2X: Upset stomach, colic 

8. Zingiber Officinale (Ginger) 3X: Digestive aid 

The largest ingredient to note is Carbo Vegetabilis or Vegetable Charcoal. Vegetable Charcoal is memorable for many reasons- the first being because it’s what makes Colic Calm the infamous black color. Though it is odorless and tasteless, Vegetable Charcoal packs a punch. Vegetable Charcoal adheres to gas bubbles and breaks them apart naturally and gently to eliminate gas.

Vegetable Charcoal is not a drug, thus it does not enter the bloodstream. Instead, it is fully excreted in a bowel movement easily and naturally, thus why your little one’s stools are temporarily darkened.  

Colic Calm does not use any cautionary ingredients, such as parabens, which disrupt the body’s natural hormones and can also increase the risk of cancer. Colic Calm also does not contain sugar, simethicone, sodium bicarbonate, herbal oils and extracts, wheat, gluten, soy, dairy, or animal products. It is also allergy-free and side-effect-free. 

Colic Calm is the only homeopathic brand available in the United States. Homeopathic medicines are listed in the FDA’s medical product database and are made according to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP) for over-the-counter medicines, using medicinal grade ingredients. We are also made here in the United States in an FDA-inspected facility. 

For a safer, more natural, and highly effective way to soothe your little one’s stomach woes, choose Colic Calm. 
To learn more about the ingredients in Colic Calm versus the ingredients in other gripe waters, visit another blog here. 

Works Cited 
https://www.webmd.com/balance/what-is-homeopathy#1