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Complementary and Alternative Therapies for Infantile Colic: A Systematic Review of the Literature
Insights
Complementary and alternative therapies like acupuncture, aromatherapy, and massage show promise for treating infantile colic. These methods appear effective and safe for infants experiencing unexplained crying, though more research is needed.
Area of Science:
- Pediatrics
- Complementary and Alternative Medicine
Background:
- Infantile colic involves unexplained crying in infants.
- It negatively impacts infants and parents.
- Complementary and alternative therapies are explored for treatment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy and safety of complementary and alternative therapies for infantile colic.
Main Methods:
- Searched PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, Cochrane Library.
- Used MeSH terms for infantile colic and therapies (acupuncture, massage, aromatherapy, etc.).
Main Results:
- 13 interventions identified across multiple countries.
- Acupuncture showed mixed results but no serious side effects.
- Aromatherapy and massage effectively reduced colic symptoms with no serious side effects.
Conclusions:
- Complementary and alternative therapies warrant further investigation.
- Increased evidence can support their use in infantile colic treatment.
Background:
Infantile colic is defined as paroxysms of uncontrollable and unexplained crying in the first three months of life. Complementary and alternative therapy methods are one of the methods used to treat infantile colic, which has negative effects on parents and infants.
Objective:
The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of the complementary and alternative therapy methods used to treat infantile colic.
Methods:
The PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science and Cochrane Library databases were searched for complementary therapies for infantile colic. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH) were used to determine the search terms. Combination of infantile colic and acupuncture therapy, musculoskeletal manipulations, massage, phytotherapy, aromatherapy were used as the search terms.
Results:
A total of 13 interventions were found from Sweden, Norway, Russia, Italy, Turkey, Iran and Finland. In two randomized and controlled trials, acupuncture therapy was found to be effective in the treatment of infantile colic. One study found it to be ineffective. No serious side effects were reported in these studies. A variety of aromatic oils have been used by orally, by inhalation and topically to treat infantile colic and have been found to be effective with no serious side effects. Massage has also been found to effectively reduce the symptoms of infantile colic.
Conclusions:
Further study of the complementary and alternative therapy methods will help to increase the evidence for their effective use in the treatment of infantile colic.
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