A bit about the herbal oils we use...

All of the herbs in the Colic-Ease formula, are listed on the FDA's GRAS, Generally Recognized As Safe, list.

DILL WEED SEED OIL
Latin Name: Anethum Graveolens
"…Called "the secret of British nannies", dill is the active ingredient in the famous "gripe water", the colic remedy taken round the world in the British Empire." says botanist, James A. Duke, Ph.D., retired from the US Department of Agriculture and author of The CRC Handbook of Medicinal Herbs. "Dill seed is truly miraculous for infant colic. It can save a parent's sanity…Dill is [also] used by herbalists to promote [the] flow of breast milk."

"Dill water works" says Daniel Mowrey, Ph.D. and Director of The American Phytotherapy Research Laboratory in Salt Lake City, Utah and author of The Scientific Validation of Herbal Medicine. "It's gentle enough for infants."

Dispels flatulence, stimulates appetite and settles the stomach. Dill owes its action to its ability to inhibit the growth of several bacteria (staphylococcus, streptococcus, pseudomonas and Escheria coli. This effect suggests that it might help prevent gastrointestinal illness-infectious diarrhea caused by these same microorganisms. Traditional herbalists use this herb for its anti-foaming action that helps break up gas bubbles.

CARAWAY SEED OIL
Latin Name: Carum Carvi
Helps relieve flatulence and indigestion. Caraway belongs to a class of herbs called carminatives - plants that are helpful in easing gastrointestinal discomfort, including gas. The essential oils derived from this group of plants help alleviate bowel spasm. In addition, studies have shown that caraway oil has antibacterial and larvicidal properties. Its actions are analgesic, anesthetic, anodyne, anti-anxiety, antibacterial, anti-parasitic, antiseptic, diuretic, mildly expectorant, fungicidal, muscle relaxant, soporific, stimulant, tonic, urinary antiseptic. Caraway is considered a useful remedy in the flatulent colic of infants, and is an excellent vehicle for children's medicine.

CINNAMON BARK OIL
Latin Name: Cinnamomum Zeylanicum
Used by herbalists to aid digestion and to relieve flatulence and vomiting. Active constituents: Various terpenoids found in the oil are believed to account for cinnamon's medicinal effects. Important among these compounds are eugenol and cinnamaldehyde, both of which are potent anti-fungal compounds. Its actions are carminative, astringent, stimulant and antiseptic.

CLOVE BUD OIL
Latin Name: Eugenia Caryophyllata
"The cloves herb keeps food fresh because the main active component of cloves is eugenol, which has long been known to help kill bacteria and viruses" says Gary Elmer, Ph.D., and Associate Professor of Medicinal Chemistry at the University of Washington School of Pharmacy in Seattle. By killing bacteria, eugenol helps keep meat fresh and prevents stomach upset, diarrhea and wound infections. Medicinal properties: Antiseptic, antibacterial, antiviral, antiseptic, analgesic, blood thinning, anti-inflammatory, healing, mental stimulant, sleep-inducing, relaxing. Digestive: Colic, dyspepsia, nausea, diarrhea, gastroenteritis, sluggish liver, flatulence, intestinal parasites, worms and their eggs.

CARDAMOM SEED OIL
Latin Name: Eletarria Cardamomum
This herb relieves flatulence and indigestion, possesses antispasmodic, aromatic, carminative, expectorant, stomachic properties and is also used as a tonic. Herbalists us cardamom seed oil as a remedy for indigestion, gas, vomiting, abdominal distention, belching, nausea and heartburn. Cardamom relieves digestive stagnation, soothes the stomach and stimulates normal gastrointestinal function. Cardamom contains cincole, terpinae, terpinen, limonene, sabinene and terpin as formic or acetic esters. The oils contained in Cardamom have smooth muscle relaxant properties, which within the gastrointestinal system allow it to have a carminative and antispasmodic activity.

Other ingredients in addition to the essential oils:
Deionized Water (allows Colic-Ease to be ingested in liquid form, not as a pill or capsule).

Fructose (fruit sugar, used instead of sucrose)

Sodium Benzoate, an FDA-approved, polyunsaturated fat found naturally in organically grown cranberries and prunes (protects the formula from bacteria).

Potassium Sorbate, a naturally occurring nutrient derived from the mountain ash tree (protects the formula from bacteria)

Polysorbate 80, derived from the fatty acids of vegetable oil, functions as an emulsifier, holding water and oils in suspension (insuring that each dose has the correct ratio of water and herbal oil).

NO SODIUM BICARBONATE

What is sodium bicarbonate and why do you stress that it's NOT in your product?

Sodium bicarbonate is commonly known as baking soda. We do not use sodium bicarbonate in the Colic-Ease formula for the following reasons:

The baking soda manufacturers state on the warning label on their product, "WARNING: Except when advised by a physician: Do not use the maximum dosage of this product for more than 2 weeks;…Do not give to children under 5 years of age;…"

When a baby is colicky and/or gassy, it does not mean that the baby has an acidic stomach - it may very well be alkaline. Introducing sodium bicarbonate (an alkaline) into the baby's diet over a period of days or weeks can cause the pH in the baby's stomach to become too alkaline and may actually cause the baby to have a colicky condition again.

*Sodium bicarbonate has been shown to deplete and interfere with Folic Acid and Iron, indicating that it may affect the function or absorption of the two.

Antacids (including sodium bicarbonate) do interact with or prevent the absorption of many medications, including: aspirin, salicylates, diabetic medicines (Diabinese, Micronase, Glucotrol), tetracycline (Sumycin, Tetracyn), penicillamine (Depen, Cuprimine), iron (Feosol, ferrous sulfate, Nu-Iron), ulcer medications (Tagamet, Zantac, Pepcid, Axid).

According to Medline Plus, a service of the National Library of Medicine: oAntacids [sodium bicarbonate] should not be given to young children (up to 6 years of age) unless prescribed by their doctor. Since children usually cannot describe their symptoms very well, a doctor should check the child before giving this medicine. The child may have a condition that needs other treatment. If so, antacids will not help and may even cause unwanted effects or make the condition worse.

[Notation] Sodium bicarbonate should also be avoided in the presence of other conditions such as: Appendicitis, intestinal or rectal bleeding, edema, heart, kidney or liver disease, high blood pressure, problems with urination and toxemia of pregnancy which may make these conditions worse.

Do not take this medicine [sodium bicarbonate] with large amounts of milk or milk products. To do so may increase the chance of side effects.

Do not take sodium bicarbonate for more than 2 weeks or if the problem comes back often.

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COMPARING COLIC-EASE
TO THE "OTHER GRIPE WATER"

PRODUCT COMPARISON		THE OTHER GRIPE WATER
SIZE	7 OZ	4 OZ
PRICE/OZ	$1.99	$3.00
INGREDIENTS	5 HERBAL OILS NO EXTRACTS	2 HERBAL EXTRACTS ONLY
SODIUM BICARBONATE (BAKING SODA)	NONE	MAJOR INGREDIENT
FDA APPROVED FACILITY	BATCH TESTED IN APPROVED LAB	BATCH TESTED IN APPROVED LAB