Soothe Your Baby Naturally: Ayurvedic Science and Natural Remedies for Common Issues

Discover the Principles of Ayurveda and How to Use Natural Remedies to Soothe Your Baby.

As a parent, you want to provide the best care for your baby, including using natural remedies to soothe common issues like colic, gas, and teething pain. Ayurvedic science offers a holistic approach to healing and wellness that can be used to care for your baby. In this article, we'll explore the principles of Ayurveda and how you can use them to soothe your baby naturally.

What is Ayurveda?

Ayurveda is an ancient system of medicine that originated in India over 5,000 years ago. It emphasizes a balance between mind, body, and spirit and uses natural remedies to heal and prevent illnesses. Ayurvedic science is based on the belief that there are five types of energy that govern different functions in the body. The energies are: space, air, fire, water, and earth. energies. Every person is born with all 5 but two will tend to dominate. The dominate two are referred to as a "dosha". The 3 common combinations (or Doshas) are:

• Vata – the combination of space and air
• Pitta – the combination of fire and water
• Kapha – the combination of water and earth

Each Dosha has its pros and cons. By determining what Dosha your baby is experiencing, you will know how to soothe, heal and feed your unique baby.  It will also help you better understand your child’s likes and dislikes, why your baby reacts differently to certain foods, and most importantly, how you can proactively maintain their health and happiness.

Using Ayurvedic Remedies for Your Baby

Vata Imbalance:

Babies dealing with a Vata imbalance tend to wakeup easily, become easily frightened by noise or strangers, have gas or bloating, frequent constipation, or jaundice.

To soothe your baby:

• Give them a warm massage in the morning with a sesame-almond blended oil
• Serve them only warm food and warm drinks
• Swaddle them well and avoid exposure to wind and cold
• Keep your baby on a regular sleep and eating routine
• Play gentle, soothing music or sing to your baby
• Put your baby to bed early (before 10 pm)
• Share the following foods (or if nursing, have mom consume the following foods):
• warm milk, honey, brown rice, wheat, oranges, bananas, avocados, grapes, cherries, peaches, melons, berries, plums, pineapples, mangoes, papayas, nuts, and cooked root vegetables like beets, carrots, asparagus, and sweet potatoes
• Avoid the following foods (or if nursing, have mom avoid consuming the following foods)
• raw vegetables, barley, corn, millet, buckwheat, rye, oats, oatmeal, sprouts, cabbage, beans, coffee, dried fruits like raisins, and dry-ish  fruits like apples, pears, pomegranates, and cranberries.

Pitta Imbalance:

Babies dealing with a Pitta imbalance tend to have sensitive skin prone to rashes or eczema, burn easily in the sun, get irritable when they're hungry, throw temper tantrums often, and are prone to diarrhea.

To soothe your baby:

• Give them a warm massage in the morning with coconut oil
• Give cool baths and avoid very warm environments
• Take baby outside often for fresh air
• Keep your baby on a regular sleep and eating routine - especially at noon
• Share the following foods (or if nursing, have mom consume the following foods):
• cooling foods like asparagus, cucumbers, potatoes, green leafy vegetables, broccoli, cauliflower, celery, okra, lettuce, green beans, zucchini, and sweet fruits like grapes, cherries, melons, avocados, or mangos
• Avoid the following foods (or if nursing, have mom avoid consuming the following foods)
• warming or hot foods like yogurt, cheese, sour cream, honey, hot peppers, tomatoes, carrots, onions, garlic, ginger, fenugreek, salt, and sour fruit like grapefruit, olives, papayas, pineapples, and plums.

Kapha Imbalance:

Babies dealing with a Kapha imbalance tend to be prone to coughs, colds, mucous, and congestion.

To soothe your baby:

• Encourage them to play and crawl around often
• Avoid cold or wet environments
• Take baby outside often for fresh air
• Keep your baby on a regular sleep and eating routine - bedtime before 10 pm, and wake early before 6 am
• Share the following foods (or if nursing, have mom consume the following foods):
• lighter foodslike low-fat mllk (served warm), beans, barley grain, and millet grain, and light fruit like apples or pears
• Avoid the following foods (or if nursing, have mom avoid consuming the following foods)
• heavy foods like nuts, wheat, white rice, tomatoes, zucchini, and heavy fruit like bananas, pineapples, figs, dates, avocados, coconuts, and melons.

Conclusion

Ayurvedic science offers a natural and holistic approach to caring for your baby. By understanding the principles of Ayurveda and using natural remedies, you can help soothe common issues like colic and gas. With the right care and attention, you can help your baby thrive and grow in a natural and healthy way.

Note: Ayurveda is a very intricate science. The above information is meant to be a very simplistic view of Ayurveda to help you quickly troubleshoot some of the challenges you might be experiencing with your baby/toddler.