Probiotics , fennel extract  and  spinal manipulation  show promise to alleviate symptoms of colic , although some concerns remain .
Background Infantile colic is a distressing condition characterised by excessive crying in the first few months of life .
The aim of this research was to up date the synthesis of evidence of complementary and alternative medicine ( CAM ) research literature on infantile colic and establish what evidence is currently available .
A randomized double-blind placebo-controlled trial of a standardized extract of Matricariae recutita, Foeniculum vulgare and Melissa officinalis (ColiMil) in the treatment of breastfed colicky infants.
OBJECTIVE The aim of this r and omized , double-blind , placebo-controlled trial was to investigate the effectiveness and side effects of a phytotherapeutic agent with Matricariae recutita , Foeniculum vulgare and Melissa officinalis in the treatment of infantile colic . METHODS 93 breastfed colicky infants were enrolled , the diagnosis was made according to Wessel 's criteria . After a 3 day observation period , the infants were r and omly divided into two groups , one treated with phytotherapeutic agent ( PA ) and the other with placebo twice a day for 1 week . Crying time and side effects were recorded . RESULTS 88 infants completed the trial : 41 in the PA group and 47 in the control . The daily average crying time for the PA was 201.2 min/day ( SD 18.3 ) at the baseline and 76.9 min/day ( SD 23.5 ) at the end of the study ; for the placebo it was 198.7 min/day ( SD 16.9 ) and 169.9 min/day ( SD 23.1 ) ( p < 0.005 ) . Crying time reduction was observed in 85.4 % subjects for the PA and in 48.9 % subjects for the placebo ( p < 0.005 ) . No side effects were reported . CONCLUSION The present study shows that colic in breastfed infant improves within 1 week of treatment with an extract based on Matricariae recutita , Foeniculum vulgare and Melissa officinalis
Probiotics , fennel extract  and  spinal manipulation  show promise to alleviate symptoms of colic , although some concerns remain .
Background Infantile colic is a distressing condition characterised by excessive crying in the first few months of life .
The aim of this research was to up date the synthesis of evidence of complementary and alternative medicine ( CAM ) research literature on infantile colic and establish what evidence is currently available .