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 .
[Infants with colic. A heterogenous group possible to cure? Treatment by pediatric consultation followed by a study of the effect of zone therapy on incurable colic].
INTRODUCTION The aim of the study was to investigate and treat infants with colic by conventional medicine followed by an investigation of the effect of reflexological treatment . MATERIAL AND METHODS The investigation was prospect i ve , followed by a r and omised , single-blind , double-controlled , prospect i ve study of reflexological treatment with an interview and diary . Sixty-three infants aged 1 - 3 months referred by general practitioners with crying for > 90 minutes a day were given a paediatric examination and intervention . The cause of crying was discovered in 33 infants : Vitamin D ( 5 ) , elimination of cow 's milk protein ( 3 ) , and anal stenosis ( 3 ) ; counselling on feeding , sleep , reduction of stimulation , and avoidance of passive smoking ( 22 ) . Thirty infants without the benefit of paediatric consultation were r and omised to three groups for a duration of two weeks : A : Presumed non-effective reflexological treatment vs B : Presumed effective reflexological treatment vs C : No treatment -- only observation . The most important parameter was the number of crying hours over 24 hours . Cure was defined as crying for less than or equal to 30 minutes . RESULTS Examination by the paediatrician : Thirty-three of 63 infants benefited with a reduction in crying of less than 90 minutes and 13 of these infants were cured . The r and omised study : In group C ( control ) , none of the patients was cured . In groups A and B ( presumed non-effective reflexological treatment and presumed effective treatment ) , half the patients were cured , which was significantly better than in group C. There was no significant difference between groups A and B , but B seemed better than group A. B was significantly better than C. DISCUSSION Infantile colic had a significant cure rate at paediatric consultation and the children who did not benefit from this intervention had a significantly better outcome after reflexological treatment than had the observation group . Further investigations in reflexological treatment in infants are recommended
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 .