Acupuncture in Infantile Colic

Acupuncture in Infantile Colic - a Randomised Controlled Double Blind Clinical Study

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether acupuncture influences:

• the rate of infants who still fulfil the colic criterion after three intervention weeks
• the time when the infants are crying, fussing or have intense bouts of colicky symptoms

Infantile colic is a common problem. Both the baby and the parents are suffering and there is a risk that the early relationship is disturbed. There is no known treatment that is both effective and harmless. Acupuncture releases different neurotransmitters and hormones, gives pain reduction and affects digestion. Acupuncture in infantile colic has not been studied in a scientific way even though the method is used in many countries. In this randomised study we will investigate if acupuncture affects symptoms in infantile colic.

Inclusion Criteria:

• 2-8 weeks old otherwise healthy infants who are fussing/crying more than three hours/day, more than three days during one week

Exclusion Criteria:

• infants born before week 36
• infants who dont gain weight properly
• infants taking other medicine than dimethicone or lactobacillus reuteri