Urai Marundhu | After bath medicine for babies

Newborns, the bundle of joy brings so much of happiness to each and every mother. But, care of newborn baby is not an easy task for any mother. Have you ever questioned why we celebrate the first birthday of your child very grand? The most crucial period for a child is this first year where the child has to be brought up with utmost care by the mother. Those who have old granny or mother or mother-in-law who are well versed with some simple home remedies for infants can have a big sigh of relief because these simple remedies takes these infants very smooth through this first year without any problems. But in this modern fast track world, following such home remedies are slowly getting washed away. Thanks to internet where we can still keep them alive. In this article I would like to share some of these simple remedies that have been followed by your mothers and grandmothers for ages for the care of infants. I believe that there are still people who are looking for such information and this article would be a boon to them. Happy reading!

It is quiet natural for a mother to think that her child should live long happily without any disease. In the olden days the mothers used to prepare what is called as “Urai Marundhu” (home-made preparation with herbal ingredients) and give to their infants. Today’s mothers have forgotten or do not know about this home preparation with herbal ingredients. If it is given for the infants of 15 days – 1 month and up to 5-7 years, all the major diseases can be prevented.

Kadukkai (Chebulic Myrobalan, Inknut): It helps in improving appetite, digestion and prevents loose motions due to indigestion. It helps the intestine, stomach and liver to function properly.

Sitharathai (Indian ginger or snap ginger): It is usually given to prevent cold and cough. It helps to get relief from chest congestion with phlegm.

Sukku (Dry ginger): It prevents gas formation, stomach pain, indigestion and vomiting. Most of the infants suffer due to colicky pain. What is colic in infants? Colic is inconsolable crying caused by digestive discomfort. Dry ginger helps to soothe the symptoms of colic in babies.

Jathikai (Nutmeg): Nutmeg in small dosages helps to reduce flatulence (gas) and aids digestions and improves appetite. Removes the unwanted crying among infants and gives good sleep.

Massikkai (Gall-Oak or nut-gall): Massikkai is good for digestion and gastric problems and increases the appetite of the baby. Masikkai also Helps the teeth to grow beautifully. Also helps in good urination.

Vasambu (Sweet flag): Vasambu and Kadukkai are called as “pillai valarppan” (agents which helps the child to grow). It helps to improve appetite, tasteless buds and laziness. Also helps in indigestion, stomach pain and chest congestion with phlegm.

There is special rubbing stone available in Indian Herbal Medicine shops. On this rubbing stone, first squeeze little breast milk. Rub the above mentioned ingredients (2 rubs for infants and can be increased according to the months up to 15 times) on this breast milk and make a paste. Apply this paste in the tongue of the baby. It can be given on alternative days or after giving oil bath to baby.

Place the ingredients (in a muslin cloth again) under the shade for drying. This would take roughly 3hours or earlier.Clean the grinding stone with plain water and place it under the shade. Once the ingredients are dried, place it in an airtight container.

• The alternate method is rubbing the above ingredients in hot water or betel juice or tulsi juice or omam juice (carom) or ginger juice and can be mixed with sugar or honey.
• Hot water – Add little hot water and rub all the above ingredients in case of gas and chest congestion.
• Betel juice, tulsi juice and honey – In case of phlegm and indigestion.
• Carom juice with honey – loose motion
• Ginger juice with honey – indigestion, fever and vomit.

The rubbed medicine has to be given very slowly to the infant. This home preparation with the above mentioned herbal ingredients is useful for the overall development of children and they are not prone to any major health problems later. Try this magic age-old preparation and benefit from them.