The Health Benefits of Using Nutmeg for Your Newborn
The first six months is a crucial period in the life of a newborn. Parents provide a lot of care and attention in ensuring the well-being of their baby. In traditional Indian homes, simple remedies, which have been passed down through the generations, are used to promote good health in a newborn. One of them is the use of the popular spice nutmeg.
Nutmeg has many medicinal properties. In addition to flavoring food, it serves as a remedy for various ailments. One might wonder how nutmeg can benefit a newborn. Here is the answer:
Nutmeg is an effective sedative, making it useful for treating abdominal pain, bloating, flatulence, diarrhea, and constipation. During the first six months, most babies have trouble digesting breast milk as their digestive system is still immature and their gastrointestinal system is learning how to function. Many babies due to this reason experience abdominal pain, bloating and constipation. Nutmeg helps relieve your aches and pains ensuring good health.
Nutmeg is very effective in treating indigestion. Relieves stomach aches and cramps, removing excess gas from the intestines. Most babies, even those who are breastfed, spit up occasionally. Spitting up commonly occurs when the baby does not burp well. But when a baby spits up excessively and frequently, it is mainly due to indigestion. The use of nutmeg helps good digestion in a newborn.
Nutmeg also improves appetite. The use of nutmeg can improve the appetite of newborns promoting weight gain and growth.
Nutmeg is an effective brain tonic. Helps achieve relaxation and induces a good sleep. Newborns sleep very less and for short periods. Using nutmeg can help them sleep well, stay calm and relaxed.
Method of administration and dosage:
Take a whole nutmeg and steam it along with the rice you cook at home for at least fifteen minutes. In India we do not use raw baby nutmeg so steaming is essential. Use a grinding stone (a small one with a flat surface used to make pasta), be sure to wash it well in warm water, and pat dry with a napkin.
Add a few drops of milk (preferably breast milk) to the grinding stone and gradually rub in the whole nutmeg in a circular motion (4-5 times) until you make a smooth paste of about 1ml. The paste should have a thin syrup-like consistency.
This milky nutmeg potion should be given to the baby before bedtime. You can give this for a few days or up to a month, whenever the child develops indigestion or has trouble sleeping. 0.5 ml for all babies up to 6 months. However, the results may vary from one baby to another.
A tried and tested formula, this potion not only improves the health and appetite of newborns, but also strengthens immunity and promotes growth. When a newborn is fed well and sleeps well, fathers definitely feel happy and mothers, especially, are less stressed. So here is the secret behind a happy and healthy baby. Try it and share it. Happy parenting!