Key Finding
In a study of 150 mothers managing infant colic, herbal medicines and positional changes were the most commonly used interventions, while acupuncture had a mean usage score of zero, indicating it was not utilized by any participant.
Infant colic — that relentless cycle of crying, gas, and discomfort that leaves babies miserable and parents exhausted — has no single proven cure. A new study published in the Ethiopian Journal of Health Sciences explored how mothers in Kerman, Iran, actually cope when their babies suffer from colic pain. Researchers spoke with 150 mothers in a survey and interviewed 18 of them in depth to understand both what they do and how they feel about it.
The results painted a picture of stressed, often isolated mothers doing whatever they could to help their babies. The most commonly used remedies were herbal medicines and repositioning the baby — simple, accessible approaches mothers could try at home. Probiotics were rarely used, and acupuncture was not used by any mother in the study.
Beyond the remedies themselves, the emotional story was striking. Mothers reported deep anxiety, a lack of trust in their doctors, feelings of inadequacy, and a sense of being completely alone in their caregiving. The researchers described this as a need for "mothers' support" and called for better educational and psychological resources to help parents navigate colic.
So what does this mean if you are a parent considering acupuncture for your colicky infant? While this study did not evaluate whether acupuncture works for colic — only that it was not being used — other research has explored pediatric acupuncture and acupressure as gentle options for infant discomfort. Acupuncture for infants typically involves very brief, minimal stimulation and is considered safe when performed by a trained practitioner.
If you are curious about whether acupuncture or related therapies might help your baby, speak with a licensed acupuncturist who has experience working with infants and young children.
This mixed-method study (n=150 quantitative; n=18 qualitative) investigated colic management strategies among mothers in Kerman, Iran, using a sequential explanatory design. Quantitative findings identified herbal medicines (mean 3.55±0.51) and positional changes (mean 3.35±0.67) as the most frequently employed interventions. Probiotics scored lowest among used therapies (1.4±0.2), and acupuncture recorded a mean of zero — indicating complete non-use within this cohort. Qualitative content analysis surfaced a central theme of unmet maternal support needs, encompassing subcategories of physician distrust, full-time caregiving burden, persistent anxiety, perceived inadequacy, and absence of social support. No efficacy data for any intervention were measured. Clinically, the study underscores a significant gap: evidence-based and integrative options including acupuncture remain entirely outside the awareness or access of this population. Practitioners treating families with colicky infants should consider proactive outreach and patient education, as maternal psychological burden is substantial and receptivity to supportive care pathways may be high.
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