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Indigestion (Dyspepsia)

What you need to know:

Most babies, children and young people get the occasional bout of this uncomfortable, but rarely serious, condition. As long as it doesn’t happen too often and without an obvious cause - eating too much, for example, bolting their food, running around after too much cake at a birthday party - it shouldn’t be cause for concern. But if you have a baby or toddler who seems to have regular stomach pain - they won’t be able to tell you that, of course - you should always get it checked by your doctor.

For most cases, however, there are several natural remedies which are extremely effective.

Probably the best known is mint tea. You can make it yourself or buy commercial, preferably organic, tea bags and sweeten it with pasteurised honey for younger children and babies.

Another traditional - if not very pleasant - remedy is a large pinch of bicarbonate of soda dissolved on the child’s tongue. They probably won’t thank you for this, but it does work.

The most useful Herbs:

The following herbs are useful. Steep 2 tspns of fresh - or 1 of dried - herb in a cup of boiling water, leave for 10 mins, strain and sip when lukewarm:

Caraway
Cardoon
Ginger
Lemon balm
Agrimony
Galangal
Dried tangerine peel
Artichoke extract

Slippery elm and marshmallow capsules will also help protect the stomach.

Homoeopathy

The homoeopathic remedies Lycopodium, Nux vomica and Carbo veg may also help. If your child gets chronic indigestion - and as long as any serious cause has been ruled out by conventional medicine - there are some simple dietary and lifestyle changes, which are really important:

Make them sit down quietly to eat, tell them to chew their food thoroughly and take time to swallow
Give them small, regular meals if they fit your lifestyle better. There’s no rule that says you have to eat breakfast, lunch and dinner at the ‘conventional’ times
Processed meats like salami and sausages and greasy, deep-fried foods are real enemies to good digestion - so don’t let children eat them all the time

Dietary changes that may be beneficial:

There are several foods which really are the enemies of good digestion, although they’re hardly likely to be on the favourites list for younger children. They include:

Raw onions
Pickles
Hot, spicy dishes, chillies and curries
Radishes
Cucumber
Peppers
Excessive amounts of coffee

Surprisingly, bananas - a favourite with many kids and a very good source of many nutrients, particularly potassium - are extremely indigestible when they look at their best. Bright yellow bananas can be a common cause of severe indigestion. As they ripen, the starch changes to sugars, which are much more digestible and they should never be eaten until the skins start to turn slightly speckly.

Other useful advice:

If the condition is caused by gastro-oesophageal reflux disease, babies normally simply grown out of it. In older children and teenagers, it may be caused by a hiatus hernia following a high impact injury like a fall or in body contact sports like rugby.

This condition may need surgical repair, but this is what you can do first. Encourage your older child to:

Eat little and often - five small meals a day
Raise the head end of his or her bed by 3-4ins. For teenagers, use a brick under each leg at the head-end of the bed; the indentations will stop the bed slipping. For babies or toddlers, put an extra pillow under the mattress so that they don’t throw it out in the middle of the night. This will prevent the flow of gastric juices up into the oesophagus
Don’t let teenagers drink any liquids in the three hours before bedtime - and whatever you do, lock away the fizzy drinks

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The information provided by WIS is for guidance only. Whilst it is based upon the expert advice of leading professionals, and extensive research, it is not a substitute for diagnosis by a qualified professional. Always consult your doctor, pharmacist or qualified practitioner before making any changes or additions to prescribed medication.