Old Wives Tales
The collection of old wives tales below are based on my personal experience that I have tested over the years. However, I do not guarantee that they will or will not work for everybody.
Bitter gourd vine myth
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Bath the baby with boiled bitter gourd vine |
Reason
To reduce ‘heatiness’ in babies True or False? |
Answer: True
During the confinement month, most Asian mothers eat ‘heaty’ food as it is believed that the body is cold after childbirth. If the baby is breast fed the ‘heatiness’ of the food does go to the baby and some babies develop ‘heaty’ rashes especially on the face and head.
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Sebastian with heat rashes all over the face, head and upper body. The rashes on the face had become hard and crusty and looked quite sore. |
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You can buy the dried bitter gourd vine from a Chinese medical hall. Costs about RM 4.00 per bundle You need to do the bath once a day for 3 days |
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Add sufficient water to completely cover the dried vines. Bring the water to boiling then lower the flame and boil for 2 hours. |
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Let the boiled liquid cool down first. Pour the liquid into the bath tub and add sufficient water to bathe baby |
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Wet a couple of cotton wool squares in the water and wipe the baby’s face with it. Do this several times. |
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Make sure that you wipe all the affected areas thoroughly |
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Wash the baby’s head as per normal bathing |
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Put the baby into the tub and bath as per normal. Take baby out and dry by patting.
Do not use soap or baby bath Do not rinse off the water |
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Sebastian after having the bath twice. There are some rashes still but it is not crusty and sore looking anymore. |
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After the third bath, Sebastian’s face is totally clear of rashes and is baby smooth again
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Anytime that your baby is ‘heaty’ you can use this bath to cool him down but you only need to do this once if there are no heat rashes.
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| READER COMMENTS |
| Posted by Sherl
24 September 2007, 10:34:31 AM
Sebastian's my little boy and I can attest that the "fu kua tang" (bittergourd vine) was really effective. Within a week the rashes completely disappeared and I was kissing Seb's smooth face again all the time. Before we started on this approach, we went to the paediatrician who had no means of curing the heat rashes other than to "let it run its course" and given some soothing cream. I'm so grateful for Cecilia and team for sharing this traditional method with everyone - old age wisdom like this should never disappear !! |
| Posted by Calyn Yeoh
2 September 2009, 05:04:16 PM
my baby having the same problem since 3 mths ++ till now. He's nearly 8 months now. I've seen few doctors but the rashes will have on and off, i would like to try this method. Where can i get the bittergourd vine? pls help |
| Posted by Cecilia Koh
2 September 2009, 10:54:05 PM
Hi Calyn |
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