TCM approaches to colic in babies: what the evidence says

0–3 months · Health · Reviewed 20 June 2026 · All articles

Colic is one of the most exhausting experiences of early parenthood. The NHS defines it as crying for more than three hours a day, more than three days a week, in an otherwise healthy and well-fed baby, typically starting around two to four weeks of age and usually resolving by three to four months. Despite how common it is, the cause remains poorly understood, and no single treatment reliably stops it. It is precisely this gap between suffering and certainty that leads many families to look beyond conventional medicine.

Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) has offered explanations and remedies for infant digestive distress for well over a thousand years. In that time, three approaches have become the most widely used: tui na massage, herbal medicine, and acupuncture. All three appear in contemporary parenting discussions, and all three deserve careful, honest consideration. This article reviews what each involves, what TCM theory says about it, and what the clinical research actually shows.

A note before we begin: TCM is a complete and internally consistent medical system with its own concepts of health, diagnosis and treatment. It does not always map neatly onto Western biomedical explanations. This article tries to be fair to both frameworks without collapsing one into the other. Where evidence is weak, it says so plainly. Where a practice appears safe and potentially helpful, that is noted too.

What colic looks like, and how TCM understands it

Conventional medicine describes colic as a diagnosis of exclusion: a baby who cries inconsolably for extended periods and for whom no clear medical cause can be found. The leading theories involve gut immaturity, microbiome imbalance, feeding technique, or oversensitivity of the developing nervous system. None of these theories has been conclusively proven. The honest summary from the NHS is that the cause of colic is not known.

TCM approaches infant crying and digestive distress quite differently. Practitioners assess a baby through the lens of patterns rather than single diagnoses. A colicky baby might be described as having "spleen and stomach disharmony", meaning the digestive organ systems are not yet well-regulated and the flow of qi (the vital energy that circulates through the body's meridians) is disrupted in the middle region of the body. Alternatively, a TCM practitioner might describe "liver qi stagnation", associated with a baby who cries more toward evening and seems to have a tense abdomen. A third common pattern is "cold attacking the middle", used for a baby whose crying is eased by warmth.

These distinctions matter because they determine which TCM treatment is chosen. There is no single TCM protocol for colic: the approach is individualised to the pattern identified in that particular baby. This is worth understanding when you read research on TCM for colic, because studies often use a standardised treatment protocol that may not reflect the flexibility of real-world TCM practice.

Tui na massage: the most accessible approach

Tui na is a form of structured bodywork that forms one of the five pillars of TCM, alongside acupuncture, herbal medicine, dietary therapy and qigong. Our full article on tui na baby massage covers the history, techniques and safety considerations in detail. This section focuses specifically on the colic application and the evidence for it.

For colic, tui na practitioners typically work on two areas: the abdomen and specific points on the hands and fingers associated with the digestive system. Gentle clockwise circular strokes over the abdomen (mo fu) are intended to move stagnant qi and gas through the digestive tract. Points on the thumb and index finger are stimulated with light circular pressure or linear strokes to support the spleen and stomach. Spinal pinching (nie ji) along the back from the base of the spine upward is often included at the end of a session to tonify the system overall.

What does research show? A 2014 systematic review published in the journal Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine examined the evidence for infant massage in colic and found that several small randomised trials reported reductions in daily crying time compared with controls who received no massage. Effect sizes varied, and the overall quality of evidence was rated as low due to small sample sizes, short follow-up periods, and the inherent difficulty of blinding parents and practitioners in massage trials.

A 2016 Cochrane review of "interventions for infantile colic" examined infant massage alongside other interventions and concluded that massage may reduce crying, but the evidence was insufficient to make firm recommendations. The authors noted a risk of bias in almost all included trials.

More specific evidence on tui na techniques (as distinct from general infant massage) is sparse in Western literature. Studies published in Chinese journals have reported positive outcomes, but these are not always available in full translation and have not been independently replicated in other settings.

Safety. When performed correctly, tui na massage for babies is considered very low risk. The pressure used should be no firmer than a gentle stroke. Parents should never massage over broken skin, rashes, infection sites, or recent vaccination areas. If a baby has a fever or is unwell, massage should be postponed. For parents who want to try this approach, the most sensible route is to attend a session with a practitioner trained in paediatric tui na, who can demonstrate correct technique and pressure before you attempt it at home.

Overall assessment. Tui na massage for colic is well-tolerated, carries minimal risk when performed gently, and is supported by a small body of evidence suggesting it may reduce crying duration. It is reasonable to try alongside (not instead of) conventional guidance from your health visitor. It should not be used as a reason to delay seeking medical assessment if you are concerned about your baby.

Herbal remedies: where tradition and safety concerns meet

Herbal medicine is central to TCM, and preparations for digestive complaints in infants have been used in Chinese medical practice for centuries. Outside TCM, many families also reach for herbal products marketed specifically for baby colic: gripe water, fennel tea, chamomile, and more. It is worth looking at these carefully, because the safety picture for herbal remedies in young babies is more complicated than for massage.

In TCM herbal practice, a trained practitioner would select herbs according to the pattern identified in the baby, prepare them in a specific formulation, and adjust dosage carefully for the baby's age and weight. The herbs most traditionally associated with infant digestive conditions include combinations containing licorice root (gan cao), dried ginger (gan jiang), tangerine peel (chen pi), and astragalus (huang qi), among many others. Formulae such as Xiao Jian Zhong Tang have historically been used for digestive complaints in children.

What does research show? A 2016 systematic review in the journal BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies examined TCM herbal treatments for infantile colic. It identified a very small number of trials, most conducted in China, and found methodological limitations across all of them, including lack of blinding, small samples, and inadequate reporting of adverse events. The authors concluded that there was insufficient evidence to recommend TCM herbal treatment for infant colic, and that safety data were lacking.

Outside the formal TCM literature, individual herbal products have been studied more widely. A 2011 Cochrane review found that fennel seed oil and a herbal formulation containing chamomile, fennel and liquorice reduced colic symptoms compared with placebo in some trials, but noted concerns about product standardisation and the difficulty of extrapolating findings across different preparations.

Safety concerns that parents must take seriously. The NHS advises against giving herbal remedies to young babies without medical guidance, and this advice deserves weight. The risks with herbal remedies in infants under three months include:

Overall assessment. Herbal remedies occupy the most uncertain ground of the three TCM approaches reviewed here. The theoretical framework behind them is long-established, but the clinical evidence is very limited and the safety profile in young babies is not well characterised. If you are considering any herbal preparation for your baby, including products sold in pharmacies or health food shops, discuss it with your GP or health visitor first. This is not a refusal of traditional knowledge: it is a recognition that young babies are particularly vulnerable to adverse effects, and that the absence of harm reports from a traditional context does not guarantee safety in a modern regulatory and product-quality context.

Acupuncture and acupressure: limited evidence, specialised skill required

Acupuncture involves the insertion of fine needles at specific points on the body. Laser acupuncture, in which a low-level laser is applied to the same points without needles, is also used in paediatric practice. Acupressure uses finger pressure on the same points without needles. All three are used in TCM for infant colic, though the practical and ethical considerations differ.

The idea of needling a young baby understandably concerns many parents, and it is important to understand that paediatric acupuncture is a specialised field. Needles used on infants are extremely fine, and insertion is brief: many practitioners remove needles within seconds rather than leaving them in place for extended periods as in adult treatment. The number of points used is smaller, and the whole treatment is typically shorter than an adult session. Babies do not usually need to stay still for long.

What does research show? The highest-quality trial of acupuncture for infant colic to date was a Swedish randomised controlled trial published in Acupuncture in Medicine in 2017. In this trial, 147 infants with colic were randomised to minimal acupuncture (standardised points with brief needling), individualised acupuncture, or no acupuncture, with all groups also receiving advice and support. The acupuncture groups showed slightly greater reductions in crying time than the control group, but the differences were small and the clinical significance was uncertain. The researchers concluded that acupuncture may have a small beneficial effect but that more rigorous trials are needed.

A 2017 systematic review in Acupuncture in Medicine pooled data from five randomised trials and found that acupuncture reduced crying duration compared with controls, with a modest effect size. The quality of evidence was rated as low to moderate, and the authors noted that blinding is essentially impossible in acupuncture trials, which inflates the apparent effect compared with a fully blinded trial.

Laser acupuncture, which avoids needles entirely, has been assessed in a small number of trials with inconsistent results. It may be more acceptable to families who are hesitant about needles, but the evidence base is even thinner than for traditional needling.

Safety in infants. Published adverse event data from paediatric acupuncture trials are generally reassuring: most reported events are minor (brief crying, small bruise, local redness) and resolve quickly. Serious adverse events are rare in the published literature, but it is important to acknowledge that reporting of adverse events in complementary medicine trials is known to be incomplete.

The key safety requirement is that paediatric acupuncture must only be performed by a practitioner with specific training in treating infants. A practitioner skilled in adult acupuncture is not automatically qualified to work safely on a baby. The points used, the needle depth, the duration of insertion, and the assessment of a baby's responses all require specialised knowledge.

Overall assessment. Acupuncture for infant colic has the most rigorous evidence base of the three TCM approaches covered here, but the evidence remains limited and the effect sizes are modest. It is not routinely recommended by NHS guidelines for infant colic. If you want to explore it, look specifically for a practitioner with documented training in paediatric acupuncture, tell your GP or health visitor, and continue with any medical management already in place. Acupressure (stimulating the same points with finger pressure rather than needles) is lower risk and more accessible, but has even less formal evidence behind it.

The conventional baseline: what to do first

Before exploring any complementary approach, it is worth knowing what conventional medicine actually offers for colic, because the picture is more nuanced than many parents realise.

The NHS recommends a set of practical measures for colic: holding your baby during crying episodes, trying different positions (such as face-down along your arm), gentle motion (pram walks, car rides), using a dummy, ensuring a good feeding latch if breastfeeding, and considering whether a brief trial of dairy-free diet is warranted if cow's milk protein allergy is suspected. These measures do not cure colic but help many families manage it.

Your GP can also assess whether something else might be causing or contributing to the crying. Gastro-oesophageal reflux (see our article on baby reflux and spit-up), cow's milk protein allergy, and other treatable conditions can mimic or coexist with colic. Getting a thorough assessment first means that any complementary approach you add is working alongside appropriate medical care, not delaying it.

Simethicone drops (such as Infacol) and lactase drops are commonly used but the evidence for them in colic is also mixed. The key message from most current clinical guidance is that no single treatment is reliably effective for colic, which is partly why parents explore a wide range of options.

Putting it together: a practical framework

Parents looking at TCM options for colic are not choosing between tradition and science: they are trying to find relief for a difficult situation in which science itself has not yet found a clear answer. The practical question is how to weigh the options wisely.

Start with your GP or health visitor. Rule out treatable causes, get feeding assessed, and establish that your baby is gaining weight appropriately. This is not a formality: it genuinely changes what comes next.

Tui na massage is the most accessible and safest starting point. Learn from a qualified paediatric tui na practitioner rather than from video alone. The abdominal massage elements, in particular, can be incorporated into a daily bedtime routine with minimal risk and some evidence of benefit. This is something you can do yourself, which also supports bonding and gives you a concrete action to take in difficult moments.

Approach herbal remedies with real caution in young babies. If you are interested in TCM herbal approaches, consult a qualified TCM practitioner who works with infants and tell your GP about any preparation you are considering. Do not use herbal products without professional guidance in babies under three months.

If acupuncture interests you, check qualifications carefully. Paediatric acupuncture requires specific training. Ask about the practitioner's experience with infants, what professional body they belong to, and what their protocols are for monitoring your baby's response.

Hold outcomes lightly. Colic tends to resolve by three to four months regardless of what you do. This makes it genuinely difficult to know whether any treatment is working or whether the baby was simply going to improve anyway. If an approach is safe, not too costly, and helps you and your baby get through difficult evenings, its value may be as much in the calm and connection it creates as in any direct physiological effect.

Frequently asked questions

Does tui na massage help with colic?

Some small clinical studies have found that infant massage, including tui na-style abdominal massage, can reduce crying duration compared with no intervention. However, the evidence base is limited: most studies are small, of short duration, and not always well-blinded. Tui na massage is very low risk when performed gently, so many families try it as a complementary measure alongside the approaches recommended by their GP or health visitor.

Are herbal remedies safe for colic in young babies?

Many herbal preparations traditionally used for infant colic have not been studied adequately for safety or efficacy in babies under three months. Some carry real risks, including contamination, sedation, or allergic reactions. The NHS advises against giving herbal remedies to young babies without medical guidance. Always tell your doctor about any herbal preparation you are considering.

Is acupuncture safe for newborns?

A small number of randomised trials have examined acupuncture or laser acupuncture for infant colic with mixed results. The evidence is not strong enough to draw firm conclusions. Adverse events in the published literature are rare but include minor local reactions. If you are considering acupuncture for a young baby, seek a practitioner with specific paediatric training and inform your health visitor or GP.

When should I see a doctor about colic?

If your baby cries for more than three hours a day, more than three days a week, for more than three weeks, discuss this with your GP or health visitor. They can rule out causes such as reflux, cow's milk protein allergy, or other conditions before you explore any complementary approaches. Colic that comes with a fever, vomiting, blood in stools, or a baby who is not gaining weight needs urgent medical assessment.

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