Active Ingredients

Dietary supplement brands rely on the essential oils ginger and fennel as well as sodium bicarbonate (ie. baking soda) for their effects.

Ginger and Fennel Essential Oils
Both Ginger and Fennel have traditional herbal uses for heartburn, and gaseousness. It is thought that certain enzymes contained in these oils may aid digestion or that their antimicrobial properties may alter a baby’s digestive microflora. The FDA lists fennel and ginger oils as GRAS. However certified experts in therapeutic use of essential oils, at the Alliance of International Aromatherapists, caution against the ingestion of essential oils and they cite Fennel Oil, as potentially toxic.

Gut flora is one the most important factors affecting our health. An adult digestive system contains around 4 pounds of bacteria made up of about 100 trillion microbes. Some essential oils act like an antibiotic but we don’t yet have a clear picture of how ingesting essential oils affects gut flora in general.

Sodium Bicarbonate (Baking Soda)
Baking soda has been used for decades as a remedy for heartburn. Baking soda is an antacid (alkali) that neutralizes stomach acid, thereby reducing the burning sensation that accompanies gastroesophageal reflux. The downside of antacids is that the body needs stomach acid to absorb vital nutrients from food, such as calcium, folic acid and iron. Furthermore, sodium bicarbonate is of little value as hyperacidity is rarely a cause of colic. Moreover, if given continuously and in large doses, baking soda may cause alkalosis and milk alkali syndrome. Chronic overuse of antacids has been linked to a host of health problems, such as bone disease, stemming from nutrient deficiency. As Dr. Mercola also points out, stomach acid plays an important role in the immune system, protecting the gut from harmful bacteria, so neutralizing it with sodium bicarbonate may not be such a good idea.

Other Ingredients

The other ingredients in the two major US brands are added primarily as flavors, preservatives or both. These include:

Cautionary Ingredients

Disodium EDTA* is primary used in topical cosmetic products. EDTA is a powerful chelator, meaning it binds metals. Some studies suggest that EDTA is mildly mutagenic, meaning it can impair cell DNA. The risks of EDTA in food products are not fully understood and require more research.

Parabens** are banned in some countries as potential carcinogens.

Sugar*** may provide a short term benefit of improved taste which can temporarily improve a child’s disposition. However, sugar may ultimately worsen symptoms of gassiness and irritability.