Growing up Green, for Healthy Babies and Kids [3]

Green Baby Food Care,

En route to a Greener Life,

You are what you eat.

Babies are generally programmed to eat what the parent are eating,

if the parent are eating, it must be all right, the child would know that the food is safe.

But if parent are too busy feeding their small children,

he / she is going to learn to eat what his / her neighbor is eating !

Baby Milk:

Relating to feed the babies with baby milk formulas / dairy products, a lot of confusion exists between the two adverse reactions, those are milk allergy and lactose intolerance, many people think that lactose intolerance is the same as an allergy to milk or dairy products, it is important to distinguish between the two because they are not the same, they are not even related.

I. Lactose intolerance [carbohydrate intolerance]:

Lactose or milk sugar intolerance, also called carbohydrate intolerance, is non-allergic food sensitivity and occurs due to the decrease or absence of lactase enzyme that is required to metabolize the lactose / milk sugar, it occurs when the digestive system fails to produce enough lactase enzymes to break down the lactose in milk, lactose intolerant presents with abdominal pain / cramp, bloating stomach, nausea and diarrhea, it is the most common type of carbohydrate intolerance found among adults of African, Asian, Native American or Chinese descent, it develops in children around the age of five years [kids / kindergartens] caused by the partial or the complete loss of lactase enzyme due to unknown reasons, children below the age of five [toddlers to preschoolers] who suffer from a severe attack of diarrhea or another severe illness could also develop temporary or permanent lactose intolerance. it is rare in infants and more common among older kids and adults

Symptoms of lactose intolerance:

The common symptoms of lactose intolerance range from mild to severe, they include nausea, vomiting, bloating, abdominal cramps, gas, diarrhea, weight loss and malnutrition, symptoms begin about 30 minutes to 2 hours after consuming a lactose containing product, the severity of symptoms depends on the amount of lactose containing product consumed, the degree of deficiency of lactase enzyme in the body, a person’s age, ethnicity and digestion rate, in infants and young children, a stool sample can be tested for the presence of acids and glucose in the stool, undigested lactose fermented by gastrointestinal bacteria produces lactic acid and other fatty acids that get detected in a stool sample, carbohydrates may be present in the stool indicating mal-absorption of lactose.

II. Milk allergy [protein intolerance]:
Milk allergy is an adverse reaction triggered by immunoglobulin E (IgE) antibodies to one or more of the proteins in cow's milk, people can be allergic to either whey protein or casein protein, or both, and an allergic reaction can be caused by very small amounts of these allergen proteins in sensitive people.

• Whey protein: Heat treatment, such as pasteurization, breaks whey protein [heat unstable], so people allergic to whey might not react to pasteurized milk,
• Casein: casein is heat stable, so people allergic to casein will probably react to all types of milk and milk products,

most people are allergic to both the casein and whey fractions indicating that most milk-allergic people cannot tolerate boiled milk, allergy to milk may occur in any individual, young children are most commonly affected although one can develop milk allergy at any age.

Cow's milk allergy is basically an allergic reaction to one of the proteins in cow's milk that involves the immune system, milk allergy is one of the commonest food allergies in infants and young children, with 2-3% of children under three years of age allergic to cow’s milk proteins, though most of them surpass this allergy, 50% of these children seem to come out of it in the first year of life, another 25% during the second year and by 3 years of age, 80% outgrow this allergy, only a minority of them who still have cow's milk allergy at the age of three will continue to have this allergy in their adulthood, it has been found that a large number of children who are allergic to cow's milk also react to goat's milk and sheep's milk, and some are even allergic to the protein in soy milk.

Symptoms of Milk allergy:

The symptoms of milk allergy may occur within a few minutes after exposure, or after hours to several days in delayed reactions, this allergy is capable of triggering a wide array of symptoms which include GI reactions, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal cramps, gas, and heartburn; nose, ear and throat infections [runny nose], sinusitis, and coughing; and symptoms involving the skin [itchy rash, eczema]. in a very few cases, milk allergy can cause anaphylaxis.

The diagnosis of milk allergy in infants is quite straight forward in case the symptoms developed immediately after the child was put on milk formula made from modified cow's milk or soon after a person consumed milk containing food.

Medications:

avoidance of milk and milk-containing foods is the only treatment, it can be really tough as milk is a common food ingredient,

medicine such as antihistamines, may calm down signs and symptoms of a milk allergy, these drugs control an allergic reaction after exposure to milk and help relieve discomfort, other drugs, such as sodium cromoglycate / cromolyn sodium and corticosteroid drugs prevent the development of symptoms of eczema, in case of a serious allergic reaction such as anaphylaxis, a child may need an emergency injection of epinephrine and quick admission to the emergency room.

Most infants with milk allergy develop symptoms within the first few months of birth and it is usually rare for symptoms to start after the age of 12 months, the treatment of milk allergy requires complete avoidance of milk proteins, even yogurt / fermented cow milk, butter, cheese, and cream may also need to be avoided, other milk such as goat milk, sheep milk, mare milk etc. is not recommended for treatment of infants with cow milk allergy because these milks are nutritionally incomplete, are poor sources of certain vitamins [especially folic acid and vitamins B₆, B₁₂, C and D] and are only tolerated in a few infants with cow milk allergy.

If an infant suffers from milk allergy while he / she is also getting breastfeed, then it is important for the mother to restrict the amount of dairy products that she consumes because the milk protein that causes the allergic reaction can cross into the breast milk, lactating mothers may even be required to follow an elimination diet.

Hypoallergenic formula:

For formula fed infants, milk substitute formulas such as soy protein-based formula may be advised, but if the infant is intolerant to soy, it is suggested to switch to a hypoallergenic formula, in this kind of baby formula products, the proteins are already denatured into smaller particles so that become far less likely to stimulate an allergic response.

Major types of hypoallergenic formulas include:

1. Extensively hydrolyzed formulas: the cow's milk proteins are denatured into smaller particles so that they are far less likely to cause allergy as compared to the whole proteins in regular formulas, this is due to the poor palatability of those extensively hydrolyzed formulas, most allergic infants can tolerate these formulas, but in some cases, they still stimulate allergic reactions.
2. Partially hydrolyzed milk formula: contains peptides / protein large enough to cause allergic reactions and although they may be ideal as substitute milk for prevention of milk allergy in high-risk infants, they are not recommended for the treatment of cow's milk allergy.
3. Amino acid-based infant formulas: containing protein in its simplest form: amino acids, may be recommended if baby's condition doesn't improve even after switching to an extensively hydrolyzed formula, they are usually palatable and well tolerated, but are very expensive.

Switching the infant to a different formula should result in the disappearance of symptoms in 2-4 weeks, it is recommended to continue with a hypoallergenic formula up until the baby's first birthday, and then cow's milk can be slowly introduced into his or her diet, for children and adults, many commercially available replacements to milk are available, they include rice milk, soy milk, oat milk and almond milk, but they are not suitable nutrition for infants.

Calcium supplementation:

The American Dietetic Association recommends calcium requirements are 400 mg / day for 0–6 month’s infants and 600 mg / day for a 6–12 months old child, alternative sources of calcium and other vital nutrients should be started to replace the nutrients that come from dairy products, in infants and young children, calcium supplementation may be required, as milk may be their only source of calcium.

Start the solid foods.

Eating well is not just about where the food comes from, good health comes from eating chemical free, natural foods together as a family, certified organic foods, free from pesticides, free from chemical fertilizers as well as free from fungicides are the best choice.

The longer delay the introduction of solid foods, the more likely babies are go for a sweet taste and the more resistant the babies become to new taste [salt taste, bitter / sour taste], getting the babies interested in a range of tastes by 6 months is a good way to avoid weakly eating, so don’t delay introducing the babies to solid foods, because the babies may develop a sweet taste, eating organic foods, avoiding processed foods are true to be the best immune boosters.

Many babies will become very interested in the food in their parents’ plates as early as 4 months of age, by 5 or 6 months of age, most babies will be reaching and trying to grab food that parents have on their plates, when the baby is starting to reach for food, this seems a reasonable time to start giving him / her solid foods, but in some cases, it may be better to start food earlier, it may be reasonable to start solids as early as 3 months of age, however, it may be possible, to continue breastfeeding alone, the breastfed baby digests solid foods better and earlier than the artificially fed baby because breast-milk contains enzymes which help digest fats, proteins and starch, breastfed babies have had a wide variety of tastes in their lives, since the flavors of many foods the mother eats will pass into her milk, breastfed babies thus accept solids more readily than artificially fed babies.

Food allergy:

Food allergy occurs when a food triggers an immune system, this reaction involves the antibody immunoglobulin E [IgE], which plays an important role in allergy, causes the immune system to release histamine, food allergies can get triggered when a sensitive person eats, inhales, or comes into contact with even tiny amounts of foods or food additives, the reactions can be very mild or may be life-threatening.

In children, the most common food allergies occur from cow's milk, hen's eggs, peanuts, tree nuts, soybeans and wheat, it has been put forth that a lack of exposure to specific foods in infancy may result in allergies to those foods later on.

Symptoms of food allergy

Symptoms are usually appear immediately after eating, these include skin rashes such as urticaria, hives, itchy skin; itchy nose and eyes with runny nose, wheezing, coughing and difficulty breathing; and swelling and itching around the lips, eyelids and mouth. GI symptoms include nausea, abdominal cramps, bloating, vomiting and diarrhea.

How to treat food allergy?

The only way to treat food allergies is to avoid the offending foods, if your child is allergic to cow's milk, it is a must to check food labels for its ingredients like casein, whey, lactoalbumin [albumin contained in milk] etc, it needs to be extra careful in case the child is allergic to peanuts or tree nuts, these allergies tend to be the most severe as nuts are ingredients in a large variety of food items, especially in cookies and desserts.

Certified Organic foods:

Organic foods which are free from pesticides, chemical fertilizers, as well as free from fungicides are the best choice.

In order to be labeled as certified organic food, a food must have been certified as having been produced without synthetic pesticides, chemical fertilizers, genetic engineering [GMO / genetically modified organism] ^[1] , antibiotics, hormones, sewage sludge, irradiation ^[2] , organic certification also implies that the farmer is promoting biological diversity by rotating crops, conserving and renewing the soil, protecting water sources, organic foods also called environmentally friendly foods, or ecologically sound foods.

^[1] Genetically modified food: GMOs or Genetically Modified Organisms are created by inserting a gene from one organism into another organism, this alters the recipient’s genetic makeup to produce new different traits, such as a pest resistance or faster growth.

^[2] Irradiation: the process of irradiation uses electron beams or radioactive substances to kill pathogens, retard spoiling, prolong transit time and shelf life of the foods.

Also Read:

Growing up Green, for Healthier Prenatal Babies
Growing up Green, for Healthy Newborn Babies
Growing up Green, for Healthy Babies & Kids [1]
Growing up Green, for Healthy Babies & Kids [2]

Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, the most common nerve problem affecting person’s hand

people think that carpal tunnel syndrome is

the disease of the information technology age,

if we are working most of the day with computer,

we feel tingling or numbness in our wrist for months,

then a stabbing pain,

it is very likely we have carpal tunnel syndrome

Carpal Tunnel:

image for illustration purpose only.

Carpal tunnel is a narrow and rigid passage way of ligament and bones at the base of the hand that houses the median nerve and tendons, it is about as big as your thumb, carpal tunnel is located at the palm side of your wrist, the wrist [carpus] is surrounded by a band of fibrous tissue that normally functions as a support for the joint, the tight space between this fibrous band and the wrist bone is called the carpal tunnel, the median nerve passes through the carpal tunnel to receive sensations from the thumb, index finger / fore-finger, and middle fingers of the hand.

Carpal tunnel syndrome [CTS]

CTS has become the most significant medical problem affecting workers,

full recovery will only by avoiding stressful situations and changing work habits.

women are three times more likely than men to develop carpal tunnel syndrome,

because the carpal tunnel itself may be smaller in women than in men.

The carpal tunnel is at the base of the palm of the hand and is made of bones, tendons, and a thick ligament that surround the median nerve, any condition that causes swelling or a change in position of the tissue within the carpal tunnel can squeeze and irritate the median nerve which is located just above the wrist [carpus], irritation of the median nerve can due to either inflamed, or pinched which is as a result of sustained activities like typing, hammering, pushing, constant repetitive use of the hand, causes tingling and numbness of the thumb, index finger / fore-finger, and the middle finger, a condition known as carpal tunnel syndrome occurs when the median nerve, which runs from the forearm into the hand, becomes pressed or squeezed at the wrist, the median nerve controls sensations to the palm side of the thumb and fingers [although not the little finger], as well as impulses to some small muscles in the hand that allow the fingers and thumb to move, thickening from irritated tendons or other swelling narrows the tunnel and causes the median nerve to be compressed, the result may be pain, weakness, or numbness in the hand and wrist, radiating up the arm, carpal tunnel syndrome is the most common and widely known of the entrapment neuropathies in which the body's peripheral nerves are compressed or traumatized,

Another terminology of Carpal Tunnel Syndromes [CTS] are:

· cumulative-trauma-disorders,

· overuse-syndromes,

· chronic-upper-limb-pain-syndromes,

· repetitive-motion-disorders.

all terminology are associated generally with repetitive and forceful use of the hands that damages the muscles and bones, many people believe that constant repetitive use of the hand and poor computer set-up are the primary causes the carpal tunnel syndrome.

The drastic increase in computer-related carpal tunnel syndrome injuries is due to computer mouse use, largely due to the problem that the generic computer mouse does not properly fit the computer users’ hand, the generic computer mouse results in excessive fatigue, pain and pressure within the carpal tunnel and thus contributes to inflames / injuries that range from cruelly & insensitive hands and wrists to carpal tunnel syndrome, people who have suffered from carpal tunnel syndrome are usually writers or who works at a computer all day, after hours at the keyboard.

Study to determine the prevalence and incidence of possible carpal tunnel syndrome has been conducted to evaluate the contribution of the use of mouse devices and keyboards to user’s risk, but the study found that the occurrence of possible carpal tunnel syndrome in the right hand, which is usually the hand that controls the mouse, was low, the study emphasizes that computer use does not pose a severe occupational hazard for developing symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome, a study by researchers at the Mayo Clinic, recently received a lot of media attention when it concluded that there is no association between computer use and carpal tunnel syndrome [CTS]. However, the methodology used in the study was not appropriate to evaluate whether or not computer use causes carpal tunnel syndrome, in fact, carpal tunnel syndrome is three times more common among assemblers than among data-entry personnel.

In fact, recent studies by Tech Dyne International Inc, concluded that the use of a generic, poor-fitting, computer mouse for a single four-hour period caused a loss of strength of the arm of up to 60% and caused the muscles being used in these repetitive operations to get overused, causing inflammation and injury, this is considered the number one ergonomic risk factor for developing computer-related carpal tunnel syndrome.

Cause of generic computer mouse in developing computer-related carpal tunnel syndrome are:

• shape of the generic computer mouse: the shape that does not correctly fit the user's hand, requires the user to grip and hold, which over an extended period will cause tendon and muscle fatigue in the hand, wrist and even the elbow and arm.
• overall size of the generic computer mouse: the size of the computer mouse does not properly fit the size of the individual’s hand, this means there is not enough support for the hand, having optimal support and comfort is required to minimize fatigue with computer mouse operations, individuals with smaller hands should use smaller mice, on the contrary, individuals with larger hands should use larger mice
• right and left hand compatibility: the computer mouse is not compatible with the user’s dominant hand, the computer mouse should be compatible with the dominant hand of the computer user, left-handed computer mouse users should use an ergonomic ^[1] [human factor engineering] computer mouse designed for the left hand.
• wrist position: an ordinary, generic horizontal computer mouse requires your forearm to twist away from its natural position, this causes more strain on your carpal tunnel, wrist tendons and ligaments.
• 
  

^[1] Ergonomic is the science of refining the design of products to optimize them for human use, human characteristics, such as height, weight, and proportions are considered, as well as information about human hearing, sight, temperature preferences, and so on. Ergonomics is sometimes known as human factors engineering.

image for illustration purpose only.

Do we think computer and mouse use can cause carpal tunnel syndrome?

carpal tunnel syndrome from repetitive work has been referred to as one of the repetitive stress injuries.

Symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome:
carpal tunnel syndrome [a painful progressive condition by compression of a key nerve in the wrist] usually starts gradually, there is frequent burning, tingling, itching, numbness in the palm of the hand and the fingers, typical for thumb, the index finger / fore-finger, and the middle finger, the fingers feel useless and swollen, although they do not show any signs of swelling, when carpal tunnel syndrome’s symptoms tend to worsen, someone will feel tingling all the time, and his / her grip strength decreases, in worst cases, he / she is unable to feel between hot and cold by touch.

The symptoms often first appear in one or both hands during the night, since many people sleep with bend / flexed wrists, a person with carpal tunnel syndrome may wake up feeling the need to shake out the hand or wrist, as symptoms worsen, people might feel tingling during the day.

symptoms usually come and go, symptoms may occur with certain activities, like reading or driving, symptoms will then go away when we move the hand or change what we are doing, the numbness and pain tend to become more frequent and last longer as the problem grows worse, in severe cases, symptoms can become constant.

Conditions and diseases that cause carpal tunnel syndrome:

Most often carpal tunnel syndrome is caused by repetitive motion, injury, or inflammatory types of arthritis, for most patients, the cause of their carpal tunnel syndrome is unknown, any condition that causes pressure on the median nerve at the wrist [compression of a key nerve in the wrist] can cause carpal tunnel syndrome, which is often as the result of a combination of factors that increase pressure on the median nerve and tendons in the carpal tunnel, rather than a problem with the nerve itself, tendon inflammation resulting from repetitive work, such as uninterrupted typing can cause deposition of abnormal substances in and around the carpal tunnel, leading to nerve irritation which causes carpal tunnel symptoms, other contributing factors include trauma or injury to the wrist that cause swelling, such as sprain or fracture, mechanical problems in the wrist joint, repeated use of vibrating hand tools

Treatment of carpal tunnel syndrome:

There are many differences in carpal tunnel syndrome treatments, somebody with mild symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome may ease his / her numbness or discomfort by taking more frequent breaks by resting his / her hands, or by applying cold ice packs if swelling occurs, treatment options include wrist splinting, medications or even surgery, but let's not over react, many people, suffering from carpal tunnel syndrome experience effective treatment with non-surgical methods, including:

wrist splinting, try wearing a wrist splint at night and avoid sleeping on our hands to help ease the pain or numbness in the wrists and hands, treatments for carpal tunnel syndrome should begin as early as possible, under a doctor's direction:

[1]. General initial treatments:

1. resting the affected hand and wrist for at least 2 weeks,
2. avoiding activities that may worsen symptoms,
3. im-mobilizing the wrist in a splint to avoid further damage from twisting or bending.
4. if there is inflammation, apply a cool pack to help reduce swelling.

[2]. Non-surgical treatments:

1. Drugs:
• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs [NSAID], such as aspirin, ibuprofen, and other nonprescription pain relievers, may ease symptoms that have been present for a short time or have been caused by hard / strenuous activity.
• orally administered diuretics can decrease swelling.
• corticosteroids [such as prednisone] : to relieve pressure on the median nerve and provide immediate / temporary relief to persons with mild or intermittent symptoms. [caution: persons with diabetes and those who may be predisposed to diabetes should note that prolonged use of corticosteroids can make it difficult to regulate insulin levels. corticosterioids should not be taken without a doctor's prescription.]
• Lidocaine [an anesthetic drug] can be injected directly into the wrist to reduce pain.
• Vitamin B₆ [pyridoxine] supplements may ease the symptoms of carpal tunnel syndrome.
2. Exercise:

stretching exercises can be helpful in people whose symptoms have abated / become less strong, these exercises may be supervised by a physical therapist, who is trained to use exercises to treat physical impairments, or an occupational therapist, who is trained in evaluating people with physical impairments and helping them build skills to improve their health and well-being, exercises can decrease symptoms for a lot of people, the aims are to get more blood flowing to the area and to move the nerve so that the part of the nerve that is in the tunnel slips out for a short rest, try fully curling the fingers tightly closed [fist] and bending the wrist toward the palm, then straighten the fingers and stretch the wrist back the other way, repeat those motions about ten times, remember that carpal tunnel syndrome almost always starts gradually, so it has usually been present for a while before you even notice any symptoms, stretches and exercises have to be performed regularly to be effective, try to make it part of the daily routine, perhaps each morning and before bedtime.

3. Alternative therapies:

acupuncture and chiropractic care have benefited some patients but their effectiveness remains unproved, an exception is yoga, which has been shown to reduce pain and improve grip strength among patients with carpal tunnel syndrome.

[3]. Surgery

surgery is reserved as a last choice, carpal tunnel release is one of the most common surgical procedures, generally recommended if symptoms last for 6 months, surgery involves providing the band of tissue around the wrist to reduce pressure on the median nerve, surgery is done under local anesthesia and does not require an overnight hospital stay, many patients require surgery on both hands, carpal tunnel syndrome usually doesn't come back after surgery, surgery opens the tight carpal tunnel space and takes pressure off the nerve, after surgery, it may take a while for the nerve to wake up and the symptoms to go away, in more severe cases, the recovery after surgery is slower and symptoms may not go away completely

Important Notice:

Information provided on this article is intended for information, scientific, and education purposes only, it is not intended to substitute the medical advice provided by the medical professionals, only the medical professionals can provide the relevant diagnosis and prescribe the medications!!!

How to prevent from Carpal Tunnel Syndrome:

Carpal tunnel syndrome becomes worse by inactivity than by activity, that is why symptoms are common while sleeping, but with a simple stretching and moving it can be of helpful, symptoms often occur when the hand is in one position for too long.

If we have a job or hobby that keeps the hands in one position for a long time, take a routine short breaks to stretch and move the hands and arms, just a few minutes each hour can be enough to prevent from suffering carpal tunnel syndrome, furthermore, if we are regularly in one position, try to make sure our wrist is relatively straight, because bending the wrist either way increases the pressure around the median nerve.

It is important to notice that there are no proven strategies to prevent carpal tunnel syndrome, it is essential to protect the hands with the following steps:

• relax our grip and reduce the force we are using, such as if using keyboard, hit the keys softly; if writing, use pen with free-flowing pen.
• take breaks whenever we need, such as take a break every 20 minutes, stretch the hands and wrists, if we work with equipment that vibrates, especially when using a great force, it is even more important to take a break.

• at the workplace, workers can do on-the-job conditioning, perform stretching exercises, take frequent rest breaks, wear splints to keep wrists straight, and use correct posture and wrist position, wearing fingerless gloves can help keep hands warm and flexible, develops an ergonomics programs, the program of adapting workplace conditions and job demands to the capabilities of workers, jobs that include greater wrist or hand utilization, can rotate among workers.

• improve the posture, if we have incorrect posture, it is more likely we will roll our shoulders forward, when shoulders are in this position, it is more likely our neck and shoulder muscles will be shortened and they will be compressing nerves in our neck, which will also influence our wrists, fingers and hands.
• keep our hands warm to prevent from developing hand pain and stiffness if our work is in a cold environment.

Also Read:

All about Body's Pains
Trigeminal Neuralgia, Select the most suitable healing method.
Sciatica, a nerve pain potentially reduces the quality of life.
Stiff neck, and How to cure it
How to avoid Muscle Cramps, the most common muscle ache symptoms!

Growing up Green, for Healthy Babies & Kids [2]

Green Personal Baby Care,
en route to a Greener Life.

Being a Green Parent is not always just about keeping the baby safe,
it’s about accepting our responsibility to ensure that what we use is safe.

Be a Green Parent,
Be an Environment Aware Consumer.

Part 2 : Telon Baby Oils,

The pure natural baby oil of Indonesia origin.
Natural products are undoubtedly better for the baby.

You are my everything,
*if we can’t eat it, don’t put it on his skin*!!!

Telon baby oil is made from genuine pure natural oils of Indonesia origin, it consists of a mixture of 3 different oils, two different volatile / essential oils, Cajuput oil & Fennel oil, and one vegetable oil as carrier oil, Coconut oil, all ingredients used are the best and finest quality of genuine pure natural herbs of Indonesia origin, which has special pleasant smell, preservative free, so it is safe enough to be applied on baby’s / infant’s tender skin, mild enough for infant, leaving both the hair and the body clean and refreshed, traditionally has been used by Indonesian people for generations, mother use it regularly to rub on her baby's chest, stomach, waist and foot soles, it brings warmth when applied to the baby’s skin, is usually and regularly used to warm up the body after bath in the morning as well as in the evening, baby needs this precious oil, because his / her body's temperature system is not as perfect as the adult's, during cold weather, the baby's body is unable to get enough energy from burning the fats, which made he / she suffers from cold, application of these baby oil on his / her body will help to protect the baby from getting cold, it has also been used effectively to relieve the bloating stomach, routinely used for baby massage, because baby loves massage, that relaxing the baby’s tender muscle, allowing he / she falling in deeply sleep after having mother’s gently touch, it will tighten the bonding relation among them, baby massage is one of the most effective ways to soothe and communicate with a new baby, it helps relax and calm baby’s nervous system, may also strengthen baby’s respiratory, circulatory, and gastrointestinal functions.

Compositions : Cajuput Oil 60 %, Fennel Oil 15 %, Refined Bleached Deodorized Coconut Oil [RBD-CNO] 25 %,
Alternative formula: in Telon oil products the use of Fennel oil can be changed with Anise oil or with Star-anise oil.

The Main three active Ingredients of Telon Oil

Cajuput Oil

Genuine Indonesia Essential oil,
Steam distillation from leaves & twigs of Cajuput Tree.

Cajuput Tree, in Indonesia called kaju-putih, meaning white wood, has a long flexible trunk with irregular ascending branches, covered with a pale thick, lamellated [fibrous] bark which is soft and spongy and from time to time throws off its outer layer in flakes, a tall evergreen tree up to 30 meters high, the flexible trunk has a whitish spongy bark, which flakes off easily, its leaves entire linear, lanceolate [slender and pointed, needle-like], ash color, alternate on short foot-stalks; flowers sessile, white, on a long spike, the leaves have a very aromatic odor. Cajuput tree also known as White tea-tree, Broad-leaved tea-tree, Paper-barked tea-tree, Swamp tea-tree, and White-wood.

Cajuput Oil, a multi purpose uses essential oil, which has broad medicinal properties, The Buru Island’s Cajuput Oil is well-known as one of the premium quality.
Cajeput oil / Cajuput oil / Oleum Cajuputi USP 1820 – 1936, BPC 1976, its Chemical Abstract Service [CAS] Registry Number 008008-98-8, Cajuput oil is an essential oil / volatile oil obtained by steam distillation in copper vessels [at home industries] of fresh leaves and twigs of the plant Melaleuca leucadendron Linn / Melaleuca cajuputi Roxburgh / Melaleuca minor Decandolle, family Myrtaceae, and rectified by steam distillation, it takes approximately 60-70 kg of leaves and twigs to make 1 kg of cajuput essential oil, a pale yellow or greenish volatile oil due to the traces of copper that have been detected in the oil and this may explain its green tint, the green color is not essential, and may be removed by distillation; it is due chiefly to the presence of copper, and partly to the presence of some altered chlorophyll, it has a distinctly camphoraceous odour, and an aromatic, bitterish taste, levorotatory [leftist optical rotation] has specific gravity of 0.922 to 0.929 at 15° C [equivalent to 59° F]. it is originally produced in Indonesia, previously well-known from Buru Island, in South Molucass Islands group, but now has been heavily cultivated in various regions in Java Island, several other species of Melaleuca leucadendron are utilized such as Melaleuca hypericifolia, Melaleuca veridifolia, Melaleuca lalifolia, Melaleuca paraguayensis, the Australian species Melaleuca decussata and Melaleuca erucifolia are also used, cajeput oil / oil of cajuput contains from 50 to 65 % of 1,8-cineole / eucalyptol [also called cajuputol], it is used internally as a carminative, stimulant and diaphoretic, externally used as a parasiticide.

1,8 Cineole / Eucalyptol / Cajuputol

Cajuput Oil contents:
Cajuput oil contains 1,8-Cineole [cajeputene hydrate, eucalyptol, cajeputol C10H18O] as the main active ingredient, which should average 50 to 65 %, other ingredients are solid terpineol, several aldehydes such as valeric-aldehyde, butyric-aldehyde and benzoic-aldehyde, terpinyl acetate, pinene, nerolidol, both free and as an ester of acetic acid, small amount laevo-pinene, farnesol, phytol, squalene, alloaromadendrene, ledene, palustrol, viridiflorol, ledol, betulinaldehyde, betulinic acid, platanic acid, α-pinene, β-pinene, myrcene, limonene, linalool, ρ-cymene, α-terpinene, γ-terpinene, terpinen-4-ol, α-terpineol, terpinolene.

Therapeutic uses:
Cajuput essential oil has stimulant and relaxant activity and is used both internally and externally, stimulating the circulation around the point of application, producing sensation of warmth, used in a baby massage oil to relax the muscles, as embrocation [rubbing] for the relieve of stomach disorder / bloating stomach as carminative, in combination with other medicinal oils, by promoting sweating, cajuput oil cools down the body and helps with such infections as colds / flu, pharyngitis and pneumonia, it is also helpful for asthma, sinusitis and a sore throat, it also used as a mildly counter irritant for mosquito / insect bites.

Aromatherapic uses:
cheering, sense enhancing, mildly euphoric, aids relaxation & emotional balance, calming, for insomnia, for flu.

Safety used:
Cajuput oil is non toxic and non sensitizing, however may irritate the skin, therefore it needs to be well diluted with carrier oil, such as coconut oil, jojoba oil, sunflower oil, and never allowed to come into contact with mucous membranes, as it contains essential oils, irritation could be occurred in baby with hypersensitive skin, so don’t rub it onto the face and skin's sensitive areas, eyes and open wounds, for pregnant or breast-feeding women: no harmful effects are known.

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Fennel Oil [Oleum Foeniculi]

Fennel Oil is a volatile oil / essential oil which is obtained by steam distillation of the ripe and dried fruits of the plant Foeniculum vulgare, family Umbelliferae, it contains not less than 2,0 % v/w of essential oil, a colourless or a clear pale yellow liquid, with sweet, licorice like, odour and taste of fennel, produce a special fragrance, that mothers would call as " baby's smell oil ", it has Specific Gravity 0,953 – 0,973, Refractive Index: 1,5280 – 1,5380, Optical Rotation: +12° to +24°

There are two kinds of Fennel Tree [Martindale, the complete drug reference, thirty-fifth edition]:

1. Bitter Fennel: Foeniculum vulgare, sub-species vulgare, varietas vulgare, it contains not less than 4,0 % v/w of essential oil, the oil contains not less than 60,0 % of anethole, not less than 15,0 % of fenchone.
2. Sweet Fennel: Foeniculum vulgare, sub-species vulgare, varietas dulcis it contains not less than 2,0 % v/w of essential oil, the oil contains not less than 80,0 % of anethole.

Therapeutic uses:
use as an aromatic and carminative, to expel gas from bloated stomach, for neuro-muscular spasm, rheumatism and arthritis, bronchitis, whooping cough, as a nerve tonic in relieving stress and nervous tension.
Considers that the use of Fennel oil in infants and toddlers is contra indicated, it is also used in herbal remedies for respiratory tract disorder and in aromatherapy [Martidale, the complete drug reference, 35th edition, 2007].

Aromatherapic uses:
to aid with mental and emotional block, resisting change, fear of failure, creativity blocks.

Refined Bleached Deodorized Coconut Oil

Coconut oil [CNO] is a fixed oil or fat consists of triglycerides of lauric acid [C11H23COOH] and myristic acid [C13H27COOH], obtained by pressing or extracting the mesocarpium of the dried fruit of the plant Cocos nucifera, family Palmae. the crude oil than refined through the consecutive process of de-gumming process with phosphoric acid, bleaching process with bleaching earth, vacuum distilling the free fatty acid, mainly caproic acid [C5H11COOH] and caprylic acid [C7H15COOH] and deodorizing at 250oC under vacuum, to obtained a Refined-Bleached-Deodorized Coconut Oil [RBD-CNO], a clear or a pale yellow greasy oil, consists of triglycerides of lauric and myristic acids. Coconut oil acts as carrier oil [dilution], helps to dissolve the mixture between Cajuput oil and Fennel oil, dilutes, thus producing a smooth, not irritable oily liquid, suitable for baby massage.

Lauric acid [C11H23COOH]

Myristic acid [C13H27COOH]

Alternative ingredients: replacing of the Fennel oil:

1. Oil of Anise, distilled in Europe from the fruits of Pimpinella anisum [Anise fruit]
   
2. Oil of Star Anise, distilled in China from the fruits of Illicium vernum [Star Anise fruit] The oils obtained from these two fruits are identical in composition, and nearly the same in most of their characters.

Anise Oil [Oleum Anisi / Oil of Anise]

Pimpinella anisum, an annual herb of the parsley family [Apiaceae, or Umbelliferae], cultivated chiefly for its fruits, called aniseed, the flavour of which resembles that of licorice, the plant, up to 0.75 m tall, has long-stalked basal leaves and shorter stalked stem leaves, its small, yellowish white flowers form loose umbels, the fruit, or seed, is nearly ovoid in shape, about 3.5 mm long, and has five longitudinal dorsal ridges.

Anise oil is a volatile oil / essential oil which is obtained by steam distillation of the dried ripe crushed seeds of Pimpinella anisum, family Apiaceae / Umbelliferae, a colourless or a pale-yellow liquid, with characteristic aromatic odour, has a clean sweet top note, with a strong anistic [licorice-like] middle note, lightly tenacious with a woody anethole dry out, it has specific Gravity: 0,980 – 0,990, Refractive Index: 1,553 – 1,560, Optical Rotation: +1° to -2°, The active ingredient of Anise oil is trans-anethole 87 – 94 %, other ingredients are linalol 1,5 %, 5,0 % estragol, less than 1,2 % α-terpineol, 0,1 – 0,4 % cis-anethole, 0,1 – 1,4 % anisaldehyde, 0,3 – 2,0 % pseudo-iso-eugenyl-2-methyl-butyrate.

Therapeutic uses:
The medicinal properties of anise come from the chemicals that are present in the fruits, the anethole in anise helps to relieve gas and settle an upset stomach, aids in digestion, Anise warms the abdomen, dispels gas [especially after eating beans] and is helpful for belching / send out gas from the stomach noisily through the mouth, vomiting, chronic diarrhea, abdominal pains, sluggish digestion, especially good for children with stomachaches, the chemicals creosol and alpha-pinene act as expectorants, loosening mucus and making it easier to cough up, anise oil is a common ingredient of cough preparations, the estrogenic action of anise is from the chemicals dianethole and photoanethole, which act in a way similar to estrogen, as a medicinal plant, anise has been used as an antibacterial, an antimicrobial, an antiseptic, an antispasmodic, a breath freshener, a carminative, a diaphoretic, a digestive aid, a diuretic, a mildly expectorant, a mild estrogenic, a mild muscle relaxant, a parasiticide, a stimulant, and a stomachic, anise oil is also used in aromatherapy.
It may cause contact dermatitis, probably due to its anethole content [Martidale, the complete drug reference, 35th edition, 2007].

Aromatherapic uses:
energizes a fatigued mind, cheering, mildly euphoric, sense enhancing.

Star Anise Oil [Oleum Anisi Stellati / Oil of Star Anise]

Illicium verum, is an evergreen tree family Illiciaceae / Magnoliaceae, indigenous to the southeastern part of China to Vietnam, the dried fruit called Star anise, has flavour similar to those of anise, the fruit takes its name from the star-like arrangement of its carpals around a central axis, the dried fruit is about 0.25 to 0.5 cm in diameter; individual carpals are usually about 1 cm in length and contain a single seed, dried carpals are hard, rough, and reddish brown; the seeds are smooth, lustrous [smooth & shining surface], and light brown in colour. The dried fruit containing not less than 7 % v/w of’essential oil, a minimum of 86 % trans-anethole in the essential oil, other ingredients are chavicol, methyl chavicol, foeniculin, limonene, linalool, nerolidol and cinnamyl acetate.

Therapeutic & Aromatherapic uses:
Star Anise is a warm, aromatic herb that is not only an important ingredient in Chinese and Vietnamese cuisines, but has also been used to relieve digestive disturbances, it is said to be particularly helpful in cases of gastric distress, including flatulence, indigestion, nausea, and vomiting, it also a stimulating herb that is believed to relieve complaints that are associated with cold conditions, flu, bronchitis, coughing, lumbago, and rheumatism, it is considered an antibacterial, antifungal, and expectorant, has been used to relieve bronchitis, and has even been included in cough mixtures to relieve dry coughs, as well as a flavoring.
Neurotoxicity has been associated with the use of star anise infusions in infants, the toxicity is attributed to adulteration or contamination of Chinese star anise [Illicium verum] with Japanese star anise [ Illicium anisatum / Shikimi fruit] which contains toxic sesquiterpene lactones such as anisatin [Martidale, the complete drug reference, 35th edition, 2007].

Also Read:
Growing up Green, for Healthier Prenatal Babies
Growing up Green, for Healthy Newborn Babies
Growing up Green, for Healthy Babies & Kids [1]
Cajuput Oil, the people's Green Health Cares
Growing up Green, for Healthy Babies & Kids [3]