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.

Old Wives Tales

Bitter gourd vine myth

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.

	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.
	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
	Add sufficient water to completely cover the dried vines. Bring the water to boiling then lower the flame and boil for 2 hours.
	Let the boiled liquid cool down first. Pour the liquid into the bath tub and add sufficient water to bathe baby
	Wet a couple of cotton wool squares in the water and wipe the baby’s face with it. Do this several times.
	Make sure that you wipe all the affected areas thoroughly
	Wash the baby’s head as per normal bathing
	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
	Sebastian after having the bath twice. There are some rashes still but it is not crusty and sore looking anymore.
	After the third bath, Sebastian’s face is totally clear of rashes and is baby smooth again

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.

Date added: 22 September 2007

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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 You can buy the vine from any Chinese medical hall. In cantonese it is called 'foo kuah tang' All the best and let me know the results. Cecilia
Posted by Michelle Ng Su Yin 16 November 2010, 09:42:45 AM Hi Cecelia, will this work for my 15 month girl?
Posted by Cecilia Koh 20 November 2010, 08:09:30 PM Hi Su Yin It should work for any young children.
Posted by sherry teh 25 March 2011, 07:19:31 AM Hi cecilia I tried to find foo kua tang around Penang medical shop but unable to find. is there any other remedy for baby heatiness? My boy is 2 mths +. Also is there any way to prevent him from possible fever during immunisation jab? thanks.
Posted by Cecilia Koh 27 March 2011, 07:12:01 PM Hi Sherry Since you are in Penang, maybe you should ask for it in Hokkien which is kor kuah teen. You can try reducing body heat by giving some extra water and once he is over 3 months old you can give him a little barley water, but use the bigger variety which is not too cooling. When your baby has his jab, give him a dose of fever medicine as soon as you get home and continue giving every 4-6 hours for 12 hours. this should help to prevent him developing a fever. Sometimes the fever may come on after a week so you can use the same preventive measures.
Posted by sherry teh 1 April 2011, 06:09:58 PM Dear Cecilia Many thanks for your kind advise. have a great day.Cheers/Sherry
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