Q: My one year-old baby was diagnosed with a cyst in her uvula. Drs. say it usually goes away by itself but so far it is still there and she now has terrible breath. A specialist said she might have to have the cyst removed surgically if it does not go away soon. What can I do? I don't want my baby to go through anything traumatic. -Tim and Ronda, USA |
A: The uvula, according to Traditional Tibetan medicine, comes under the category of mouth and there are different causes, classifications, symptoms and remedies. These problems are usually caused by wrong diet and behavior and sometimes can be caused by negative energy like spirits. Because of wrong diet and behavior there can be an accumulation of impure blood and excess of serous fluid in the body which causes infection or inflammation in one or more parts of our body.
The mouth diseases are classified into 30 different types in which uvula falls under the category of palate. The symptoms are usually swelling of the uvula like a cows teet, causing difficulty in swallowing solid or liquid foods, and consequent vomiting.
For the mother, I recommend you to strictly control your diet if you are breast feeding your one year-old child. I recommend you not to take heavy and oily food, coffee, sour and salty food like lemon and chips, fried food, and alcohol. Avoid smoking, sitting in the sun for long periods of time, and strenuous exercise. Feed the baby with less solid food, and give foods like rice, porridge and soups, which are easy to swallow and do not aggravate the uvula.
There are quite a few types of different herbs that can be given to the baby, but for that you have to see a Traditional Tibetan Doctor. Here is one formula the baby can use to gurgle and swallow with in the morning and you can buy these ingredients from a Chinese herbal store. Crush or grind Sal ammoniacum (1tsp), Vladimiri souliei (Franch) Ling (4 cloves), Acorus Calamus (1 clove), Black Pepper (7 seeds), Phyllanthus emblica (5 cloves), Terminalia belerica (6 cloves), Terminalia Chebula (8 cloves) into powder. Boil sixteen ounces of water with the powder and boil until a quarter of the water dissolves. Strain the water from the residue and gurgle and swallow with that water every morning for few days. If the baby refuses to take the formula, and the mother is breastfeeding, she may take the formula (just swallow it). In this case, the mother should drink one ounce of the formula. If the mother is not breastfeeding, she should give two tablespoons to the baby - one in the morning, and one in the evening.
This is just one formula and it may not necessarily help your baby, so if there is no result within a few days please consult your doctor and follow their advice.
Dr. Namgyal