To kick-start the Baby BBB series, here’s a staple of many Chinese mothers for dealing with baby gas! Known as 如意油 (rú yì yóu) in Chinese, this product is an expellent for wind (or a fart-maker, if you like ;)). It is often rubbed onto baby tummies to ‘祛风’ (qū fēng) – remove wind in the stomach. It works on adults and children alike – my whole family uses it to relieve bloatedness.
On babies, instead of pouring the oil directly onto their delicate skin, rub a few drops between your palms before gently rubbing baby’s tummy. This method also ensures a more even application.
Easily available at Watsons at under S$5 for a 25 ml bottle (mine is a 10 ml bottle that was bought from the market), Wong Cheung-Wah Yu Yee Oil (黄祥华如意油), with its familiar red and yellow cylindrical tin, seems to be the dominant brand of this medicated oil. It’s quite possibly the only one, although I do recall seeing another version a long time ago.
Its ingredients include:
- Peppermint Oil 36.0%
- Clove Oil 2.6%
- Nutmeg Oil 0.6%
- Menthol 1.6%
- Borneol 1.0%
- Cortex Cinnamon 1.0%
- Resina Calamus Draco 1.0%
- Light Liquid Paraffin q.s. 100%
Another name for Resina Calamus Draco is Dragon’s Blood, which sounds quite exotic. The liquid probably derives its red hue from the berries of this palm.
The scent can turn sour after some time but when freshly applied, it never fails to remind me of babies! This classic product certainly makes a happy scent memory for me. ♥
I’m using this on my babe as well! I prefer this brand over the rest. I love the smell of it on my babe. Hell, I love his baby smell and I wish it will last forever!! (impossible I know -_-)… btw, congrats on the new babe! She’s lovely <3
Where can I buy “YU Yee Oil” ?
Hi Donna,
You can probably find it at Chinese medical halls. If you live in Singapore, Watsons carries it.
No babies around but I keep a bottle around the house. Its useful for adults dealing with wind in the tummy too! :)
seeing the pictures brings back lotsa memories!
Yes, there’s another Yu Yee Oil in the market with a similar packaging with a ‘Vessel’ logo instead. Content is darker in color. But I personally prefer the ones with the ‘mandarin orange’ logo.
I use this to relieve stomachaches and bloatedness too. This stuff is amazing. Must have!
Yes! This is a classic staple traditional favourite “wind” oil in many Chinese households! :-)
My mum swears by this for my nieces and nephew. We always have one bottle in our medicine cabinet, for our own use too!
Hi Jenice,
Thank you! :) That special baby scent is amazing.
Hey PB,
Tried and tested, eh? :D
Hi Karen,
You used it too? ;)
Hi Jocelyn,
Thanks for the information; I did wonder about the other brand – now I know! :)
Hi Farah,
Can’t imagine you bloating, to be honest; you’re so skinny! But yes, this is great stuff. :)
Hi Milktea,
Great for adults and children alike. A must-have, indeed. :D
dear all, i have wrongly placed the 6 drops of the oil directely on the tummy of my newborn (1 month +). Please tell me what i do ? i am very much worried.
Hi Chen Choo,
I think you could just remove the excess with tissue or cotton balls. If you’re very concerned, you could try to remove the oil with soap and water (with cottons balls or a cloth). In my experience, the cooling feeling will dissipate after a while. Hope baby’s ok!