Q. A baby boy who has jaundice before his 8th day cannot, in most circumstances, be circumcised in time, unless the jaundice disappears in time.
Some employ all sorts of remedies to get the jaundice to disappear. Some wash the baby's hands in the morning (Negel Vasser). Another recent remedy touted is to place live fish in a fish tank in the baby's vicinity and the fish absorb the jaundice and die, and the baby's skin turns an acceptable colour.
Are these remedies advisable or should we let nature take its course and the baby will be ready for his Bris when HaShem prefers? Is the fish remedy permissible or is it something like Darkei Emori and should be avoided?
A. Other segulos are also quoted such as the similar one of bringing a pigeon and placing it on the baby (mentioned by Horav M. Kanner Shlit'a).
Horav Shlomo Miller's Shlit'a opinion is that the tefilah bekavanah, learning Torah, doing chessed and helping others, are after all the best segulos for all machlos and tzoros.
Often people see segulos as a magic trick or a shortcut to avoid what Hashem truly desires from us, and then they should be avoided.
However, the Rov added, that effective and proven medical procedures should be used under proper medical supervision.( See also question 54 on segulos and tefilos for the ailing, questions 1113, 1412 on wearing a red string, question 2123 regarding matza shemura and question 1550 regarding the husband of a pregnant woman getting pesicha).
Rabbi A. Bartfeld as advised By Horav Shlomo Miller and Horav Aharon Miller Shlit'a
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