Chiropractic and Asthma

Child With Asthma Helped With Chiropractic - A Case Study

The scientific periodical, the Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health, reports a case study published on August 4, 2011, documenting the improvement of a toddler with asthma while under chiropractic care.

The authors of the study begin by noting, "Chiropractors are the most common complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) providers visited by children and adolescents and among the most common reasons for seeking chiropractic care for children are attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, sleep problems, asthma, and sinusitis." They also noted how common a problem this is by stating, "Asthma in children is very prevalent in the general population with nine million U.S. children under 18 being diagnosed with asthma. In 2005, an estimated 7.7 percent of people (22.2 million) currently had asthma."

In this case, a 23-month-old girl was brought to the chiropractor by her parents for chiropractic care. She had been suffering from asthma, digestive problems, and was getting frequent colds. At the time of her initial chiropractic visit the child was on two different antibiotics, several different asthma medications and under regular medical care. Since the parents had been to a chiropractor, they decided to see if chiropractic could help their daughter.

A chiropractic examination showed an overall decrease in the child's neck range of motion, as well as multiple postural abnormalities. There were multiple areas of spinal sensitivity, and thermal heat reading of the spine showed imbalances. From the examination, a determination was made that subluxations were present in the neck and mid back of the little girl.

Subluxations are when one or more of the bones of the spine (vertebrae) move out of position and create pressure on, or irritate spinal nerves. Spinal nerves are the nerves that come out from between each of the bones of the spine. This pressure or irritation on the nerves then causes those nerves to malfunction and interfere with the signals traveling over those nerves.

Chiropractic care was initiated at the rate of 2-3 visits per week for the initial 4 weeks, then reduced in frequency. Regular re-evaluations were performed to monitor the child's progress. The case study reported that approximately 11 months after care was begun, the child’s parents reported a 90 percent improvement of their little girl’s condition with no more "real breathing episodes" being reported. Five months later, the child no longer needed asthma medication, and was much healthier overall.

Multiple Sclerosis Treatment with Chiropractic Care

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QIfP4LElIBc
NJ NEWS - MS patient says, I quote "I never expected to turn my life around and walk again without any equipment". The Brain is the Control Center of THE ENTIRE BODY. ANY impingement on the communications to the body will DECREASE ALL FUNCTION of those organs which try to carry out the Brain's instructions.

Chiropractic Lifestyle Instead of Drugs?

"I take aspirin for the headache caused by Zyrtec I take for the hayfever I got from Relenza for the uneasy stomach from the Ritalin I take for the short attention span caused by the Scopederm Ts I take for the motion sickness I got from the Lomotil I take for the diarrhea caused by the Zenikal for the uncontrollable weight gain from the Paxil I take for the anxiety from Zocor I take for my high cholesterol because exercise, a good diet, and regular chiropractic care are just to much trouble."
(this was taken from a photograph of a t-shirt that was posted on facebook. If you are the author of this please let me know so I can give credit where credit is due. The message is powerful and I wanted to share, thank you.)

Chiropractic is just to expensive as well. Spending your time money and energy bouncing from doctor to doctor, pharmacy to pharmacy, and dealing with the barrage of medicinal side effects is time well spent. You probably think your health problems are due to bad genes as well.

In my personal and strong opinion you shouldn't dump personal responsibility for your health and life so quickly. The solution to your health problems don't start in a doctor's office, a pharmacy, or in a bottle. The solution to your health problems start within you. When you are willing to accept that your lifestyle has a direct effect on your health you will be ready to truly begin to heal. Healing happens from within, without the help of a little purple pill. When you learn to balance your physical, mentally, spiritual, and emotional health you will be free. Free to be healthy, free to experience life to the fullest and freed from the shackles that western medicine is trying so hard to convince you is the only way to health. 

Chiropractor on "The Doctors"

Chiropractic and Colic

Infantile Colic Improved with Chiropractic
The National Health Service in Ballerup (Copenhagen, Denmark) conducted a study involving 50 infants with diagnoses infantile colic. Half of the group was given the drug dimethicon while the other half was given chiropractic care. In this study nine of the 25 taking the drug dropped out of the study because the infants were getting worse. These infants were then not counted in the final results which would have shown a worse result for the drug than published.
Even with the removal from the tabulations of the infants who got worst using the drug, the results showed a significant improvement in the group that were under chiropractic care. By days 4 to 7 of the study, the infants remaining in the drug group had reduced their hours of crying by only one hour while the entire chiropractic group had reduced crying hours by an average of 2.4 hours. The results after 8 to 10 day into the study continued to show the drug therapy infants at a one hour improvement while the chiropractic group further improved to 2.7 hours less of crying. The researchers noted that the removal from the study of the infants that got worse from the drug made the results from the drug look better than they actually were.
Chiropractic Care Conquers Colic
The above title appeared in the December 1998 issue of Country Living's Healthy Living, beginning on page 53. The article details the concerns of a mom whose new baby was suffering from colic. The article featured the mother’s account of the situation starting from her initial phone call to the pediatrician. "When I phoned my doctor to ask if he thought it was safe (to see a chiropractor), he was ambivalent: Chiropractic would neither harm nor help. He told me that if it was colic, it would run its course in three months."
After this advice, her next stop was to take the child to the chiropractor. She recalled that the first visit was an extended one with a lot of time spent caring for the child and the parents. Following the first adjustment, the child seemed to be more reactive and colicky, but she followed the instructions given her by the chiropractor and the baby calmed right down. "We had five more sessions with the chiropractor. Each lasted 20 minutes and Lucy (the infant!) really seemed to enjoy them. It completely changed what was fast becoming a nightmare. I'd like to recommend to everyone with a colicky infant see a chiropractor. It certainly worked for us
Article on the web

Holistic Approach to Ear Infections

by Lawrence P. Palvesky, M.D., F.A.A.P., A.B.H.M.
Jan-Feb 2003

It is 3am and your child wakes up complaining of ear pain. What can you do?

Ear pain is one of the most common complaints in the pediatric population. Parents exchange frequent stories about the number of times their child has taken a banana or cherry flavored antibiotic for one or more ear infections. It is the rare parent who sits by, not wanting to add to the anxiety of other parents, with the knowledge that their child has never taken an antibiotic for an ear ache. What's more, the child has never had a serious problem resulting from not using antibiotics.

When I went through my medical school and residency training, we were warned about the serious complications of allowing an ear infection to progress without antibiotic treatment-mastoiditis, an inflammation and infection of the bony area behind the ear at the base of the skull, and meningitis, an inflammation and infection of the lining of the brain and spinal cord which could lead to permanent brain damage, not to mention, the possibility of permanent hearing loss.

Over the last 13 years, evidence from the European medical literature and observation of the medical practice of some of our own pioneering primary care providers and ENT (Ear, Nose & Throat) physicians, has taught us that the majority of cases of ear pain can and will resolve on their own. Without antibiotics. Without serious outcomes. With good clinical follow-up. Yet, many children receive antibiotics, and sometimes multiple antibiotics, for ear aches. And their ear aches continue to recur.


Are Ear Aches Really Ear Infections?

Inflammation occurs in the body as characterized by the following five observations--redness, swelling, heat, pain and loss of function. When a young child has an ear ache, the ear drum is usually found to be red (redness) with clear fluid or mucus buildup in the middle ear (swelling) causing pain, often accompanied by fever (heat) and occasionally accompanied by an acute loss of hearing; clearly a description of inflammation. Even if there were an infection, most studies confirm that viruses are the main organisms responsible for causing the development of these symptoms, not bacteria. Neither a viral infection, nor an inflammation in the ears responds to treatment with antibiotics. Only bacteria respond to antibiotic treatment. Therefore, in the majority of cases, antibiotics do not help. And, in many cases, antibiotics may cause more harm than good when they are used inappropriately.


A child is found on exam to have a red ear and no complaint of ear pain even though a fever is present. A pre-verbal infant or toddler with a red ear drum or fluid behind the ear appears well and is smiling. Another child presents with ear fluid and is no longer in pain. Most often these children are not suffering from ear infections and do not warrant antibiotic treatment. By definition, these children simply have inflamed ears which often respond better to other types of treatment.

Children who have infections, on the other hand, also present with these five signs of inflammation but, for the most part, do not look clinically well and often have an illness that is more serious than a simple ear infection. A child in pain who appears not to look well should be re-evaluated after the pain is relieved.

Early in my pediatric practice, I often gave a child a ten day course of an antibiotic for what I believed was a classic ear infection using the criteria I described for inflammation. More often than not, 2-3 days after completing the antibiotic, the child returned with the same symptoms. I would subsequently write another antibiotic prescription. Frequently, the same pattern would recur. Conventional training taught me that the child had an infection caused by a bacterium that was resistant to the antibiotic. Therefore, a different and stronger antibiotic was needed. Eventually it occurred to me that perhaps the child never needed the antibiotic in the first place. Perhaps there was a different process going on that required a different set of treatments and understanding.

Why do infants & children get ear aches? How do the ears become inflamed?

Conventional pediatric practice focuses on prescribing treatment interventions once a child's symptoms have already appeared. Non-conventional approaches concentrate on preventing the development of inflammation and infection and attempt to evaluate the causes that contribute to their presentation. In addition, non-conventional approaches use remedies and interventions that facilitate the body's natural healing abilities in a nourishing way in an attempt to avoid suppressing the inherent healing mechanisms that are present in the body. Often, elimination of the factors that are known to contribute to the development of the underlying symptoms is sufficient to treat the problem(s) without introducing additional remedies. This is especially true when it comes to ear pain and ear inflammation.

Infants and children have a natural tendency to generate a lot of mucus. The production and the amount of mucus lessen as the child grows older and the developing immune system strengthens. When a child has a build up of excess mucus (one of the primary indicators of inflammation), his/her body attempts to "burn off" this mucus in order to return to a balanced state, also known as homeostasis. This is accomplished by the onset of an illness accompanied by a fever.

Children, even without the presence of a fever, tend to run on the hot side. Most of their heat rises towards the head. Heat generated by a fever (another of the primary indicators of inflammation), further raises the energy towards the head. With an abundance of mucus already present in the nose and throat during an upper respiratory infection it is no coincidence that the ears repeatedly become inflamed.

Many clinicians and parents report that after a child has recovered from an illness with a fever without the use of suppressive pharmaceuticals, he/she experiences a growth spurt in neurological, developmental and behavioral milestones. Clearly, the immune system is now stronger. Children, who develop excess mucus and need to burn it off through an array of normal childhood febrile illnesses, and are blocked from accomplishing this through the use of inappropriate, suppressive pharmaceutical treatments, often remain in a state of chronic mucus production, i.e., chronic inflammation. This can be seen today in many of our children who live with excess mucus, are often sick and never quite fully recover and have a life of chronic illnesses and delays in reaching their milestones.

Prevention & Treatment

Ultimately, the goal is to reduce the production of excess mucus, support the process of acute illnesses with good clinical follow-up and safe and effective, non-suppressive, supportive interventions and offer information for families that will both prevent and treat serious acute and chronic illnesses. In the case of ear inflammation, the two approaches that I have seen work most effectively to reduce ear fluid, ear pain and chronic ear problems is a change in the child's and family's diet and the incorporation of manipulative modalities into the treatment plan, i.e., chiropractic, osteopathic and/or cranial sacral therapy.

Children have undeveloped digestive systems. Spitting up, vomiting, frequent burping, excess gas and loose stools are frequent pediatric complaints indicative of poor digestive function. Often, children are given a food or a combination of foods that serve to further weaken and stress their digestive systems. Invariably, food is incompletely digested and, as a result, children are confronted with having to deal with nourishment that does not serve them. Consequently, the body's response is to produce additional mucus

As described in immunology, Chinese Medicine, Ayurveda and nutritional medicine, mucus in the nose, throat, sinuses, airways, ears and other parts of the body can arise merely from the failure of the digestive system to accomplish its task successfully. Adults may suffer from the same process as well. Those foods most likely to increase mucus production and further stress a child's already weak digestive system are: dairy, soy (especially overly processed soy products), commercial formulas, a heavy diet of raw fruits and vegetables, iced or cold foods and beverages, wheat and most flour products, baby cereals and commercial cereals, thick, creamy and heavy foods, processed grains, juice, soda, soft drinks, refined sugars, processed and refined foods, fried foods and oils, multiple food choices at a time and overfeeding.

Reducing and/or eliminating these foods from a child's diet will often quiet the inflammation and prevent the development of further problems in acute flare-ups and, more specifically, in chronic inflammation of the ears. On the other hand, offering a child warm, cooked, simple, smooth, easy to digest, whole, non-processed foods, accompanied by small amounts of food herbs and spices, will strengthen and support a weak digestive system and keep mucus production and inflammation at a minimum.

Immediate Management

So, it is still 3am and your child's body is doing its best to purge the excess mucus. Yet, the fluid is not draining and the pain is the main focus. Ultimately, the goal is to rid the body of the mucus. The following is a list of suggestions for parents to help them get through this difficult situation:

1) Hold and comfort your child.
2) Try to raise the head of the bed. For smaller children, place blankets or pillows under the mattress.
3) Keep your child hydrated with room temperature water, clear soup and/or tea. Herbs that help to break up the mucus and comfort your child include thyme, ginger, licorice, eyebright, elder flowers and chamomile. Keep the diet simple. Keep solid foods to a minimum. Offer small doses of vitamin C throughout the day with fluids. Start children's Echinacea within the first 24 hours of illness.
4) Diffuse lavender essential oil in the room to help calm any anxiety you may have.
5) Place several drops of mullein oil in a container and warm inside a pot of water on the stove. Take several drops of the mullein oil and place them in the affected ear canal. Gently pull and massage the ear lobe away from your child's head and in a slightly downward direction. Use extra virgin olive oil in the same manner if no mullein oil is available or,
6) Take 1-2 drops of organic tea tree essential oil and mix in a base of 20 drops of olive oil and place several warmed drops of this mixture into the affected ear canal. Use any one of the ear drop remedies several times a day to relieve the discomforts of the inflammation. Please be sure to use essential oils that are organic and top grade quality whenever possible.
7) Use the tea tree oil combination and massage it into the front of your child's chest below the collarbones in a horizontal fashion. Then rub the oil behind the affected ear(s) and massage down the side of the neck towards the collarbones. This will help open the drainage of lymph fluid into the chest cavity and allow the congestion to drain from the head. This can be done 2-3 times per day until the congestion has resolved.
8) See your chiropractor, osteopath or cranial sacral worker the next day. Repeat visits as discussed with your provider.
9) Contact your medical health care provider if your child does not improve within 48 hours, develops drainage from the ear or appears to be getting worse.

Dr. Lawrence B. Palevsky, MD is a board certified pediatrician who received his medical degree from the NYU School of Medicine. He completed a pediatric residency at the Mount Sinai Hospital in NYC and a one year fellowship at Bellevue Hospital-NYU School of Medicine in the outpatient department and emergency room. Dr. Palevsky's clinical experience includes pediatric emergency room and pediatric acute care medicine, in-patient and out-patient pediatric medicine, neonatal intensive care, newborn and delivery room medicine and private practice. Most recently he was in practice as the holistic and integrative pediatrician at the Center for Health & Healing, a complementary medical facility affiliated with the Beth Israel Medical Center in NYC. Dr. Palevsky is a Fellow of the American Academy of Pediatrics and a Diplomate of the American Board of Holistic Medicine.
Article on the Web

Chiropractic and Ear Infections II

Ear infections aren't caused by a lack of anti-biotics. Ear infections are rarely caused by bacteria (viruses don't respond to anti-biotics). I have an 18 month old who has NEVER had an ear infection, but has had chiropractic care since he was 6 hours old. I have a 4 year old who has had one ear infection, at 11 months old, before I knew about chiropractic. It's not just in the articles, it's a real testiment that breastfeeding, nutrition and chiropractic is the BEST way to prevent, and treat ear infections.
Marci Blog Owner


Chiropractic for Chronic Ear Infections
By Jane Sheppard

More and more parents are beginning to look to chiropractors to complement their children’s health care. Chiropractic care involves diagnosing spinal misalignments and correcting them by adjusting the spine. A slight pressure is most commonly used with children rather than the more forceful manipulation sometimes used with adults.

Chiropractors attempt to get to the root cause of a health problem rather than just treat the symptoms. Misalignments of the spine (also called subluxations) can occur during childbirth, from tumbles or falls, or from any other normal activity. Misalignments left untreated can irritate the nerves and eventually disrupt the body’s ability to function properly. The purpose of a chiropractic adjustment is to help to restore the normal functioning of the nervous system so the body can heal itself without the use of drugs or surgery.

Ear Infections and Chiropractic
Ear pain is the number one reason for child visits to chiropractors. Many chiropractors believe that there is a strong link between the birthing process and recurrent ear infection, also known as otitis media. During the birthing process, cervical (neck) vertebrae can become misaligned, disrupting nerve function, which can affect the eustachian tube. This may lead to fluid buildup in the middle ear and cause otitis media.

Ear infection or otitis media accounts for over 35% of all pediatrician visits in the United States. Antibiotics, the usual treatment, are not always effective and may even lead to a recurrence of ear infections. Many children are dealing with a continuing cycle of repeat ear infections, which lands them back at the pediatrician for more antibiotics. For nearly 100 years, the chiropractic profession has claimed that ear and other upper respiratory infections respond favorably to chiropractic adjustments.

A promising study published in the Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics indicates that there is a strong correlation between chiropractic adjustments and the resolution of ear infections. 332 children with chronic ear infections participated in the study. Each child, ranging in age from 27 days to 5 years, was given a series of chiropractic adjustments. The results show that close to 80% of the children did not experience another ear infection within the six-month period following their initial visits. The six-month period included maintenance treatments every four to six weeks. Joan M. Fallon, D.C., the author of the study and the chiropractor who treated the children in the study, states that this pilot study can serve as a starting point from which the chiropractic profession can begin to examine its role in the treatment of children with chronic ear infections. She asserts that large-scale clinical trials need to be undertaken in the field.

Side Effects of Chiropractic
Even though this study is not definitive and more scientific research needs to be done in this area, chiropractic treatment is a conservative, drugless approach to consider trying if your child has a history of chronic ear infections. Under normal circumstances, chiropractic adjustments are painless and wi ll not hurt your child. There are no invasive procedures and chiropractors do not use drugs that can have harmful side effects.

Serious side effects from spinal adjustments appear to be rare. A recent article in Integrative Medicine reported the low risk of serious complications from neck and low back adjustments. According to the literature review, the estimated risk for serious complications from neck adjustments is 6.39 per 10 million adjustments. For low back adjustments, it is 1 per 100 million adjustments.

Pediatric Chiropractic Care
The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association (ICPA) provides ongoing pediatric courses and seminars for chiropractors, plus an online searchable directory of pediatric chiropractors. The Holistic Pediatric Association also provides an online directory of pediatric health professionals, including chiropractors.

Article on the Web

Ear Infections in Kids
planetc1.com-news
By Dr. Ryan French
I feel compelled to share this story with you. I am as angry as I have been for a long time. Last week a young boy (we'll call him Jack), age 6, was brought by his parents into our office to get checked for the first time. The little boy literally had pus oozing out of both ears associated with terrible ear infections. Here's his story...

Jack has suffered with ongoing ear infections for about 4 years (more than half his life), has had 12 surgeries where they put tubes in his ears, had his tonsils removed (I guess they thought he was born with too many parts), and was prescribed... get this... HUNDREDS of rounds of antibiotics. And what does he have to show for all this high quality medical care... well he keeps getting more and more ear infections, is almost deaf because of all of the damage that the surgeries have caused in his ears, has the immune system of an AIDS patient because he has never been given the opportunity to fight off infections naturally since being on antibiotics so much, is delayed in his speech because he can't hear our voices, and has suffered with tons of pain.

Here's the part that I can't believe... after showing the parents the scientific research that states that the use of antibiotics for ear infections leaves the child 2 to 6 times MORE LIKELY to get the infection again and that removing tonsils does NOT change the occurrence of ear infections enough to warrant this traumatic surgery, and that this surgery should therefore not be performed; the parents were NOT upset. They couldn't see why I was so angry that Jack has suffered needlessly. They said that he was starting another round of antibiotics on the day that I saw him, and that it usually took him just under two weeks for the ears to clear out when on the drugs. So I had a little less than 2 weeks to show them the power of the human body.

After one adjustment (just one) Jack showed up two days (not 2 weeks) later with a smile on his face and ears that were COMPLETELY CLEAR. He also enjoyed two nights of deep sleep that he hadn't enjoyed for months. Now I do not take credit for healing him (that was his innate intelligence) but I know that the subluxation in his neck was causing him to be unable to heal from the inside out. But here is the unbelievable part... even though his infection cleared up in two days instead of the usual two weeks, the parents are so blinded by medical advertising and the "gospel" which is the word of medicine, that they actually said "wow, they must have given him some new and improved antibiotics this time." I hope I am not the only one who sees something wrong here?

This young boy is growing up having absolutely zero faith in his body and has suffered needlessly for years. What's even worse, if I can't help the parents understand the truth, he'll likely be under the knife again and enjoy a life of complete deafness and sickness.

We need your help. I am only one person and one voice. Please tell others about the power of the human body so that kids like Jack are not the norm, but rather few and far between.
article on the web

Chiropractic and The Flu

Chiropractors helping patients battle the flu is not a new occurrence either. During the 1917-18 influenza epidemic, which brought death and fear to many Americans, it has been estimated that 20 million people died throughout the world, including about 500,000 Americans. It was chiropractic’s success in caring for flu victims that led to the profession’s licensure in many states.
Researchers reported that in Davenport, Iowa, out of the 93,590 patients treated by medical doctors, there were 6,116 deaths -- a loss of one patient out of every 15. Chiropractors at the Palmer School of Chiropractic adjusted 1,635 cases, with only one death. Outside Davenport, chiropractors in Iowa cared for 4,735 cases with only six deaths -- one out of 866. During the same epidemic, in Oklahoma, out of 3,490 flu patients under chiropractic care, there were only seven deaths. Furthermore, chiropractors were called in 233 cases given up as lost after medical treatment, and reportedly saved all but 25. In another report covering 4,193 cases by 213 chiropractors 4,104 showed complete recovery.
“These results are not so surprising given what we now know about the interaction between the nervous system and the immune system” stated Dr. Matthew McCoy, WCA Board member and Editor of the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research. “Through research we know that chiropractic has beneficial effects on immunoglobulins, B-lymphocytes (white blood cells), pulmonary function and other immune system processes.”


Flu season wellness plan should include chiropractic care
CHANDLER, ARIZ, Nov. 8, 2004 -- The World Chiropractic Alliance (WCA) is recommending that people of all ages add chiropractic to their strategy for warding off and fighting the flu and its effects this season.
Spinal adjustments can have a positive effect on immune function, the WCA asserts, citing a growing number of researchers who are exploring the common denominators in disease processes, and the role of the nervous, immune, and hormonal systems in development of immune related illnesses,
Chiropractic corrects spinal abnormalities called vertebral subluxations that result in interference of the nervous system by placing pressure on nerves. Since the nervous system controls all functions of the body -- including the immune system -- chiropractic care can have a positive effect on immune function, WCA officials note.
“Contemporary research is beginning to shed light on the neurobiological mechanisms which may explain the outstanding clinical results chiropractors have experienced when managing patients with viral and infectious diseases,” stated Dr. Christopher Kent, WCA Vice President.
Dr. Kent explained: “A comprehensive review of the research literature reveals the current understanding that the brain and immune system are the two major adaptive systems in the body. During an immune response, the brain and the immune system 'talk to each other' and this process is essential for maintaining homeostasis or balance in the body."
Since its inception, chiropractic has asserted that viruses and microbes don't threaten us all equally and that a healthy immune system easily repels most invaders. The immune system protects us from the flu, as well as any other infectious disease, and strives to get us well again when we do fall ill. Our immune system, like every other system in the body, is coordinated and controlled by the nervous system.
Chiropractors are also aware of the importance of positive health life style practices (rest, drinking ample quantities of water, diet, exercise, proper food choices, use of high potency multivitamins and minerals, and stress reduction approaches) that can also positively influence the nervous system and immune response. According to a large study of the chiropractic profession recently conducted by the Institute for Social Research, Ohio Northern University (McDonald et al., 2003), chiropractors also customarily advise their patients as to the benefits of these other modalities in optimizing overall body function.
Chiropractors helping patients battle the flu is not a new occurrence either. During the 1917-18 influenza epidemic, which brought death and fear to many Americans, it has been estimated that 20 million people died throughout the world, including about 500,000 Americans. It was chiropractic’s success in caring for flu victims that led to the profession’s licensure in many states.
Researchers reported that in Davenport, Iowa, out of the 93,590 patients treated by medical doctors, there were 6,116 deaths -- a loss of one patient out of every 15. Chiropractors at the Palmer School of Chiropractic adjusted 1,635 cases, with only one death. Outside Davenport, chiropractors in Iowa cared for 4,735 cases with only six deaths -- one out of 866. During the same epidemic, in Oklahoma, out of 3,490 flu patients under chiropractic care, there were only seven deaths. Furthermore, chiropractors were called in 233 cases given up as lost after medical treatment, and reportedly saved all but 25. In another report covering 4,193 cases by 213 chiropractors 4,104 showed complete recovery.
“These results are not so surprising given what we now know about the interaction between the nervous system and the immune system” stated Dr. Matthew McCoy, WCA Board member and Editor of the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research. “Through research we know that chiropractic has beneficial effects on immunoglobulins, B-lymphocytes (white blood cells), pulmonary function and other immune system processes.”
One such study, conducted by Patricia Brennan Ph.D and her team, found that when a chiropractic “manipulation” was applied to the middle back, the response of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (white blood cells) taken from blood collected 15 minutes after the manipulation was significantly higher than blood collected 15 minutes before and 30 and 45 minutes after the chiropractic procedure. This research demonstrated an “enhanced respiratory burst” following the chiropractic adjustment. This “burst” is needed for our immune cells to destroy invading viruses and bacteria.
Another small study of HIV positive patients was conducted to study the effects of specific chiropractic adjustments to correct vertebral subluxations in the upper neck on the immune systems of HIV positive individuals. Over the six-month period of the study, the group that did not receive chiropractic care experienced a 7.96% decrease in CD4 cell counts, while the adjusted group experienced a 48% increase in CD4 cell counts over the same period.
A large retrospective study conducted by Dr. Robert Blanks and colleagues studied 2,818 individuals undergoing chiropractic care - these individuals reported an average overall improvement, ranging from 7-28%, in a battery of physical symptoms including stiffness/lack of flexibility in the spine, physical pain, fatigue, incidence of colds and flu, headaches, menstrual discomfort, gastrointestinal disorders, allergies, dizziness and falls (Blanks et al., 1997, Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research).
More importantly, the incidence of colds and flu was reduced by an average of 15% in this large population who were undergoing regular chiropractic care.
According to Dr. Terry Rondberg, president of the World Chiropractic Alliance, “While we would love to say we (chiropractors) figured this out, the truth is we didn’t. We simply take advantage of it to help our patients.”
He added that, “In many ways this is old news since the relationship between the nervous system and the immune system was reported by the New York Times in 1993. According to that article ‘Scientists have found the first evidence of an anatomical connection between the nervous system and the immune system. Nerve cell endings in the skin and white blood cells of the immune system are in intimate contact, and chemicals secreted by the nerves can shut down immune system cells nearby.’ Our health care system needs to catch up with the research.”
“I would recommend to any person concerned about the upcoming flu season to add chiropractic to their list of things to do to remove interference to their nervous system, enhance their immune function and give their body every extra bit of security it needs” stated Dr. Rondberg.
Article on the Web

Chiropractic and Animals

ARE YOUR ANIMALS WELL ADJUSTED?
chiropracticforanimals.net
Chiropractic Care for Dogs and Cats

By Dr. Julie Kaufman

"How do know if and when my animal needs chiropractic care?" Many people have heard of or read about such care for animals, but are unaware of the benefits, dangers and general indications for this type of care. It is also important to know how to locate a professional who is fully qualified in the field of animal chiropractic.

In this article I will provide basic information about animal chiropractic to help you understand what it is, when it is appropriate, when it is not appropriate, and who is best qualified to provide such care for your loved animal.

WHAT IS CHIROPRACTIC?

Chiropractic is simple: A mechanical solution for mechanical problems. It is a natural, drug-free adjunct to your animal's total health care. In conjunction with regular veterinary care, chiropractic care can decrease pain, and add quality to your animal's performance, movement, and well being by restoring normal range of motion to your animal's joints.

Chiropractic care is used specifically in cases where an injury has occurred that has caused mechanical upset to the joints, muscles or nerves. It is commonly used for animals who have had slips, falls, or other trauma, arthritis, disc disease (at all stages especially where weakness or paralysis are involved), Wobbler's syndrome, (CVI), in dogs, hip dysplasia, and when animals have become stiff or painful. *

An animal chiropractor should always work with a veterinarian when possible to provide the best overall treatment strategy for the animal's health.

Chiropractic care addresses problems stemming from imbalances in the following three systems:

THE SKELETAL SYSTEM AND THE JOINTS OF THE BODY: Bones and joints form a flexible structure designed to provide pain-free movement when in normal health and alignment.

THE MUSCULAR SYSTEM: Healthy muscles allow the joints to move freely. Healthy muscles are free of spasm, weakness, pain, knots, or degenerative changes.

THE NERVOUS SYSTEM: Nerves are the electrical wires of the body. They "direct" the functions of the body and control the flow of communication between the brain and all areas of the body. When nerves are pinched, reduced performance levels and pain may result. This can quickly lead to a state of poor health.

WHAT KINDS OF PROBLEMS RESPOND TO CHIROPRACTIC TREATMENT, HOW MANY ADJUSTMENTS WILL BE NEEDED, AND WILL IT HURT MY ANIMAL?

Chiropractic care is extremely helpful for animals having problems involving the joints, muscles and nerves. This is because chiropractic addresses many mechanical causes of disease where the nerves are pinched by a stuck or rotated joint, or by a tight muscle. This type of problem is called “A SUBLUXATION OR MISALIGNMENT".

After a veterinarian has examined the animal and given a referral, two or three adjustments are initially performed. The animal is then monitored for changes to see if there is any measurable improvement. If none is present, your veterinarian is called in to perform further diagnostic work. If your animal has noticeably improved, a future adjustment schedule is determined based on the type and severity of your animal's condition. This range is usually set from 4 weeks to 12 months between adjustments unless the condition is chronic or severe and requires more frequent visits.

Chiropractors treat subluxations by gently adjusting the misaligned area into alignment. In most cases this restores proper skeletal movement, muscle and nerve function. My adjustments are LOW FORCE and GENTLE, the equivalent of an adjustment for a human infant. Most animals noticeably enjoy their adjustment. Adjustments for animals are generally low force and pain free because animal chiropractic does not involve as much force as some human techniques.

To give you some idea of what owners saw in their animals that caused them to seek out chiropractic care, I will briefly share some of the cases I have seen over the years.

About 3 years ago, I saw a 13-year-old dog that had fallen over an 85-foot waterfall while chasing a ball. This had happened over a year prior to the owner seeking treatment. The dog's symptoms included back and pelvic pain, general fatigue and a noticeable change in personality. She responded well to a few treatments, had no more pain, became her "old self” again, and is now adjusted only once or twice a year as needed.

I have worked with a wildlife rehabilitator over the years doing charity adjustments for several birds of prey under her care. One hawk that she brought into our clinic had flown into a picture window and injured her wing and neck. The vet treatment had gone well however she still could not fly. We treated her neck, which had been compressed from the head on collision. The adjustments were ultra low force because birds have bones that are porous. The hawk responded well and was released back into the wild.

I worked on a cat that had been picked up off of his deck by a predator hawk. (I doubt it was the same hawk I had adjusted!) It was suspected that there was internal damage and a vet recommended euthanasia. We got a vet referral and worked on the cat once because the owner could not let one last chance for help pass by. She promised to put him down if the treatment did not work because none of us could bear to see him suffer. He responded miraculously and lived several more years with no major problems. When he was due for a chiropractic treatment, his tail would start to droop and the owners would bring him in. He was a really smart fellow and each time I would call and leave a message on the owner's answering machine he would come right down and knock it off of the counter. Do you believe some say animals don't know what is going on!

Last year I saw a horse that was quite curious and apparently hungry. She climbed up the steps from the lower barn up to the hay storage above. Unfortunately, she did not make the steep stairs designed for humans and fell backward down the stairs. The owners saw the need for chiropractic and brought her right over for a few sessions. Nothing in vet medicine could have helped such a mechanical injury. Thank goodness she is back to her antics again.

The final case is one I see often. It is a case of disc disease. I see roughly 10-15 dogs per week with some degree of disc problem. In this case, a young Beagle suddenly started shaking, crying and was unable to get up. The veterinary school recommended immediate surgery because several disks had collapsed. The owners wanted to try conservative methods first and use surgery as a last effort due to the expense and invasiveness of it. The dog had no reflexes and was totally paralyzed in both rear legs. She was also incontinent. A holistic veterinary acupuncturist and I worked on her weekly for six weeks during which time she regained full use of her back end. She is 100% normal. We now treat her every 3 months as a preventative measure. Several years have passed and she has not had any reoccurrence.

There are also some cases where chiropractic did not help the animal. Fortunately these are not frequent but I feel a need to mention them for the sake of fairness. One such case was a dog that was hit by a car. Her shoulder was damaged and she suffered severe muscle loss. We knew she had "radial nerve" damage, which is the major nerve to the back of the front leg and shoulder blade muscles. We could not tell if the nerve damage was caused by a severed nerve or by a pinched nerve. After 2 or 3 treatments, it became apparent that the nerve was severed and was not going to heal. I had to tell the client that there was no more we could do. In cases wherthe nerve is severed or "dead", chiropractic will not help. Fortunately, there is not a large expense involved in trying a couple of treatments.

WHEN IS CHIROPRACTIC CARE APPROPRIATE?

If your animal presents any of the following signs or symptoms, contact your veterinarian for an examination and consider chiropractic as a treatment option.

· BACK, NECK, LEG, OR TAIL PAIN:

· INJURIES RESULTING FROM SLIPS, FALLS OR ACCIDENTS.

· PERFORMANCE OR MOVEMENT PROBLEMS.

· SUDDEN CHANGES IN BEHAVIOR OR PERSONALITY SUCH AS CRABBINESS,

· HOLDING TAIL DOWN OR OFF TO ONE SIDE, SHAKING, CRYING OR HIDING.

· PAIN SYNDROMES.

CHANGES IN POSTURE SUCH AS: HANGING THE HEAD, OR SITTING OFF TO ONE SIDE.

· UNEVEN MUSCLE DEVELOPMENT.

· JAW OR TMJ PROBLEMS, DIFFICULTY CHEWING.

· WEIGHT LOSS DUE TO PAIN.

· HEAD TILT.

· CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME.

· UNEVEN PELVIS OR HIPS.

· A LOOK OF APPREHENSION OR PAIN IN THE FACIAL EXPRESSION.

· NECK PAIN FROM SUDDEN COLLAR OR CHOKE CHAIN PULLS.

· DISC PROBLEMS.

· JUMPING PROBLEMS OR INJURIES.

· SHORTENING OF A STRIDE.

· DEGENERATIVE ARTHRITIS.

· SCIATIC NEURALGIA.

· SPORTS INJURIES.

· UNEVEN TOPLINE: HUNCHING UP OR DIPPING DOWN...

· SENSITIVITY TO TOUCH DURING GROOMING OR PETTING.

· PAIN ASSOCIATED WITH HIP DYSPLASIA.

· REAR END WEAKNESS.

· DIFFICULTY GOING UP OR DOWN STAIRS.

· WOBBLERS SYNDROME.

· SOME LAMENESS SYNDROMES.
GENERAL PREVENTIVE AND MAINTENANCE CARE.

WHEN IS CHIROPRACTIC CARE INAPPROPRIATE?

There are times when chiropractic care may be detrimental to your animal. In cases where your animal has a type of cancer that has spread to the bone it is not advised that any force be applied to the skeletal structures. I must say that several of my patients are on chemotherapy for non-bone-related cancers and respond well to low force chiropractic as an adjunct to their cancer treatment.

I remember a few years ago, I had a client who came into one of the vet clinics I work in. The client brought x-rays of her dog's pelvis along. He was an older German Shepherd who presented with rear end pain and weakness. When I viewed the x-rays with some of the veterinary staff, we noticed bone loss that could have been caused by cancer of some other degenerative disease. I declined to treat the dog until the original vet had reviewed the x-rays, fearing that any manipulation might make the condition worse. The client was enraged that I would not adjust her dog and stormed out of the clinic. I was sad for the dog but could not treat the dog with any integrity knowing that I could have caused more pain and suffering. This is one reason that I recommend that vets and chiropractors work together.

Some other cases where chiropractic may not be appropriate are:

1. Immediately following surgery. It is important to let the animal heal for at least a week after a minor surgery and two weeks after a major surgery before performing an adjustment.

2. In cases where a fracture or major dislocation is suspected.

3. In cases where the stress of being adjusted outweigh the possible benefits. This may include some animals that are extremely anxious or aggressive and may not reap the benefit of the treatment.

4. Animals who are under heavy sedation or anesthesia. Damage may occur to the animal's structures while sedated. I do however treat one or two cats very gently under sedation. They are extreme cases where the cat is known to be an aggressive biter who is showing serious signs of back pain. In such cases we only adjust once or twice and preferably while the animal is under anesthesia for other procedures such as dental care.

5. In some cases where there is a history of seizures. I have found that chiropractic may increase the activity of some types of seizures and is therefore not recommended. I do treat select seizure cases where the animal is on medication to control the seizures and/ or a ketogenic diet which has been effective in controlling the seizure activity. Many times I refer animals that have a history of seizures to an animal acupuncturist.

6. With some types of infections, it is not advisable to adjust. If the type of infection travels by blood, or is at risk of spreading by increased circulation, it is not advisable to adjust. In cases of large bruised areas, this same principal applies but the Dr. may be able to work around this area and still provide some relief for the animal.

HOW DO I LOCATE A QUALIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN MY AREA?

At This time, animal chiropractic certification courses are open to licensed veterinarians and Chiropractors only. The courses are offered through an organization called the American Veterinary Chiropractic Association, AVCA. Chiropractors and Veterinarians must take a series of courses and then pass oral, written and practical examinations to become eligible for certified animal chiropractor status, C.A.C.

It is wise to contact the AVCA, at avcadoctors.com to locate a certified animal chiropractor near you.
chiropracticforanimals.net

Medical Philosophy vs. Chiropractic Philosophy

By Tedd Koren, D.C.

Chiropractic and medicine disagree on what constitutes health, disease, the meaning of symptoms, and the goal of care. These are philosophical differences that go back over 2,500 years.

"But chiropractic is only about 100 years old. How could we have a conflict with medicine for 2,500 years?" I hear you say. Good question.

The answer is that our philosphical roots go way back, as does medicine. In fact two conflicting philosophies of healing - simliar to that of chiropractic and medicine - can be found from the earliest writings of Hippocrates (5th century B.C.) to the present day. The camps were referred to as the Empiricists or Vitalists and the Rationalists or Mechanists. Medical doctors or allopaths are Rationalists, while chiropractors, classical homeopaths, acupuncturists, traditional osteopaths and others are Vitalists.

This was of viewing medical history was discovered by Harris Coulter, Ph.D. one of the great medical historians of our time. In his magnum opus, Divided Legacy, Volumes 1-4, (written over a thirty year period) Coulter traces the vitalist/mechanist division as it permeated healing.

Let’s look at how vitalists and mechanists view things: Mechanists assume the body operates like a machine whose whole is equal to the sum of its parts. "Study the body," they say, "study its cells, and its chemistry using disciples such as physics, mechanics and mathematics and the workings of the whole will be revealed."

Vitalists disagree: "Living creatures are fundamentally different from non-living creatures", they say. "The laws of physics, chemistry, mechanics, and mathematics cannot give us a complete knowledge or understanding of biological systems because the whole body is greater than the sum of its parts." Vitalists learn how the body works by studying the living body, not isolated chemicals in a test tube or by making up theories.

This philosophical difference is profound, it colors everything –

Mechanists say: "The body is a dumb machine; symptoms are always bad and must be destroyed. Fevers must be lowered, inflammations must be cooled, itching or eruptions must be suppressed, pain must be eliminated - symptoms are bad in and of themselves and must be destroyed."

Vitalists say: "The body is intelligent and reacts to the environment. Symptoms are its response to environmental stress, a sign that the body is fighting to return to it’s homeostatic balance. Symptoms must be permitted to express themselves so the body may cleanse and heal and return to normal balance."

Mechanists: "The most important thing is to diagnose the disease the patient has and then fight it. The patient’s resistance to disease is not very important."

Vitalists: "More important than diagnosing and treating disease, the individual’s innate power of resistance needs to be strengthened so it may heal."

Mechanists: Everyone who has a certain diseases has the same disease as anyone who has that disease."

Vitalists: people are chemically, emotionally, and structurally unique. When caring for a sick person, we should try to learn why that one person is sick in his or her own unique way, and we should not generalize to other people. 100 people with cancer are, if you look closely enough are really expressing 100 unique conditions that have some things in common but many things unique to their situation. The more their care is tailored to their unique needs, the more successful the results.

Mechanists: "We will ultimately know exactly how the body works, what makes it sick and how to make it healthy.

Vitalists: "The body is essentially unknowable. It has billions of parts, each doing its own thing at a fantastic rate. The body is constantly reacting to its environment and changing moment by moment. How can anyone know what is happening at any one time to all those parts? And doesn’t the very act of observing alter our results?

Rationalists or Mechanists think believe they can know the body and figure out what it needs in advance. Their procedures are often invented. Empiricists sit in awe of the body’s functions and state that the only way we can find out how healing works is see how living bodies react. Their procedures are discovered.
Click to view article on the web
Dr. Ted Koren

Finding a Chiropractor

upcspine.com Upper Cervical Chiropractor

icpa4kids.org Pediatric Chiropractor

morter.com B.E.S.T. Practitioner

These are just three options, but these are the options I would personally use to find a chiropractor for myself or family. If you would like more specific help leave a comment with your location and I can give you some recommendations.

Chiropractic and Infertility

Infertility Helped With Chiropractic

In the scientific periodical the Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics (JCCP), comes a study that involved the literature review of 10 different papers of the cases of 11 women who were suffering from infertility. The review, published in the bi-yearly JCCP March 2008 issue, reviewed the case studies of 11 women ages 22 to 42 who were diagnosed as suffering from Infertility.

According to the article, Infertility is defined as an inability to conceive after a year of unprotected intercourse or to carry a pregnancy to term." The author of the review Stacy Bula D.C., notes that in the US infertility impacts six million women between the ages of 15 and 54. According to the study the US Centers for Disease Control reported that in 2004 there were 127,977 artificial reproductive procedures performed to try to help women get pregnant. The study notes that although only 34% of the medical procedures attempted will result in a live birth, the costs can range up to $30,000 per menstrual cycle attempt.

In the cases reported in this literature review study, the cases of eleven female patients were reviewed from 10 separate documented case studies. Their histories included one natural childbirth, two miscarriages, two failed in-vitro fertilizations, and three failed artificial inseminations. In some of these cases the women sought chiropractic care for a variety of other problems in addition to infertility. Some of the additional problems that brought the women to a chiropractor included, ulcerative colitis, lower back pain, neck pain, menstrual cycle problems, diabetes and joint pains.

The average age of the women in the various studies was 32. In 10 of the 11 cases the women were actively trying to become pregnant and were unsuccessful. Several had unsuccessfully tried more expensive and risky procedures. The author noted that the standard medical care for infertility, "..can have serious health problems for both the mother and child."

The results from these various case studies showed that all 11 women got pregnant shortly after the start of chiropractic care. The author of the review noted that 9 of the 11 did not receive any further medical care to become pregnant. The care rendered in all of these cases was specific correction of vertebral subluxations using a variety of chiropractic analyses and techniques. The author noted that correction of vertebral subluxations caused an improvement in function which allowed the women of these studies to become pregnant.

In her conclusion, Dr. Bula stated, "The ten case studies examined in this paper suggest that regardless of the type of chiropractic technique used, when subluxations of the vertebral spine were adjusted there was a simultaneous improvement in function of the reproductive organs and related endocrine system."

Another case study
A study published in the May 2003 issue of the peer-reviewed Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research, showed a strong link between the resolution of infertility and the initiation of chiropractic care. The study consisted of a retrospective review of 14 separate articles of 15 women suffering with infertility. In each of these cases chiropractic care was introduced and the results were documented and published.

The studies followed 15 female subjects ranging in age from 22 to 65. The prior pregnancy history of these women revealed 11 of them had never gotten pregnant. Two of the women had prior successful unassisted pregnancies. One woman had an assisted pregnancy, while 1 had a history of a miscarriage. In this group 9 women had previous treatment for infertility before starting chiropractic and 4 were actually undergoing infertility treatment when they started chiropractic care.

The study noted the huge expense of infertility treatment options currently used by many couples noting the range of expenses can easily go into the thousands. The article also noted that in vitro fertilization has shown evidence of long term risks. A study published in November 2002 in the online version of the American Journal of Human Genetics reported that “babies conceived by in vitro fertilization may be at increased risk for a rare genetic disorder that predisposes them to cancer”.

The chiropractic care rendered to the women listed in this study was from a variety of chiropractors using a variety of techniques. The focus of the care in these cases was correction of vertebral subluxations. The research article defined Subluxation by using the agreed definition of the Association of Chiropractic Colleges. Subluxation, as defined by the Association of Chiropractic Colleges, is a “complex of functional and / or structural and / or pathological articular changes that compromise neural integrity and may influence organ system function and general health". The study noted that all of the women in these studies, who were struggling with infertility, had evidence of nerve system interference, as detected by the presence of subluxations.

The results of these individual case studies showed that even though many of these women had tried unsuccessfully for some time to become pregnant, all of the women in this study eventually became pregnant somewhere between 2 months and 20 months of the onset of chiropractic care. One of the case studies was summed up by the author, Elizabeth Anderson-Peacock, DC, DICCP, "Although chiropractic care is not a treatment for infertility, it is postulated that improvement of spinal neural integrity through specific chiropractic adjustments may have contributed to improved homeostasis and physiological adaptation thus allowing the body to express a greater level of health as an outcome."

Another case study
Infertility and Chiropractic
Several recent published case studies have highlighted the benefits and miraculous results of chiropractic care for patients who were unsuccessful in their attempt to have children. In three successive issues of the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research, (JVSR), case studies were published of women who were having trouble with infertility, and who were helped by chiropractic care.

The December 8, 2003 JVSR reported on a case study of a 32-year-old female with a history of infertility, who had attempted to become pregnant since August 1999, with no success and sought chiropractic care in November of 2001. Prior to the chiropractic care, she had received unsuccessful conventional medical treatment, including detailed fertility testing, artificial insemination, in vitro fertilization, and treatment with the fertility drug Clomid. She sought chiropractic care on November 3, 2001. Chiropractic analysis and correction were performed over the next six weeks and during this time, the patient’s secondary complaints of low back pain and headaches improved dramatically. Additionally, the patient’s fertility specialists noted that her estrogen levels, endometrial thickness, and cervical mucus levels were all at more favorable levels than at the time of the first in vitro attempt. A second attempt at in vitro fertilization was made on February 17, 2002, and the patient had a positive pregnancy test on March 2, 2002.

The second case was that of a thirty-four year old woman who presented for chiropractic care on January 10, 2000. Her concerns listed a variety of conditions, including a history of infertility. This patient made no other alterations in her lifestyle or clinical situation besides the addition of chiropractic care. Approximately 4-5 weeks into the care program the patient conceived naturally.

The third case was interesting because the woman was not trying to conceive. This case was that of a 65-year young female who presented with agonizing low back pain and severe lumbar degeneration. After four weeks of care she began spotting and was diagnosed as having a normal menstrual cycle. What was really interesting about this case was that she had experienced a severe fall at 13 years of age which resulted in a complete cessation of her menses at 18. She was diagnosed as infertile.

In each of these cases the chiropractic care was specific for correction of vertebral subluxations that were determined to be interfering with the normal function of the nervous system. This in turn disrupted the reproductive system of the patients. The conclusion of one of the studies sums up the process by saying, "The human body is designed to be healthy and to reproduce. Impairment of this ability indicates dysfunction on a fundamental level. Subluxations of the spine and the associated nervous system dysfunction can hinder proper function of body systems."

Chiropractic and Asthma

7 Year-Old With Chronic Asthma Responds To Chiropractic Care

The November 26, 2007 issue of the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation
Research reports on a case study where a 7 year-old girl with chronic
severe persistent asthma responded very quickly to a course of
chiropractic care.

Her mother reported that her symptoms began around the age of 2 and
by 4 years of age she was diagnosed with asthma. Almost anything from
dust to cold drafts would trigger an asthma attack.

She was taking oral medication twice a day and using 24 inhalations
from three different inhalers four times a day. Singulair, Claritin,
Albuterol, Pulmicort, Tussi, Elidel, Nasonex, Xopenex, Pred Atrovent,
Advair, Crantex, Zantac, PhenerganW/Codeine, Histenex, Tussionex,
Tilade, and Theo 24 were being used to manage her chronic coughs and
fevers. Even at this level of medication she was unable to engage in
any physical activity and experienced daily attacks, nearly constant
wheezing and coughing, a tight and heavy chest and approximately five
visits per year to the emergency room.

Previous research has shown that spinal subluxation involvement in
the upper and lower thoracic spine correlated with the reduction in
forced expiratory volume (the amount of air a person can force out)
that is normally associated with asthma. This patient showed very
high levels of abnormal muscle function in these areas indicating
spinal subluxations or misalignments.

After her first adjustment, the patient’s cough disappeared that
evening. Over the next four weeks, her attacks had stopped completely
and her inhaler use decreased to 0 per day as well. The wheezing,
chest tightness and heaviness subsided and her mother reported that
her activity levels increased from only walking to participating in
swimming and running sports.

Before beginning chiropractic care her lung function measured 54% of
the normal for her height and weight. At her last medical evaluation
her lung function had improved 74% and was now less than 5% below
normal for her height and weight.

The patient is currently being seen 1-2 times per month on a wellness
care basis. She has not been sick or had an attack in more than 3 years. Article on the Web
Click here to see a list of abstracts on Chiropractic and Asthma

Chiropractic and Colic

***NEW Article CLICK LINK BELOW***

Chiropractic and Colic




Picture: Chiropractic adjustment at six hours old.

Colic: Chiropractic can help

Colic is defined as an unexplainable and uncontrollable crying in babies from 0 to 3 months old, more than 3 hours a day, more than 3 days a week, for 3 weeks or more, usually in the afternoon and evening hours. The incidence is thought to be about 22.5%. Colic places babies at a high risk for child abuse, including CNS damage or death from shaken baby syndrome.

A recent study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiologic Therapeutics (1) has concluded, "Spinal manipulation is effective in relieving infantile colic". For a period of two weeks, half of the subjects underwent chiropractic spinal manipulation, while the other half received the drug dimethicone. All of the adjusted babies stayed in the study, while only 64% of the dimethicone babies completed the two-week study. In the course of the study, the children being adjusted saw a 67% reduction in crying and the drug therapy group saw only a 38% reduction in crying. The mean number of adjustments given during the two-week study was 3.8.

One might question the effect of the dropouts from the drug group. The authors commented on this as follows: "By excluding data from the dropouts, we are excluding more severe cases from the dimethicone group, and this has the effect of making that group appear better than it actually was. Thus we are introducing a serious bias against showing a positive effect of spinal manipulation, and despite this, the manipulation group did significantly better."

The findings of this report echo the results of another recent report entitled "The efficacy of chiropractic spinal adjustments ments as a treatment protocol in the management of infantile colic" by Mercer and Cook of South Africa.

Thirty infants from the general public between the ages of 0-8 weeks were randomly divided into two treatment groups. All participating infants were diagnosed as suffering from infantile colic by pediatrician before inclusion into the study. The infants were allocated into the placebo or the experimental group according to the random sampling technique.

The results obtained from the study demonstrated a significant difference in the response to treatment by the experimental group as opposed to the control group. Complete resolution of symptoms was found by 93% of the infants within the two-week treatment period with a maximum of six treatments. In addition, no recurrence of the infantile colic was observed in any experimental infant between cessation of treatment and the follow-up interview one month later.

Similar results have also been found in a study of 316 children where a satisfactory result occurred within 2 weeks in 94% of the cases receiving chiropractic care. 51% of these infants had prior, unsuccessful treatment, usually drug therapy (83%). (2) In yet another study of 132 infant's with colic, 91% of the parents reported an improvement, which occurred after an average of two to three manipulations, and one week after the treatment started. (3)

References:

1. Wiberg JMM, Nordsteen J, Nilsson N. The Short-Term Effect of Spinal Manipulation in the Treatment of Infantile Colic: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial with a Blinded Observer J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1999 (Oct); 22 (8): 517-522

2. Klougart N, Nilsson N, Jacobsen J Infantile Colic Treated by Chiropractors: A Prospective Study of 316 Cases J Manipulative Physiol Ther 1989 (Aug); 12 (4): 281-8

3. Nilsson N Infant Colic and Chiropractic Eur J Chiropr 1985; 33 (4): 264-265

ICPA4KIDS.org To find more information about how chiropractic can be beneficial to your child visit icpa4kids.org.Click here for more information on Chiropractic and Colic.

By Peter N. Fysh, DC

Infantile Colic
Sally was concerned. Her new two month old baby son, Brendan, did not seem to be the normal, happy, and contented baby that she had hoped for. He cried a lot; sometimes for six or seven hours each day and it seemed that nothing Sally did to comfort him would help. She had tried feeding him, changing his diaper, cuddling and rocking him, putting him to bed, but nothing seemed to help.
When Sally took her baby to the pediatrician, the problem was identified as infantile colic, a problem common to newborns in the first few months of life. Sally was advised to watch her diet, as she was breast-feeding Brendan, to avoid rich and spicy foods and to burp him regularly during feeding. This she did as advised but still her baby continued to cry for hours each day. Sally and her husband Bob were getting little sleep and the whole house was affected by the baby's condition.

When Bob visited his chiropractor on the way home from work one afternoon, for his regular spinal adjustment, he happened to mention their baby's plight to the doctor. "Why don't you bring Brendan in and let me evaluate his spine," said the doctor. "His colic may be related to a problem in his spine." At this point, Bob and Sally were looking for any alternative to help their baby.

The following day Sally took her baby to the chiropractor to have his spine evaluated. The doctor evaluated Brendan's spine and found two areas which needed to be corrected. A couple of light, finger-tip adjustments and the job was done. "How could my baby have spinal problems at his young age," Sally asked. "Well," said the chiropractor, "it can often be the trauma from a difficult birth, a long labor or perhaps even the way we burp the baby or pick the baby up from the crib, that produces spinal problems at such a young age."

The following day, Brendan was somewhat better. Sally took him to the chiropractor again for a further adjustment, similar to the ones performed the previous day. Three days after Brendan's first spinal adjustment, Sally just couldn't believe how much her son had improved. He now slept like a baby, only cried when he was hungry or wet, and was once again the perfect baby that Sally knew he was. And Bob slept happily ever after.

What Is Colic?
Infantile colic is the term commonly used to describe an otherwise healthy infant who exhibits persistent, forceful crying for no apparent reason. The crying usually persists for several hours each day and is usually evident at least five days in each week. Parents' attempts to comfort the infant by holding and rocking the child, changing the diaper or by offering nourishment have little or no effect on the condition. The affected infant will have a tense, rumbling abdomen, with knees flexed, tight paraspinal musculature and will emit an excessive amount of gas. Occasionally the head and neck will be arched backwards.
Colic affects about 20 percent of all infants with symptoms most commonly occurring at one to four weeks of age and ending spontaneously at around three to four months. The cause of this condition has not been precisely determined, although many infants have been shown to respond well to chiropractic care.

Research studies into the effects of spinal adjustments for infants with colic have shown excellent results. The most significant study of this condition showed satisfactory improvement in over 90 percent of the infants who received chiropractic care.1

In this study, 316 infants with colic received spinal evaluations and were adjusted as necessary. Improvement was noted within a two week period in 94 percent of the infants treated, on average, after only three treatments.


Evaluation of the Infant's Spine
An infant's spinal evaluation involves examining the entire spine, from the upper cervical region down to the pelvis. The examination includes motion palpation of the spine, to detect areas of decreased movement of the spinal articulations (subluxations), as well as identification of areas of unilateral, asymmetrical muscle spasm.
In the previously referenced study, the findings of the 73 chiropractors involved showed the following:

All but six percent of the infants responded to the chiropractic treatments. Fifty-three percent of the infants responded to adjustment of the upper cervical vertebrae only. Forty-one percent required adjustment of the upper cervical area in addition to the mid-thoracic articulations (T4-T9), while the remaining six percent received adjustments in other regions of the spine (lower cervical, thoracolumbar, lumbosacral and sacroiliac articulations) or a combination of two or more of the above-mentioned areas.


Adjusting the Infant's Spine
The chiropractic treatment of a young infant's spine differs from that which would be necessary for an adult. The infant's spine is more flexible, primarily due to ligament laxity. The immature spine also contains abundant cartilage which will eventually ossify into mature bone. This cartilage is quite strong and flexible, however the adjustive process is modified to ensure that only the lightest thrust is used to correct the subluxated segments. Not only is the force of the adjustment greatly decreased, the contact is usually only lightly applied with the finger tips and the thrust, if used at all, is very modest. The sound of the spine being adjusted, usually heard as a "crack" or "pop" in the adult spine, is frequently absent when adjusting the spine of a young infant. Babies usually tolerate spinal evaluation and adjusting quite well, with no more discomfort than that caused by a physical examination.

Results
The rapid improvement seen after adjusting the spine of an infant with colic suggests that the spine is intimately involved with the digestive process. Research in this field, called the somatogastric reflex, has been developing over the past 15 to 20 years, however, the exact mechanism of involvement of the spine with colic is yet to be determined.
References

Klougart N, Nilsson N, and Jacobsen J: Infantile colic treated by chiropractors: a prospective study of 316 cases. JMPT, August 1989, Vol 12;4.
Peter N. Fysh, DC
San Jose, California

Editor's Note:

Dr. Fysh is currently conducting pediatric seminars. He may be contacted at (408) 720-8042.

Click to view article on the web.

Chiropractic vs The A.M.A

CHIROPRACTIC & THE A.M.A.
Chiropractic has often found itself at odds with the organized medical establishment. In 1976 four doctors of chiropractic, later to be called the Chicago Four, filed suit against the American Medical Association and numerous medical co-conspirators for restricting cooperation between individual MDs and doctors of chiropractic. The four courageous doctors were Chester Wilk, D.C., Patricia B. Arthur, D.C., James W. Bryden, D.C., and Michael D. Pedigo, D.C.(Wilk et al v. AMA et al, 1990). Their case proved to be one of the biggest victories in the history of the chiropractic profession.

Judge Susan Getzendanner heard the evidence in U.S. District Court and issued her opinion on August 27, 1987. She ruled that over the previous 25 years the actions of the A.M.A. and its coconspirators, the American College of Radiology and the American College of Surgeons, had resulted in serious damage to the cooperative process in health care, to the profession of chiropractic as a whole, to individual doctors of chiropractic, and to the patients they served.

During this trial the effectiveness of chiropractic was questioned, but the evidence was chiropractic's favor. Clinical studies showed that doctors of chiropractic were twice as effective as medical doctors in returning injured workers to their jobs. Evidence regarding orthopedic patients showed that those under the care of doctors of chiropractic in hospital settings were discharged from the hospital in five to seven days, compared with an average of 14 days in a comparable hospital without doctors of chiropractic. Judge Getzendanna rejected the AMA's patient care defense.

The central question revolved around organized medicine's attempt to eliminate chiropractic as a competitor in the U.S. health care system. Judge Getzendanner's landmark finding was that the A.M.A. was guilty of engaging in a conspiracy "to contain and eliminate the chiropractic profession," and was in violation of the Sherman Antitrust Act.

As far back as 1963, the court declared the A.M.A. had been working aggressively to "overtly and covertly" eliminate the profession of chiropractic. Judge Getzendanner issued a permanent court injunction against the A.M.A. to prevent such future behavior. The A.M.A. was required to send copies of the injunction order to each of its 275,000 members, as well as publish the injunction order in the Journal of the American Medical Association.

Following a decade of litigation, a federal appellate court judge upheld a ruling by U.S. District Court Judge Susan Getzendanner that the AMA had engaged in a "lengthy, systematic, successful and unlawful boycott" designed to restrict cooperation between MDs and chiropractors in order to eliminate the profession of chiropractic as a competitor in the U.S. health care system. The way has been cleared for a cooperative relationship between doctors of both professions, as has been sought by chiropractic for many years. Now doctors of different specialties can work together and share their expertise for the benefit of the patient. Since the court's findings and conclusions were released, an increasing number of medical doctors, hospitals, and health care organizations in the U.S. have begun to include the services of chiropractors.
Article on the Web

Chiropractic and Scoliosis

What?
Scoliosis is a spinal deformity that characterized by lateral (side to side) curvature of the spine . As opposed to a normal spine that would look straight from the front to the back, scoliosis resembles an S curve. Not only does the spine curve it also rotates.
Who?
Scoliosis can affect people of all ages but is generally identified between the ages of 10-15. It occurs equally in both boys and girls but girls have a higher risk of developing further curvature, requiring more treatment.
Signs?
Signs of scoliosis are uneven walk, uneven shoulder or hip height, or a protruding rib cage when a person bends down.
How?
How can chiropractic help? A good understanding of how scoliosis may start is needed to understand fully how chiropractic can help. The inital problem isn't in the middle of you spine where the curve occurs, but in your upper neck (cervical spine). Your head sits directly over your hips. If your head gets misaligned (no longer over your hips) you body will bend and twist to get it back over your hips. In order to correct the bending and twisting you don't go to the curve, you need to get you head on straight! This is done with an adjustment in your atlas and axis (the first two vertebrae in your spine). Once your head is on straight your body is no longer be twisting and turning to stay centered over your hips, therefore the curve will start to correct itself. To find a doctor who specializes in atlas and axis adjustments Click here UCSpine.com.
For more information on chiropractic care and scoliosis
Clear-Institute.com
ucc-ny.com

Learned Helplessness

Family Wellness First!
Are You An Elephant On A String?

Kevin Donka, D.C.

Have you ever been to a circus and wondered why such a big animal doesn't just break that tiny little chain around its ankle? The answer is that the elephant is living in a state of what is called "Learned helplessness."

The way to train an elephant is to begin by attaching a very big, very strong chain to its leg and then forcing it to go to the limits of the chain over and over again. Since this is such a strong chain, the elephant can't break it and it quickly learns not to try anymore. It learns to be helpless.

After awhile, the trainer uses a slightly smaller chain, one that is not quite as strong. He/she then progressively moves to smaller and smaller chains over time until one is reached that is the size you see in the circus. The elephant may have the power to knock down a house but because it believes it cannot break the chain, it doesn't even try. In fact, this is so effective that the best-trained elephants only need a thin piece of string to keep them in line.

"Fascinating," you're probably thinking, "But what in the world does that have to do with me?" Well, you see, most people were brought up in the medical/ pharmaceutical mindset. That is, they were taught from a very early age that their bodies are defective or weak and need lots of help from the outside in order to function well. In fact, the main goal of most people raised in this mode of thinking is not even optimal function; it is simply to not have symptoms!

from one generation to the next almost at birth with the use of vitamin K shots, antibiotics in the eyes, vaccines, formula instead of breastfeeding, Tylenol for the fevers associated with the normal development of teeth, fluoride treatments in our water and toothpaste, etc. Most children in our society grow up constantly being told that they need to rely on something from outside themselves in order to function well and it is reinforced year after year after year. This is not dissimilar to the method used by our elephant trainers.

The chiropractic lifestyle offers children a completely different perspective. The basic principles of chiropractic teach us that we are all individuations of the one, perfect, Universal Intelligence that pervades all matter. These principles state that the expression of this intelligence through us is the chiropractic meaning of life! They encourage our trust in the body's ability to heal, repair, regenerate and express wholeness.

Chiropractic recognizes that we have within us an "Innate Intelligence" that runs, regulates, heals and grows us from embryos to the full expression of what God intended us to be. It also recognizes that as long as there is full communication between your brain and your body, this Intelligence will help you better adapt to the physical, chemical and mental stresses you face each day, heal from any damage done by stress beyond your ability to adapt, and continue to grow toward the full expression of your purpose and potential in life.

You see, chiropractic helps people to understand the awesome power they have within them. It helps them "break the chains" of believing they are defective and weak and allows them to give up their reliance on outside remedies and drugs. But more than that, it helps people move beyond a goal of simply "not having symptoms". Chiropractic offers families a higher vision of what is possible with their lives, because the full expression of this perfection within automatically brings with it optimal function.AND SO MUCH MORE!

So, do you know someone who is living like an elephant on a string? If so send them on over - I know where they can get some scissors!
ICPA4KIDS.org

Chiropractic and Depression

Major Depression Patient Helped with Chiropractic - Case Study

A documented case study appearing in the April 23, 2008 issue of the scientific periodical, the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research, showed the improvement of a patient with major depression with chiropractic care. In this case study a 46-year-old man suffering from his third bout of major depression, presented himself for chiropractic care.

In addition to the diagnosis of depression the man also had many symptoms related to his depression such as generalized bilateral neck and low back pain, anxiety, fatigue, and a small appetite. He was also suffering from the effects of the medications he was taking, which included a decrease in sex drive, dizziness, overall muscle weakness, and insomnia.

A standardized questionnaire known as the SF-36 was used to determine the patients initial status as well as his responses to chiropractic care. The SF-36 is a health survey questionnaire with 36 questions. It has been tested by the federal health authorities and is used to predict quality-of-life improvement after a particular healthcare treatment or intervention. The average American scores a 50 on the SF-36 test.

The case study notes that Mood disorders affect 18.8 million American adults (9.5% of the population) in any given year. The study points out that clinical depression is quite different than just feeling depressed. They note that most everyone occasionally has such experiences, in times such as grieving for the death of a loved one.

As noted in this case a 46-year-old occupational software support engineer presented for chiropractic care with the diagnosis of major depression and with the intention of improving his overall health. He was currently suffering his third bout of depression and was on medical leave due to this situation. The severity of his situation was highlighted by the addition of many symptoms related to his depression which included loss of appetite, malaise, fatigue, joint stiffness, neck pain, low back pain, as well as thoughts of suicide and anxiety. He was taking the medication Paxil which then added the symptoms of decreased libido, increased perspiration, weakness, and dizziness.

His self rating according to the SF-36 initially showed a score of 40 for physical component summary, and a score of 25 for mental component summary, compared to the average of 50. The patient's initial chiropractic evaluation consisted of x-rays and a number of tests and procedures that revealed multiple findings of vertebral subluxations.

Specific chiropractic adjustments were initiated to correct the subluxations. He received a total of 34 adjustments over an 11 month period. After just three visits, the patient reported a decrease of anxiety and fatigue and an increase in muscle strength. Over the course of his care his low back and neck discomfort had resolved. He no longer experienced dizziness. His depression improved considerably, according to his SF-36 scores and his Global Wellness Scale scores.

The author of the case study concluded, "This report details the life history and symptomology of a 46-year-old man suffering with major depression; the 11 months of chiropractic care; and the man’s physical, social and mental response to correction of vertebral subluxations. This report supports the previous literature written regarding correction of vertebral subluxation, and it’s positive effect on physical, mental and social well-being.

Chiropractic Philosophy

Terry A. Rondberg, D.C.
"WHY TALK CHIROPRACTIC PHILOSOPHY?"
Chiropractic doesn't HAVE a philosophy ... chiropractic IS a philosophy.
When chiropractors get together, they often discuss philosophy. Yet, you will seldom hear them mentioning Plato and Aristotle, or comparing notes on Nietzsche or Emerson. The philosophy they are most interested in is chiropractic philosophy, the fundamental beliefs and underlying precepts of the entire profession.
Many people find it odd that chiropractic has its own philosophy. After all, other professions don't have one. Have you ever heard of pediatric philosophy – accounting philosophy – or legal philosophy? Why, then, does chiropractic have a philosophy?

Actually, it is somewhat misleading to say that chiropractic has a philosophy. According to Dr. B.J. Palmer, the developer of chiropractic (whose father, D.D. Palmer, is credited with its actual "discovery" in 1895), chiropractic IS a philosophy – as well as a science and an art.

That is, chiropractic is not merely a method of adjusting a person's spine or correcting subluxations. It is a set of beliefs about the human body and the natural order of the universe.

These beliefs – this philosophy – is the WHY of chiropractic. The science and art of chiropractic (such as the specific adjusting techniques) were developed, and are used, in accordance with the philosophy.

Chiropractic is unique in this respect. Other professions are not based on a set of unchangeable principles. The legal profession, for example, deals with a system of laws and statutes that change rapidly. A few years ago, it was legal to cruise 75 MPH on most highways. Today, it's against the law.

Even a single action can be viewed differently depending on the circumstances surrounding it. Taking another person's life, for instance, can be murder, manslaughter, negligent homicide, or justifiable homicide. There is no single, universal principle by which to judge the action. Lawyers, then, must deal with rules and laws that fluctuate with time, location, and society's preferences. The same is true of accounting. Try to convince a tax accountant that tax laws are consistent.
Even the field of medicine changes according to the latest research results. Not long ago, for example, M.D.s were routinely taking tonsils out as a preventive measure. Today, it is a rare procedure.
In chiropractic, the basic underlying precepts remain unchanged and unchangeable. Understanding of those beliefs may deepen, and the techniques may improve, but the elemental doctrines will be constant. The importance of philosophy to the chiropractic profession cannot be stressed enough, for it is the basis of everything a principled chiropractor does.

According to one of the profession's early philosophers, Ralph Stephenson, D.C., "It is the explanation of everything chiropractic – the difference between a good chiropractor and a poor one is, that the good one has an ample supply of abstract principles in his head and the poor one only a few – Poor chiropractors are apt to substitute machinery for knowledge."

Although there are many principles which comprise chiropractic philosophy, a few of the key ones include:

There exists a Universal Intelligence which brings organization to all matter, and maintains its existence;
All living things have inborn, or Innate Intelligence which adapts universal forces and matter for use in the body;
Every living thing has ALL the Innate Intelligence it requires to maintain its life and optimal health;
Health is the expression of the Innate Intelligence through Innate Matter, via Innate Energy;
When there is interference with the transmission of Innate Energy, the result is a decrease in the expression of Innate Intelligence, which chiropractors call dis-ease (not to be confused with disease!).
Because these terms and concepts are so important to chiropractors – and their patients – they will be explained in detail in the other "booklets" in this series. When you understand chiropractic philosophy, you will know that chiropractic works – and why!
Read more Here

Chiropractic care and ear Infections

**UPDATED ARTICLES CLICK ON LINKS BELOW ****


Chiropractic Care and Ear Infections II

Holistic Approach to Ear infections



Here are three great articles on how Chiropractic care can help with ear infections. In conjuction with chiropractic care eliminating dairy can assure success in eliminating all recurrent ear infections.

Chiropractic Helps in Prevention of Recurring Ear Infections.
In the October 1998 issue of the Ladies Home Journal appeared an article entitled, "Chiropractic Adjustments for Chronic Ear Infections." This article reviewed several studies showing the effectiveness of chiropractic care for preventing re-occurring ear infections known as Otitis Media or OM.

According to the article, reoccurring ear infections account for over 35% of all pediatrician visits in the United States. Sometimes these infections are due to bacteria and sometimes these are due to a virus. The most common medical care for this situation has been antibiotics, even though antibiotics have no effect on viruses. While the article mentions that the antibiotic may be effective in an acute bacterial infection, they do nothing to stop repeat infections. Research and statistics is now showing that repeated use of antibiotics is contributing to future infections by creating drug-resistant infections. The surgical approach has met with little long term results as the "tubes" placed in children’s ears often come out and usually require a child to be put under general anesthesia to do the surgery.

The article in the Ladies Home Journal states, "Chiropractic care is thought to prevent recurrent infections by correcting misalignments (called subluxations) and allowing normal fluid drainage from the middle ear." What the article took special note of was that 6 months after the chiropractic care was given to the children in the study, 80 percent had not suffered a recurrence of ear infections.

In closing the article did make a profound statement. They made a recommendation to parents on this subject. "If your child is between ear infections and his doctor suggests ear-tube surgery, ask if you can try chiropractic treatment first." While we agree with that sentiment, we suggest you not wait for a period between episodes, and you don’t have to "ask" permission from any other doctor to seek chiropractic care. As the sneaker company said, "just do it!"article on the Web

by Deb Donovan and Bob VanMetter
Use of antibiotic therapy for treatment of otitis media has become quite controversial. Research shows that antibiotic treatment of otitis media is no more effective than a placebo. It also can increase the risk of reoccurrence (Cantekin, 1994).
It has been shown that the type of antibiotic therapy used does not influence recovery from otitis media, or the length of time for which it was given. Those who received no antibiotics at all had improved rates of recovery (Froom et al., 1990).

It has been found that 93 percent of all episodes of otitis media treated improved with chiropractic care. Seventy-five percent of the cases improved in 10 days or less, and 43 percent with only one or two adjustment (Froehle, 1996). Article on Web

Ear problems can be excruciatingly painful, especially in children. With 10 million new cases every year, ear infections (otitis media) are the most common illness affecting babies and young children and the number one reason for visits to the pediatrician—accounting for more than 35 percent of all pediatric visits.

Almost half of all children will have at least one middle ear infection before they're a year old, and two-thirds of them will have had at least one such infection by age 3. The symptoms can include ear pain, fever, and irritability. Otitis media can be either bacterial or viral in origin, and frequently results from another illness such as a cold. For many children, it can become a chronic problem, requiring treatment year after year, and putting the child at risk of permanent hearing damage and associated speech and developmental problems.

Standard treatment for most cases of otitis media is with antibiotics, which can be effective if the culprit is bacterial (antibiotics, of course, do nothing to fight off viruses). But, according to many research studies, antibiotics are often not much more effective than the body's own immune system. And repeated doses of antibiotics can lead to drug-resistant bacteria that scoff at the drugs, while leaving the child screaming in pain.

Frequent ear infections are also the second most common reason for surgery in children under 2 (with circumcision being the first). In severe cases—for example, when fluids from an ear infection haven't cleared from the ear after several months, and hearing is affected—specialists sometimes prescribe myringotomy and tympanostomy, more commonly known as "ear tubes." During the surgical procedure, a small opening is made in the eardrum to place a tube inside. The tube relieves pressure in the ear and prevents repeated fluid buildup with the continuous venting of fresh air. In most cases, the membrane pushes the tube out after a couple of months and the hole in the eardrum closes. Although the treatment is effective, it has to be repeated in some 20 to 30 percent of cases. And this kind of surgery requires general anesthesia, never a minor thing in a small child. If the infection persists even after tube placement and removal, children sometimes undergo adenoidectomy (surgical removal of the adenoids)—an option that is effective mostly through the first year after surgery.

Before yet another round of "maybe-they'll-work-and-maybe-they-won't" antibiotics or the drastic step of surgery, more parents are considering chiropractic to help children with chronic ear infections. Dr. Joan Fallon, a chiropractor who practices in Yonkers, New York, has published research showing that, after receiving a series of chiropractic adjustments, nearly 80 percent of the children treated were free of ear infections for at least the six-month period following their initial visits (a period that also included maintenance treatments every four to six weeks).

"Chiropractic mobilizes drainage of the ear in children, and if they can continue to drain without a buildup of fluid and subsequent infection, they build up their own antibodies and recover more quickly," explains Dr. Fallon. She'd like to see her pilot study used as a basis for larger-scale trials of chiropractic as a therapeutic modality for otitis media.

Dr. Fallon uses primarily upper-cervical manipulation on children with otitis media, focusing particularly on the occiput, or back of the skull, and atlas, or the first vertebra in the neck. "Adjusting the occiput, in particular, will get the middle ear to drain. Depending on how chronic it's been and on where they are in their cycle of antibiotics, children generally need to get through one bout of fluid and fight it off themselves." That means, for the average child, between six and eight treatments. If a child's case is acute, Dr. Fallon will check the ear every day, using a tympanogram to measure the ear and track the movement of the eardrum to make sure that it's draining. "I'll do adjustments every day or every other day for a couple of days if they're acute, and then decrease frequency over time."

Dr. Fallon, whose research garnered her the acclaim of childrearing magazines like Parenting and Baby Talk, often sees great success when she treats a child for otitis media. "Once they fight it themselves, my kids tend to do very well and stay away from ear infections completely. Unless there are environmental factors like smoking in the house, an abnormally shaped Eustachian tube, or something like that, they do very well," she says.

"I have two large pediatric groups that refer to me on a regular basis. In the winter, when otitis is most prevalent, I see five or six new children each week from each group," says Dr. Fallon. "It's safe and effective and something that parents should try, certainly before inserting tubes in their children's ears."

Chiropractic Care Can Help...
Talk to your doctor of chiropractic about your child's ear infections. Doctors of chiropractic are licensed and trained to diagnose and treat patients of all ages and will use a gentler type of treatment for children. Article on the Web