Support for Ear Infections
This is the time of year when we see a steady stream of parents bringing their children to the Wellbeing Chiropractic practice. Many of these children have coughs, colds and, in particular, ear infections.
You may be wondering, “Why would a parent take their child to a chiropractor when the child is ill or has an ear infection?”
Our answer is that chiropractic care is not intended to treat illnesses or conditions. Rather, its aim is to help the body function as well as possible. As chiropractors, we work with the nervous system through gentle adjustments to the spine.
All the body’s systems are directed by the nervous system:
- muscular,
- hormonal,
- responsive,
- digestive,
- eliminatory,
- immune.
They all depend on the functioning of the nervous system. Chiropractic care aims to improve communication between the nervous system and the rest of the body. This allows cells, tissues and organ systems to function as well as possible.
Acute otitis media (AOM) is one of the most common types of ear infection. According to the Royal Children’s Hospital in Melbourne, two-thirds of children have experienced AOM by the age of three. Moreover, 90% of children have experienced it by school age.
Parents have several options when their child has an ear infection. Nevertheless, it can be tempting to ask the doctor to prescribe antibiotics. Research indicates, however, that antibiotics are effective in only 5% of middle-ear infection cases. This is because most of these cases are viral, and antibiotics have no effect on viruses. Antibiotics may also have various side effects, including:
- reduced natural immunity,
- diarrhoea,
- abdominal pain,
- increased susceptibility to recurring infection,
- increased pressure on antibiotic resistance in the wider community.
You can take a watchful-waiting approach; research indicates that most cases resolve on their own within 2 to 6 weeks. Alternatively, you can choose natural approaches such as chiropractic care. These options aim to support the child’s defences against the infection.
Numerous studies support the role of chiropractic care in helping the body fight the virus naturally. Many of these studies can be found on the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association website.
During a chiropractic treatment, light pressure is applied to the spine with a finger or a special instrument, similar to the pressure you would use to check whether a tomato is ripe.
This treatment helps reduce disruptions in the nervous system. It also supports optimal functioning of the nerves that control the immune system, ears, eyes, nose and throat.
There are also numerous gentle chiropractic techniques that help relieve pressure on the ear, Eustachian tube and sinuses. These techniques also stimulate lymphatic flow, helping fluid drain from the head.
Whatever choices you make, the chiropractic approach will support your child’s natural functioning.
A study by Ronald Pero, PhD, head of cancer prevention at the Preventive Medicine Institute in New York, found that chiropractic clients had an immune response up to 200% better than that of others.
Does it not make sense for your child to function as well as possible in order to heal? This applies regardless of whether you choose to use other forms of treatment.
We will examine your child’s spine, make the necessary adjustments to improve nervous-system function and offer advice on your child’s lifestyle to reduce strain on the nervous system.
The most important thing to remember is that, as a parent, you have several ways to respond in these situations. Whatever you decide for your child, it is your choice. We support the right to make an informed choice.
References:
http://www.rch.org.au/clinicalguide/guideline_index/Acute_Otitis_Media/ Pero
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