Ear Infection Defense
This is the time of year when we have a steady stream of parents bringing their children into Wellbeing Chiropractic office with coughs, colds, dribbles and particularly ear infections. You may be thinking “Why would a parent take their child to a Chiropractor when they are sick or have an ear infection?” Our answer to this question is always to first let you know that the purpose of Chiropractic care is not the treatment of illnesses or conditions; rather it is to restore the body to its optimal function. As Chiropractors we work with the nervous system by making gentle adjustments to the spine.
All of the systems of the body are controlled by the nervous system :
- muscular,
- hormonal,
- respiratory,
- digestive,
- eliminatory,
- immunological.
They all depend on the function of the nervous system. Chiropractic is aimed at enhancing the communication between the nervous system and the rest of the body, so that all of the cells, tissues, and organ systems can work at their best.
Acute otitis media (AOM) is one of the more common kinds of ear infections. The Royal Children’s Hospital Melbourne states that 2/3 of children would have experienced AOM by the time they are 3 and 90% of children by school age. There are many options a parent has when their child has an ear infection; there is often the temptation to ask doctor to prescribe antibiotics, and although this Is often the most utilized option research shows that apart from a small reduction in pain in the first 24 hours, antibiotics are only effective in 5% of otitis media cases. This is due to the fact that the majority of these cases are purely viral, on which antibiotics have no effect. They can also have all kinds of side effects for the individual including :
- reducing natural immunity,
- diarrhea,
- abdominal pain,
- increasing susceptibility of recurrent infection,
- also for the community in increasing antibiotic resistance pressure.
There is the wait-and-see option which research shows most cases will resolve spontaneously within 2-6 week’s. Or there is the option to try natural alternatives – like Chiropractic – that are based on optimizing the child’s defense system against the infection and helping their body to function at its best. There are many studies that support the use of Chiropractic care to help the body fight the virus naturally. Many of these can be found on the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association. The Chiropractic adjustment uses gentle pressure of the finger, or a special instrument, on the spine similar to the pressure you would use to test a ripe tomato. This adjustment helps to reduce interference on the nervous system and helps to optimize the function of the nerves that control the immune system, the ears, eyes, nose and throat. There are also many gentle Chiropractic techniques that work to help relieve the pressure from the ear, Eustachian tube and sinus area, as well as promote lymphatic flow to help assist in the drainage of fluid away from the head.
Regardless of the choices you make, the Chiropractic approach will improve your child’s inherent ability to function. A study performed by Ronald Pero, PHD, Chief of cancer prevention at New York’s Preventative Medicine Institute showed that Chiropractic clients have up to 200% increased immune competence than others. Doesn’t it make sense to have your child function at an optimal level for healing no matter if you choose to use other modalities of treatment? We will assess your child’s spine,make the necessary adjustments to improve nerve system function and offer lifestyle suggestions to reduce nerve system stress and optimize immune function for your child. The most important thing to remember is that as a parent you have options of what to do in these situations. Whatever you decide for your child is your choice, and we stand behind the right to informed choice.
References:
http://www.rch.org.au/clinicalguide/guideline_index/Acute_Otitis_Media/ Pero