Many parents bring their children into our office asking us to treat their ear infections. My first response is that the purpose of chiropractic care is not the treatment of conditions or diseases; rather, it is the restoration of normal body function. I explain that as chiropractors, we work with the nervous system via gentle spinal adjustments. We reduce stress related interference to the nervous system, thereby enhancing all overall body function. I further explain that all systems of the body muscular, glandular, respiratory, circulatory, digestive, eliminatory, hormonal and immunological depend on the optimal function of the nervous system. With chiropractic, we focus on nerve system function to enhance all the body s systems. Because many parents are unaware of the variety of options available for the treatment of ear infections, I continue, As a parent, you have some choices to make. You can either treat the ear infection, or not that s your right as a parent. Even the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends a watch-and-wait approach, because the evidence-based research about antibiotics is showing that not only are they ineffective at treating ear infections, but they will actually lead to repeated ear infections in your child. 1 / 6
Appearing in Issue #23. Order A Copy Today As a parent, you can choose to treat or not to treat. If you do choose to treat, you again have some options. You can treat the ear infections allopathically (the typical medical/ drug route) or naturally. If you choose to go the usual route to a pediatrician, she may take a watch-and-wait approach. More likely, she will prescribe an antibiotic. If, however, you would prefer to treat the ear infections more naturally, there are several options for you to consider. A naturopath will explore herbs and nutrition; a homeopath will assess your child for a specific remedy; an acupuncturist will work with specific meridian points for healing. It is so important that you as a parent realize you have choices, and the right to make these choices for your family. Regardless of the choices you make, the chiropractic approach will improve your child s inherent ability to function. Doesn t it make sense to have your child function at an optimal level for healing no matter how (or if ) you choose to treat? 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 for your child. We will also support any decision you make in your choice to treat the infection or not. This is your right as a parent, and we stand behind informed choice. It is important that parents realize the role chiropractic plays in whole-body wellness. So, too, is it important for parents to know, when reading the following testimonials, that chiropractic adjustments have allowed these children to express a greater state of health and wholeness, and that their systems were able to overcome repeated infections because neuro-immunology function was restored. Chiropractic The Best Thing We ve Done! 2 / 6
I started taking my 2-year-old daughter to the chiropractor as a last resort. She had had monthly ear infections for about nine months. We had recently scheduled surgery for her to have tubes put in, but it just didn t feel right to put her through surgery without exhausting all of our other options. Taking her to a chiropractor was the best thing we could have done for her! We canceled her surgery, and she has not had one ear infection since we started going. It s a miracle, especially since she has had a couple of colds that would have definitely turned into ear infections without chiropractic care. We took her to the chiropractor immediately after she came down with her last cold, and the cold was practically gone the next day. We have also seen an improvement in my daughter s temperament since we started care. She gets sick less often, and seems more content overall. I recommend chiropractic for anyone wanting to improve his or her overall health and well-being. Chiropractor: Dr Debra Bell Location: Cary, NC Watching Her Innate Power at Work Our chiropractors have educated us that the body s innate ability to heal itself can only work when subluxations (nerve interferences) are not present. That is why when my 3-yearold daughter, Anna, woke up and couldn t open her eyes, like they were glued shut, I knew what had to be done. We brought her in to our chiropractor and within a couple of hours after just one adjustment, her eyes had cleared completely. It was amazing to watch Anna s innate power at work! That power needed to be turned on again the next day. She worked just fine, but later that day, she developed an excruciating earache. I drove her to our chiropractor for another adjustment, and her earache was gone just a short while later. The pain never returned. And now? We return for regular adjustments and always will. If your family is sick, don t feel 3 / 6
pressured by society to give them Tylenol, Motrin and antibiotics. Give them a gift from God chiropractic. Chiropractor: Dr Felicity Keough Location: Englewood, FL Goodbye to Drugs Christopher was on his fourth round of antibiotics when I first brought him to the chiropractor. Since beginning chiropractic care, he has not had an ear infection! Before chiropractic, it would take him three weeks to get over a cold (no kidding), and the doctor would put him on so many meds, decongestants, antihistamines, cough suppressants and antibiotics. He hasn t taken one prescription since beginning chiropractic care. I noticed changes immediately. Chiropractor: Dr. Dennis Brown Location: Atlantic Highlands, NJ Committed to Lifetime Care CJ was about 2½ years old when I hit the end of my rope with traditional medicine. We had gone to so many doctors, all of them poking him in order to give us their two cents. None of their advice had made a difference in the long-term healing of CJ s most serious issues. He had GERD, chronic ear infections and reactive airway disease. The pediatrician put him on expensive medications, changed his formula and sent us home. As CJ grew, the reflux and ear infections got worse and the medications got stronger. The ear infections started to impair his hearing. At 14 months of age, he had ear tubes put in. I was told that things would get better. Twenty ear infections and about one year later, I received a fact sheet from one of my friends about chiropractic and ear infections. I had gone for adjustments myself a few times and felt comfortable with this chiropractor, so I 4 / 6
brought CJ in for an evaluation. CJ loved it from the first moment. The difference in him from when we walked in to when we left was indescribable. In a very short and happy time, CJ has gone from having weekly ear infections to NO ear infections. CJ and I are now committed to lifetime care! I feel like I have done a huge service for my son by not listening to people who do not understand. CJ has become a happier little person who no longer aches constantly. Go with your gut and make the commitment. Chiropractor: Dr. Damien Ciasullo Location: Philadelphia, PA About the Author: J eanne Ohm is an author, instructor and practicing chiropractor whose special emphasis is on chiropractic for children and in pregnancy. She is the executive director of the International Chiropractic Pediatric Association and can be reached on Facebook. 5 / 6
This article appeared in Pathways to Family Wellness magazine, Issue #23. View Author Bio To purchase this issue, Order Here. 6 / 6