Chiropractic as a Treatment for Reflux?

It works for other conditions like heavy periods, tension, asthma. Give it a try of 10 weeks. You have nothing to lose and everything to gain.

Yes it can help! The reason chiropractic is effective with so many non-back pain issues is because the spinal cord houses the nervous system, which controls every function of the body. When a vertebrae is out of alignment, the brains messages are not received by the areas of the body controlled by that particular nerve junction. It also helps people get sick less often and less severely, and can help with ear infections, bedwetting, allergies and asthma! My kids have been adjusted since they were born. The docs at Kirkland life chiropractic work with kids well!

Eta: the article above shouldn't say to not let a chiropractor work on your infant's neck, but to make sure they only use their fingers or an activator on the neck. The curve between the top of the shoulders and the neck is Often the most in need of an adjustment in infants! So many people who are scared of chiropractors or "don't believe" in what they do have never even been to one! Vaccine injuries are way more common than injuries from a chiropractic adjustment, and most people don't think twice about doing those, in multiples! Just make sure the Chiro you take her to is used to working with children.

As far as feeling more comfortable using "tested medications" in children, medication errors are among the top three causes of death in America! And not to say no one here isn't careful but parental error in overdosing is the reason they recalled all the cold medicines for kids..

Hi E.,

If you understand how chiropractic works then you have the first piece of the puzzle and things can get easier. Think of the spine as the electrical panel in your home. If a fuse is blown then that part of the house is dark. It's the same way with the spine. If a vertabrae is out of alignment, then the neurological system is not working at it's optimum capacity and it will affect the area that that particular vertabrae controls. The spine is the very first thing that is created in the womb.

Our nervous system is imperative to good health. That area of the spine may have been traumatized during birth. The neck and upper regions of the spine have the most stress during childbirth because they are grabbed and pulled and the neck is usually twisted during the pushing/pulling process. The digestive system is controlled in the upper back area between the shoulder blades. I know this because that is the area the is usually out when I am having problems. I grew up with digestive issues and and have stressed that area of my back for years...

Hope this helps!

M.

My kids have all seen our chiropractor since birth. The first two answers below are right on target about how the nervous system gets interfered with when the spine is not aligned. The info about finding a chiro who is used to adjusting kids is good, too. He should pick up your baby both upright and slightly with her head down while pulling on first one leg and then the other. How she responds to these movements tells him how to adjust her. Then he'll use just his fingertips or thumbs to nudge her spine back into place. I've never heard of a baby being hurt by an adjustment.

My kids have all been less fussy, eat better, and get over a cold or flu much more quickly after getting adjusted. In fact, those are all triggers for me to make an appt. for them!

A friend of mine had a son who would get severely constipated. She would get him adjusted and then race home to get him to the toilet on time! You won't always see results like that, because systems work differently, but my daughter would stop nursing on one side (because it hurt to turn her head when she was out) and as soon as we got home from the chiro she would nurse on both sides again. I've heard of some women pumping because they just think something is wrong with them that their baby won't nurse on one side!
Blessings!

The chiropractor which I took my then 5 week old son to helped tremendously with colic (gas). My now 4 month old still has the normal to slightly higher occurrence of infantile reflux - which is NORMAL because it can take up to 8 months for the esophogeal sphincter/valve to fully mature to keep food from coming back up. I'd not use the medications anyways (unless you are using formula or solids, then I'd keep using the meds) simply because it is a normal developmental process of infants.

I would highly recommend a chiropractor, but you need to call around to see who has a high infant and child ratio... not someone who knows the theory of manipulating an infant versus someone who does it all the time. I called at least 12 Chiros before I found the one we go to.

How old is she? If she hasn't started sitting up by herself yet, then I wouldn't stress about it too much. We only had to keep our daughter on the meds until she could sit up after she ate. Personally, I'm more comfortable with giving my child tested medications for a short period of time than relying on anecdotal evidence and letting someone "adjust" my child.

I have little info on chiro and reflux, but my chiro swears it works (trying to get hubby to go try it out). I personally don't have much problem unless I overeat and go to bed.

But, have had 2 reflux babies and probiotics was a tremendous help. My dd had silent reflux (she was killing me at feedings....) and she was finally diagnosed. The doc put her on zantac, it helped a little, but tasted awful and dd learned to spit it out. Then we tried Prevacid, it helped some, but didn't eliminate the problem. Finally, when she was supposed to "outgrow" it at a year (and didn't), I went to a Naturopath. My dd was put on Bifidous powder (1/2 tsp/day) and glutamine (don't remember dose). Within a week, huge improvement, 2 weeks, no more problems.

My ds was put on Bifidous at 2 wks old (1/4 tsp/day), huge improvement within a week and 2 wks later, no more spitting up and very little gas issues.

I am trying to get hubby to the chiro for his reflux, if I do, I'll report back. But, definitely try a powdered probiotic. If on solids, mix it in, if not, mix it into a bottle or finger feed the powder (can even nipple feed it). I finger fed it to my 2 wk old son prior to his evening nursing. He started sleeping through the night and eating so much better. Also, much less fussy.

Good luck to your little one.

Not so fast. I highly encourage you to read this article before you make that appointment:http://articles.cnn.com/2000-04-11/health/chiro.forcolic.....
There have been incidence of babies sustaining injury from chiropractic manipulation particularly to the brain if the neck is manipulated. Fracture of the collar bones have been reported as well. If you decide to find a chiropractor, please consult your pediatrician first and ask for a recommendation. Not all chiropractors have experience or training in manipulation of infants. Make sure you really know and trust a chiropractor before you hand your daughter over to him or her. Nurse Midwife Mom of 3