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Ear Infections and Chiropractic

Ear Infections

As parents, it makes us feel so helpless. Our child is suffering but there seems little that we can do. No wonder reoccurring ear infections (otitis media) account for a huge number of pediatrician visits. The traditional approaches include:

doctor checking child's ear

Ear infections may be common, but they’re not normal.

Antibiotic therapy. This may be effective for acute bacterial infections, but many cases are viral, for which antibiotics are useless.

Tubes in the ears. Surgical implantation of artificial drainage tubes require the administration of a risky anesthesia and then, often come out!

However, more and more parents are choosing a more thoughtful approach:

Chiropractic care. A thorough examination to locate, and adjustments to reduce, nerve disturbances that may make the ears prone to infection.

Ear infections aren’t the result of a drug shortage or deformed eustachian tubes! Our bodies have an incredible capacity to fight infection. When that ability is impaired, it means something else is going on.

Nerve Compromise

It surprises many to learn that some of the nerves that control, regulate and monitor the ear, begin in the brain stem, continue down the spinal cord and exit out from between the bones of the spinal column.

Changes to the function of the bones in the upper neck can compromise the quality of the nerve messages to and from the brain. Obviously, this can affect the ability of any organ or tissue, in this case your child’s ear, to “defend itself” from infection.

Impaired Drainage

Nerve compromise is often accompanied by abnormal tension to the muscles that support the spine. Besides “protecting” the spine from further compromise, these muscle spasms can exert pressure on nearby lymphatic drainage ducts. This can interfere with natural drainage, further compounding the problem.

What Chiropractors Do

The chiropractic approach is simple. When parents bring their child to a chiropractor, a thorough examination looks for distortions in the upper spine. If nerve tension is detected, the chiropractor will gently reduce it with safe and natural chiropractic adjustments. This helps restore nervous system integrity. For a child or infant, this usually requires little more than a light touch–about the pressure you’d use to test the ripeness of a tomato.

Parents love the chiropractic approach. It’s safe. Natural. And chiropractors explain everything in advance. Take the first step and call an Association member chiropractor near you today!