Colic

Probably one of the most frustrating situations new patients find themselves in has to deal with a child that is suffering form colic. The source of pain remains unclear, and the physiological basis for colic has been difficult to ascertain. It begins in early infancy and may persist for many months. Under traditional medical care, parents are usually reassured that the baby will stop crying in a few months. In some cases, the colicky infant is given drugs. And these drugs typically contain smooth muscle relaxants and central nervous system depressants.

For parents, a recent study conducted offers some good news. In a study by Mercer and Cook, thirty infants who have been diagnosed medically with colic were randomly divided into two groups. One group received chiropractic care while the other group did not. All infants in this study were newborn to 8 weeks old and have been diagnosed with colic by a pediatrician. For the purpose of this study, the infants in the chiropractic group received care for a two-week period with a maximum of 6 adjustments. The results of the study were very impressive. In the group that received chiropractic care, there was a complete resolution of symptoms in 93% of the infants within the two-week period. Even more impressive was that in a follow up survey performed one month later, none of the infants had experienced a recurrence of problems from colic.

Today we find more parents bringing their children to doctors of chiropractic for spinal checkups. With a healthy spinal column, a child’s body can better deal with the sore throats, ear infections, stomachaches, fevers, measles, mumps and the hundred-and-one other problems that often make up young life. Without chiropractic care some children will live in continued sickness, condemned to a life of taking medicines and perhaps even surgery.

“Each patient carries his own doctor inside him. They come to us not knowing that truth. We are at our best when we give the doctor who resides inside within each patient a chance to work” —Albert Achweirzer, MD