Exercise is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle.

“Obstacles are the things we see when we take our eyes off our goals” Zig Ziglar

Have you ever thought about what happened to that energetic and fit person whom you used to see in the mirror? Have you noticed your clothes may not fit like they used to, or if you are like many, do you have a closet filled with the clothes you will be wearing when you lose a couple of pounds? The truth is you are not alone. More and more we are hearing the bad news regarding Ireland and obesity. The good news is that it takes very little time or effort to change your current health status with regard to your weight or waistline.

The answer is not the next fad diet or the quick weight loss schemes we see on television or read in magazines. Gaining weight and the associated effect on your health is a process that occurs over time and usually is the result of a combination of factors. The most common factor is the perceived lack of time, or a lack of knowledge of how to create a workout routine or eating plan that will help you realize the results you want. This double whammy leads to procrastination and a false sense of helplessness or defeat. The second most common reason is the lack of clearly defined goals and an action plan that includes a realistic timeline for you to achieve your health or fitness goals. This often results in choosing a quick fix exercise program that is too demanding or not the right fit for the individual. Having clearly defined goals in place for a program of exercise that can fit most busy lives will lead to a transformation of your health and lead to a more balanced lifestyle.

The most important aspect of getting fit is coming to terms with what is keeping you from getting started. If it is time, it only takes minutes per day for you to start increasing your level of activity. For instance, taking 1000 extra steps per day will add up to 7000 per week, 28,000 per month and 336,000 per year. For the average person, that would equal 666 miles of walking per year. Imagine the cardiovascular, bone density, and immune benefits. In other words, You Are Literally Minutes Away From The New You!

If it is confusion whether to focus on cardiovascular exercise or weight training, ask a fitness expert or search an online source. At Kilworth Chiropractic, we always recommend a combination of the two for overall health and fitness. You can join a family-owned gym, use a one-on-one personal training facility, a women’s fitness studio, do Pilates, yoga, martial arts, or just go for a stroll along the river or a nearby beach.

A proper exercise and fitness program should always start with a comprehensive Chiropractic evaluation to find out if your nerves, muscles, and joints are balanced and functioning properly. For safety and the best results possible, your nervous system and skeletal system need to be balanced, otherwise you could develop acute or chronic injuries that spoil your best laid plans.

Whatever your current health status is or your future goals are, the willingness to take the first step must be there. If you would like to find out more about getting fit and want recommendations to help you achieve your desired health and fitness goals, call our office today.

Happy Christmas and a very Healthy
New Year to you all

Antibiotics and Asthma

Drugs often have unknown side effects, especially on the very young. In a study of 456 children, aged five to 10, by researchers in New Zealand, children given antibiotics in the first year of life had four times the risk of developing asthma. Taking antibiotics after age one increased asthma by one and a half times compared to children not given antibiotics. (2) One study revealed that young children under chiropractic care used little, if any, antibiotics. Why? They didn’t need them. Chiropractic care kept their bodies unsubluxated so they could fight off infections naturally. (3)

So Who Else Uses Chiropractic

You may be surprised to learn that a lot of famous sports stars and personalities are advocates of Chiropractic care! Why - you may ask? Well for them to excel everything needs to be right whether that be their equipment, their minds but as importantly their spines and their nervous systems!

"

Being a chiropractic patient has really helped me immensely… Lifting weights and seeing a chiropractor on a regular basis has made me a better golfer. I’ve been going to Chiropractors for as long as I can remember. It’s as important to my training as practicing my swing." Tiger Woods

"You obviously can’t compete at your fullest if you’re not in alignment. And your body can’t heal if your back is not in alignment. It was the holistic idea that I liked about chiropractic and that is what track and field is about. Every track and field athlete that I have ever met has seen a chiropractor at one time or another. In track and field, it is absolutely essential. Chiropractic care is one of the things I think that no one has denied or refuted." Dan Obrien USA Decathlon star

Seven-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong has been receiving chiropractic care since January of 1999, helping him to keep his body together for the harsh demands of the Tour de France. After last year’s Tour de France, Lance said that he could not have won without his chiropractor’s help.

Former World Heavyweight Boxing Champion, Evander Holyfield echoes the attitude of many world-famous athletes, "I found that going to a Chiropractor helps my performance. Once I drove 20 miles to see a Chiropractor before a fight. I have to have my adjustment before I go into the ring. "

" I am very fortunate to have, so-to-speak, my in-house chiropractor, Dr. Franco Colombu, as my own personal chiropractor. So, I visit Franco regularly, and he comes over to my house. He adjusts my wife, my kids, me, everybody gets an adjustment. And we feel always great when Franco leaves. Even when I have athletic injuries he’s always there for me, and helps me. So it’s really terrific, and I know that first hand. That’s why I always will be traveling around, all over the world, talking highly about the profession of chiropractic. You chiropractic doctors are really miracle workers, and that’s why it’s really great to have you here, part of the Arnold Classic. Because, like I said, the Arnold Classic and Fitness Weekend are about health and about fitness and preventive care." Arnold Schwarzenegger

"One thing I know through experience is that I need to keep seeing my chiropractor, even when I have a few weeks off from golf, Getting ongoing chiropractic care helps me to stay injury-free. It also helps me to deal with symptoms when they begin, so that they don't turn into bigger injuries down the road." Padraig Harrington

The H1N1 Issue: Flu Pandemic, Fear Pandemic, or Both?

This is a great article by a Chiropractor in the US. Dr James Chestnut is heavily involved in chiropractic research and this article is one of the most well balanced articles regarding the "Swine Flu".

James L. Chestnut B.Ed., M.Sc., D.C., C.C.W.P.

The H1N1 issue has become so prevalent that I thought it appropriate to share some factual perspective. I realize that factual perspective is neither newsworthy nor popular when people are in the midst of a mob mentality of fear but I'm willing to risk unpopularity in order to encourage people to be guided by science, reason, and logic.

As you've heard me say so many times the key to finding the truth is asking the right questions. If we don't ask the right questions we will never get the right answers. Irrational fear usually comes from asking the wrong questions or failing to ask the right ones. As I often point out it is not what we don't know that poses the greatest danger, it is what we think we know that is false. We also must be aware of confounding factors creating self fulfilling prophecies. Sometimes fear is rational, sometimes it is not. Regardless, the most important thing is to ACCURATELY assess the threat and then identify an evidence-based, logical, reasonable, and RATIONAL response or course of action.

Let's start with the H1N1 flu virus itself. Clearly this flu virus is a reality and clearly it can lead to illness. The most important question is what kind of illness. The FACT is that the type of illness associated with this virus in over 99.9% of CASES is mild to moderate flu symptoms which include fever, nausea which can include vomiting, and of course general malaise. Not very pleasant to be sure but is this any different than the symptoms associated with the flu viruses that have been the source of the seasonal flu for the past 50 years? No. Although not every seasonal flu virus is associated with vomiting the truth is that vomiting is not considered serious. Seriously uncomfortable - yes, seriously risky in terms of death or severe complications - no.

But what about the deaths from H1N1? We all must admit and understand that even the thought of a child dying is enough to send any parent into hysterics. I can't think of anything more frightening. So let me be clear. I am not suggesting that the threat of harm or death to my child or any child is not something to fear. What I am suggesting is that we RATIONALLY assess the threat and then assess our fear level to see if it is appropriate. Good decisions, decisions that minimize threat and maximize safety, are NOT based on irrational fear. Fear is our worst enemy. Logical interpretation of available facts is our best ally.

Here is what we need to know before we can make a decision about an appropriate fear level associated with risk of death from H1N1. First we need to know how many deaths have been caused by H1N1 in any given population. The next question to ask is whether or not those who have died had underlying illnesses that made them more susceptible or more at risk. In other words we need to know how many of the deaths ASSOCIATED with H1N1 are actually CAUSED by H1N1.

To assess the absolute risk of dying from H1N1 we need to divide the number of deaths in any given population by the number of people in that given population. In Canada as of Oct 17, 2009 there had been a total of 1,604 hospitalizations, and 83 deaths associated with H1N1. By the way by this time H1N1 was already being portrayed as a DEADLY PANDEMIC. So, out of a population of approximately 35 MILLION there were 83 deaths. This means your chance of dying of H1N1 up to this point was 83/35,000,000 which is one in 421,687. This means the chance of death from H1N1 was 0.0002%.

To date these risks are similar in the United States and throughout the rest of the world.

It is not easy to get exact numbers on the number of deaths that are caused by underlying conditions or secondary bacterial infections but estimates are that these would represent at least 99% of all deaths associated with H1N1. So, if you do not have an underlying illness your chance of dying from H1N1 is 1% of 0.0002%. Not exactly worthy of widespread panic.

The chances of dying in a car accident, airplane accident, a fall, from complications of air pollution, from complications from industrial toxins or from medical treatment are EXPONENTIALLY GREATER. What is the difference? The media and the health authorities are not focusing your attention on these risks. You have more chance of dying in a car accident on your way to get an H1N1 vaccine than dying from H1N1. Statistically it could be concluded that it is an undue risk to get into a car and get the vaccine! I could not find any published peer-reviewed data to determine whether the H1N1 vaccine is safe or effective. In other words there is no available information that would be required for any other medical intervention that the H1N1 vaccine works or if it is safe. This does not mean it is not safe or effective, it just means we have no data which would be considered scientifically valid to utilize to form our opinions. Even if we assume the vaccine is safe and effective, statistically there is still more risk of death from the car ride to get the vaccine than from dying from H1N1!

So what is going on in my opinion? Well I think some very well intentioned people are allowing fear rather than science and data to guide public policy. I'm not alone in this opinion by the way. Have a read of the following quotes from a recent article published in The British Medical Journal entitled "Calibrated response to emerging infections" http://www.bmj.com/cgi/content/extract/339/sep03_2/b3471. In fact read this entire article, I think it offers a very good perspective and it is very well referenced.

Pay particular attention to how the health authorities have changed the definition of a flu pandemic!

"Since the emergence of novel A/H1N1, descriptions of pandemic flu (both its causes and its effect) have changed to such a degree that the difference between seasonal flu and pandemic flu is now unclear. WHO, for example, for years defined pandemics as outbreaks causing "enormous numbers of deaths and illness," but in early May, removed this phrase from the definition."

Changing views of pandemic flu, before and after emergence of influenza A/H1N1 virus:

Aspect	Before A/H1N1	Since A/H1N1
One line summary	WHO 2003-9: "An influenza pandemic occurs when a new influenza virus appears against which the human population has no immunity, resulting in epidemics worldwide with enormous numbers of deaths and illness"	WHO: "An influenza pandemic may occur when a new influenza virus appears against which the human population has no immunity"
Virus and immunity	WHO 2005:"Most people will have no immunity to the pandemic virus"	WHO: "The vulnerability of a population to a pandemic virus is related in part to the level of pre-existing immunity to the virus"
	US CDC 1997: "When antigenic shift occurs, the population does not have antibody protection against the virus"	US CDC: "Cross-reactive antibody [to A/H1N1] was detected in 6%-9% of those aged 18-64 years and in 33% of those aged >60 years"
Impact (health, social, economic)	WHO 2005: "Large numbers of deaths will occur . . . WHO has used a relatively conservative estimate - from 2 million to 7.4 million deaths . . . Economic and social disruption will be great"	WHO: "H5N1 has conditioned the public to equate an influenza pandemic with very severe disease and high mortality. Such a disease pattern is by no means inevitable during a pandemic. On the contrary, it is exceptional"
	CDC 1997: "The hallmark of pandemic influenza is excess mortality"	CDC: "There are some pandemics that look very much like a bad flu season"
	Canada 2006: "An influenza pandemic results if many people around the world become ill and die from such a [new form of influenza] virus"	Canada: "An influenza pandemic does not necessarily cause more severe illness than seasonal influenza"

"But the 2009 pandemic, taken as a whole, bears little resemblance to the forecasted pandemic. Pandemic A/H1N1 virus is not a new subtype but the same subtype as seasonal A/H1N1 that has been circulating since 1977."

"Furthermore, a substantial portion of the population may have immunity. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) found that 33% of those aged over 60 had cross reactive antibody to novel A/H1N1,which may explain why cases have been rare in elderly people." Interestingly a recent report by CBC in Canada indicated that 4 preliminary studies showed that the chance of having immunity to H1N1 is DECREASED if you have regularly been vaccinated for seasonal flu. It will be interesting to see if they pursue this any further and publish the results in a peer-reviewed journal.

"On 26 April, with 20 cases and no deaths in the US, the Department of Health and Human Services declared a nationwide public health emergency."

"The SARS outbreak showed that large numbers of infected people are not necessary to generate concern and fear over disease. The SARS virus is known to have affected only 8096 people globally, but the fear of infection, involuntary quarantine, travel restrictions and subsequent political antagonisms, and at least $18bn in losses were felt by far more. It was not the virus but the response to it that caused these social and economic harms."

So what is my conclusion; is the H1N1 issue a flu pandemic, a fear pandemic, or both?

My conclusion is that at this point it is a pandemic of fear and NOT a flu pandemic. Of course it depends on how you define pandemic! The data available make it clear that we are experiencing an H1N1 seasonal flu BUT that to date this is not associated with significant risk of death or serious illness.

The FACT is that the current level of alarm and fear are NOT supported by data. However, this could change. What we cannot say is that things will not get worse. There is sufficient data to date to strongly suggest that it won't but data can only accurately tell us what has happened not what will happen. Certainly the odds are that H1N1 will pass with the same overblown fear and unactuated threat as SARS. Only time and data with tell.

I do have some concerns about the fact that testing for H1N1 has now been virtually all but discontinued. The authorities are now assuming that any case of the flu is H1N1. This means we will NEVER have any valid data about incidence, prevalence, or death rates. All such assessments without actual confirmation of infection are, in scientific terms, invalid. The term they will use is speculative. Sounds better than saying we are guessing.

Another concern is that deaths associated with H1N1, as with all previous seasonal flu viruses, are vastly overestimated. The annual published death rates for flu are NOT from confirmed deaths due to flu and in fact even CDC published stats reveal that most deaths "associated" with the flu are actually not from the flu at all but almost entirely from pneumonia. Less than one percent of deaths reported as associated with seasonal flu are actually caused by seasonal flu and even in these deaths the vast majority occur in people with underlying conditions.

Another concern is that it is unlikely that we will ever get any data on whether or not those who have been vaccinated have been protected. If one actually reads the primary research studies (not the news or published summaries by health ministries) on the seasonal flu vaccine what one finds is that the data does not support claims that the regular seasonal flu vaccine significantly decreases the incidence of flu or complications from it. Recently there has been some admission that the vaccines do not prevent the flu and that indeed they only guess correct on which virus to vaccinate against less than 30% of the time. However the health authorities still justify recommending the vaccine by claiming it decreases the severity of flu and complications from it. All I am asking for is to have DATA guide policy not DOGMA.

One of the sources of controversy is that vaccine benefits are often reported as relative risk reductions not absolute risk reductions so when one applies the results in real life one quickly realizes that the actual reduction of risk for those vaccinated vs not vaccinated is not statistically significant. They often report that the flu vaccine reduces hospitalizations or deaths but they report the relative difference between vaccinated vs unvaccinated not the absolute difference. In other words there might be 5000 people in each study group and there may be 4 deaths amongst those unvaccinated and 2 deaths among those vaccinated. This relative difference is reported as a "50% reduction in deaths in those vaccinated vs not vaccinated". Of course what this really means is that if you are vaccinated, and you get the flu, you have a 2 in 5000 chance of death. If you are unvaccinated and you get the flu you have a 4 in 5000 chance of death. An absolute difference of 2 in 5000 - not even remotely significant and certainly not worthy of the national vaccination campaigns and the billions of dollars spent on the vaccines. YES, they do report things this way!!

Some good references on this topic are Jackson et al., Evidence of bias in estimates of influenza vaccine effectiveness in seniors, International Journal of Epidemiology 2006; 35: 337-344 and Jefferson, T. Influenza vaccination: policy versus evidence. British Medical Journal 2006; 333: 912-915 and Jefferson et al. Efficacy and effectiveness of influenza vaccines in elderly people: a systematic review. Lancet 2005; 366: 1165-74 and Simonsen et al. Mortality benefits of influenza vaccination in elderly people: an ongoing controversy. Lancet Infectious Disease 2007; 7: xxx-xx.

But doesn't it seem like we have more flu and more associated deaths this year?

Yes is does SEEM that way. However the truth is that although the flu seems to have come early this year it has not come with any greater incidence or seriousness - at least not yet. The real story is that although death rates are not significantly higher than most years there have been some deaths among children and this is just so tragic that it causes great fear and anxiety. HOWEVER, the risk to otherwise healthy children of dying from H1N1 is FAR less than the risk of dying in a car accident. This does not minimize the importance of these tragic losses, it just puts them in perspective in terms of absolute risk.

But aren't more kids away from school and adults away from work this year?

Yes, absolutely. However the frenzy of fear this year has changed things significantly and skewed them toward a self fulfilling prophecy. This year if anyone has even a sniffle they are kept home because we have all been told that we are in the midst of a deadly pandemic and that it is our moral obligation to stay home. In past years we have always gone to work with the flu because for the most part we can work through it. We can't logically use the number of people away from school or work as an accurate indicator of the severity of this year's flu pandemic. We have to use the data about illness rates, severity, and death rates. When we use this data to form our opinions and policies our fear level will certainly move away from hysteria.

What is ironic is that the health authorities have started vaccinating those people who have been identified as most susceptible to serious complications. They have also stated that we should avoid close contact in order to avoid spread. Now we have those identified as being most susceptible congregating in close contact waiting for the vaccine! Remember these people also had to put themselves at GREAT risk (relative to risk of death from H1N1) by traveling on the road to get to the vaccination site. Obviously the minute risk of death from a car accident is not a rational reason to avoid driving to get the vaccine if you think this is a good strategy. This is a valid use of risk analysis to help you put your fears about death from H1N1 into perspective. Fear and anxiety cause the release of stress hormones that down-regulate your immune system!

So what should we do; what is a scientific, logical and reasonable strategy?

1. Be rational, put things in proper perspective and ask the right questions.




2. Be scientific and logical. Get the facts and apply them to your strategy.




3. Don't panic if you or a loved one gets the flu. Keep hydrated, stay home, eat intelligently and REST. If severe complications arise go to your medical doctor or a walk-in clinic.




4. Be preventative. Eating well, exercising, and staying relaxed (Eat Well Move Well Think Well™) are evidence-based ways to optimize your immune defenses, to minimize risk of both becoming ill and of complications, and to maximize your recovery should you become ill.




5. Take Vitamin D - this is absolutely one of the most evidence-based interventions available for reducing incidence and severity of seasonal cold and flu. The data is very very strong.

Good Health In A Bad Economy

There are many great concerns in our nation today. Many are worried that they won’t be able to heat their home or put food on the table. Irish people are cutting their spending. However, one area where we should be investing our money is our health. The last thing anyone needs is to have a major health problem during these challenging economic times. So, here are some helpful tips for you to experience good health in a bad economy.

1) Reduce Stress – engage in healthy activities that reduce stress, like meditation, exercise, and yoga. Stay organized so that you don’t create more opportunities for stressful situations to arise.
2) Prioritize – If you find yourself in a situation where you must cut spending, eliminate costs that are not necessities. I know you don’t want to hear it, but you may have to cut the satellite TV and break out the antennae, with a new digital converter box of course. Invest in things that will keep you healthy, such as nutritious foods, gym memberships, fitness equipment, massage, or chiropractic.
3) Be Fit – Exercising will keep you healthy and help you manage daily stresses. There are low-cost gym memberships available or you can exercise at home to save some cash. Walking is free
4) Eat Right – It doesn’t take a rocket scientist to realize that if you want a rocket to run well you must feed it rocket fuel. If you want to run well you must fuel yourself with high quality human fuel. Remember, if you want to be more alive than dead, eat foods that are more alive than dead. Don’t fuel yourself with highly processed, preserved, nutritionally inadequate industrial garbage.
5) Think Well – Stay Positive. Even though we are experiencing economic challenges now, this is just a cycle. We will come out on the other side even stronger than we were before. Don’t believe everything you hear on the evening news. In fact, I would suggest eliminating or drastically limiting watching the news. Nearly all that they report is highly embellished bad news. Surround yourself with people and things that lift you up. Watch a funny movie, spend quality time with your family and friends.
6) Chiropractic – maintaining a healthy spine and nerve system is a priority for health. Your nervous system controls, regulates, adapts, and heals your body. The lifestyle stresses of today’s worlds are more than our bodies can adapt to. Chiropractic adjustments remove subluxations, which interfere with your body’s ability to control, regulate, adapt, and heal itself. Chiropractic adjustments are a necessity for you to experience optimal health.

If you have any questions or would like to schedule an appointment to find out what you can do to restore, maintain, or improve your health call Kilworth Chiropractic today!

DIGESTIVE DISORDERS!

Acid reflux, hiatal hernias, irritable bowel syndrome, Crohn’s
Disease, ulcers and diarrhea are just a few of the many digestive disorders that affect over 1 million Irish people each year, and generate millions in revenue for pharmaceutical companies.

Digestive disorders are conditions that disrupt the normal, healthy function of the gastrointestinal system and the digestive tract. These conditions can be caused by, amongst other things, poor dietary habits, caffeine and nicotine consumption, certain medications, food allergies, or infections.

Naturally, the range of symptoms and the severity of digestive disorders varies widely. Some of these conditions can manifest as mild indigestion and some can be so severe as to cause muscle and joint inflammation, fever, dehydration, and anemia. While there are a tremendous number of over-the-counter and prescription medications that one can obtain to help with digestive disorders, many of them can have negative side effects.


Quite simply the digestive system is composed of the following:
• The mouth, which begins the digestive process
• The oesophagus, which carries food from the mouth to the stomach,
• The stomach in turn expands, mixes food with digestive fluids, and empties into the small intestine.
• The small and large intestines then dissolve and digest the food until the nutrients are absorbed through the intestinal walls with any surplus material being excreted.

Other organs that assist in the digestive process, by secreting enzymes that help break down and digest food, include the tongue, the salivary glands, pancreas, liver and the gall bladder.

In essence, the digestive system performs two vital roles in the body; it breaks down food into absorbable nutrients and it protects the body by getting rid of harmful substances.

So other than potentially harmful medication what other more natural solutions are there?

Well first, it is important to establish what actually controls the digestive process. The single most important system in the body is the nervous system. The nervous system as we all know controls all the tissues, cells and organs in the body, including the digestive system. For your body to function at its optimum your nervous system needs to be working at its optimum, otherwise problems can and will arise. The nervous system is protected by your spine, which is made up of several blocks of bone. Due to various forms of stress e.g. falls, posture, lifting etc these spinal bones can be twisted out of alignment leading to nerve irritation and distorted nerve communication. This garbles the communication between your brain and your body and causes interference with the control and regulation of your body’s functions.

Therefore, interference with any of the nerves in the body that control any part of the digestive system can result in digestive problems. It is worth noting that one of the major symptoms resulting from a neck injury includes digestive disorders resulting from physical trauma to the spine1. Therefore, any program to help eliminate digestive problems must include an examination and evaluation of the function of a person’s spine and nervous system by a properly qualified chiropractor (http://www.chiropractic.ie/). In two independent studies2, patients with ulcer conditions were placed on the same diet, but different treatment plans. The patients undergoing Chiropractic care showed considerably faster relief than did those undergoing traditional medical treatment. A study carried out by the National Health Service in Denmark in 1999 showed that Chiropractic was more effective in treating children with infantile colic than those treated with the drug Diamethcone3.

Furthermore, break through research in 1976 by Hans Selye, M.D.,4 documented that during periods of prolonged stress, the nervous system can cause the over- secretion of an adrenal hormone called ACTH, which inhibits digestive function, and increases the risk of gastric ulcers. A more recent study in 2001, done at a major hospital in Sweden, found that stress-related conditions directly contributed to gastrointestinal symptoms5. Another 2001 study done at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio 6 came to similar conclusions as Dr. Selye, which found when a person is under stress, the body diverts blood flow away from the digestive system resulting in indigestion, diarrhea, constipation, incontinence, or colon spasms. Stress also increases acid production6, which can aggravate ulcers and contribute to acid reflux.

Reducing stress is obviously good advice. However unfortunately, stress is a part of our lives that we cannot avoid so instead, we must learn to cope with stress better and aside from keeping our spines free of misalignments with chiropractic care other simple advice includes getting regular exercise. We all need at least 30 minutes exercise per day. We also need adequate sleep, at least 7 ½ hours per night! Diet is also hugely important6! We need a diet full of fiber from fresh fruit and vegetables and free of additives, and preservatives. We should also avoid those substances that cause stress to our systems7 e.g. sugar, nicotine, alcohol and caffeine. According to a 2000 article in the Journal of Integrative Medicine8, certain herbs and supplements can assist the digestive system with restoring normal function including Aloe vera, licorice, ginger, and the herb peonae. These herbs are apparently effective in relieving gas and acid reflux. Another 2000 article9 found the following nutrients useful in the relief of Irritable Bowel Syndrome namely vitamin B complex, omega 3 essential fatty acids, probiotics, selenium, zinc, magnesium, vitamin C, folic acid, and bioflavanoids.

Therefore, in conclusion a natural approach to handling digestive problems should include addressing physical stress on the nervous system, as well as exercise, sleep, diet and nutrition.



References:
1 “Long-Term Consequences of Whiplash: Allergy; Breathing, Digestive and Cardiovascular Disorders; Hypertension and Low Back Pain”, A. Croft, DC, MS, FACO, FACFE Director, Spine Institute of San Diego, San Diego, California, 2000.
2The International Journal of Chiropractic, Vol. 8 No. 3, 1997; In Touch
Newsletter, November 2000, Vol. 4 No. 11; Journal of Manipulative and
Physiological Therapeutics, June 1994.
3Wiberg JMM, Nordsteen N. The short term effect of spinal manipulation in
the treatment of infantile colic: A randomized controlled clinical trial with a blinded
observer. Journal of Manipulative Physiological Therapy, 1999; 22:517-522.
Parents, June 2000, p.72.
4“The Stress of Life”, Hans Selye, M.D., McGraw Hill 1996, pp. 259-264. 1. ACTH: A hormone secreted by the pituitary gland stimulating the adrenal cortex.
5 Digestion, 2001; 63:108-115 “Food related gastrointestinal symptoms in the Irritable Bowel Syndromes”, Department of Internal Medicine, Sections of Gastroenterology and Hepetology and Clinical Nutrition, Institute of Neuroscience, Section of Psychiatry, and Asthma and Allergy Centre, Sahigranake University Hospital, Goteborg, Sweden.
6 Coping with Chronic Heartburn, Elain F. Shimberg, 2001. Tarun Mullick, M.D., gastroenterologist - The Cleveland Clinic, Ohio; Lady’s Home Journal, November 2001.
7 The Internist, Vol. 5, No. 2, June 1998; Regional Medical Center, www.rmccares.org.
8 International Journal of Integrative Medicine, Vol. 2, No. 5, Sept/Oct 2000.
9 The American Journal of Natural Medicine, July/Aug 1997.

Scoliosis Facts and Your Health

Diagnosis of scoliosis (lateral curvature of the spine) occurs relatively infrequently in the general population, and the frequency of diagnosis unfortunately depends largely upon the presence of symptoms and the magnitude of the curve which you will see are usually late stage indicators of scoliosis. The occurrence is largely underreported due to the general lack of appropriate evaluation and understanding of the condition. Most curves can be corrected or at the very least stabilized if they are detected before they become too severe.

Generally, curvatures less than 30 degrees will stop progressing after the child is skeletally mature. However, with greater curvatures, the curvature may progress at about 1 degree per year in adults. In either case, detecting scoliosis of any degree and monitoring without appropriate care and rehabilitation can lead to lifelong adverse health affects, including but not limited to progression of the scoliosis curvature, degenerative spinal disease, immune suppression, respiratory deficiency, cardiac abnormalities, digestive problems, acute/chronic pain syndromes, endocrine abnormalities, reproductive difficulties, bowel and bladder issues, and in severe cases, early death.

Early detection, and more importantly correction, is very important to prevent the primary curve from causing the development of secondary and even tertiary curves. Generally, the longer the condition has to develop without proper intervention, the greater the chances of progression and the development of other health related conditions. If scoliosis is neglected, the curves may progress dramatically, creating significant physical deformity and even cardiopulmonary problems with especially severe curves. Most usually the occurrence goes unnoticed due to the absence of symptoms or pain, so proper early detection is essential.

Who gets scoliosis?
Scoliosis is accurately diagnosed in a small percentage of the population, approximately 2 percent. However, scoliosis runs in families. If, someone in your family has been diagnosed with scoliosis, the likelihood that you will develop scoliosis increases approximately 20 percent. If anyone in your family has curvature of the spine, you should be examined for scoliosis.

· Children - It usually develops in middle or late childhood, before puberty, and is diagnosed more frequently in girls than boys. Though scoliosis can occur in children with no symptoms of pain or deformity, it is very important to have accurate assessment done regularly as your child develops from childhood and adolescence to puberty. Most scoliosis is found in otherwise healthy youngsters.
· Adults - Scoliosis usually develops during childhood, but it also can occur in adults. Adult scoliosis may represent the progression of a condition that actually began in childhood, and was not diagnosed or treated while the person was still growing. What might have started out as a slight or moderate curve has progressed in the absence of treatment.

As more and more people reach old age in Ireland, the incidence of scoliosis and kyphosis (forward curvature of the spine – can lead to “dowagers hump”) is expected to increase. If allowed to progress, in severe cases adult scoliosis can lead to the same conditions and health problems described above.

The importance of early detection - tips for parents

“Idiopathic scoliosis can go unnoticed in a child because it is rarely painful in the formative years, therefore parents should watch for the following "tip-offs" to scoliosis beginning when their child is about 8 years of age:
· uneven shoulders
· prominent shoulder blade or shoulder blades
· uneven waist
· elevated hips
· leaning to one side” (American Academy of Pediatrics)
Any one of these signs warrants an examination by the family chiropractor.

If you would like more information about scoliosis or would like a full spinal and nervous system evaluation, call our office at 025 27436.

Pack It Light And Wear It Right

It is a shocking statistic but by the end of their teens, 50% of Irish children will have suffered at least one episode of severe low back pain. Worse still, out of these children, 25% will continue to have problems in to their adult lives. Yet we could dramatically reduce these staggering statistics by simply following some simple advice, and making our children aware of their spines. One major contributory cause is the backpack and the incidence of backpack related injuries has increased by 330% since 1996!

So when choosing or buying a backpack follow these simple tips:

a) Make sure the backpack has wide and well-padded shoulder straps. This is to prevent the delicate nerves and blood vessels in your neck/shoulder area from being compressed and damaged.
b) Ensure that there is a Waist strap. This is so important as the waist strap decreases the amount of weight from the shoulders by about 50 -70%. Therefore, it distributes the weight on to the pelvis.
c) The backpack should have several compartments and pockets to keep the weight more evenly distributed
d) It should be made out of a firm material that prevents sag and keeps the load close to the spine.
e) Finally make sure it is the correct size! Measure the distance from your shoulder line (where the straps sit) to a line perpendicular to your belly button and add 2 inches. The width should be approximately the distance between the shoulder lines i.e. the distance between where your straps should be.



So now, you have a proper backpack how should you pack and carry it?

a) The backpack should be loaded evenly and tightly
b) Pack the backpack with the heaviest items closest to your spine
c) Pack the backpack on a table or counter that is close to waist level, to avoid lifting a full backpack from the floor.
d) Most importantly make sure that you do not have too much weight. The maximum recommended weight for a backpack is no more than 15% of your body weight

This final point is so important as carrying too much weight can cause spinal distortion and twist the spine out of alignment leading to nerve damage and pain. Over time, an overloaded backpack can also cause a person to lean forward, reducing their balance and thus making it easier for them to fall. It can also cause rounding of the shoulders and it can contribute to what we call a scoliosis. This is where the spinal distortion becomes permanent and causes your spine to grow crooked.

So finally, how should you lift a backpack?
a) Lift with your knees bent and use your leg muscles
b) Lift the pack smoothly
c) Avoid flinging your backpack over your shoulder.
d) And always, always carry the backpack on both shoulders

One final point concerns the use of a wheelie bag or roller bag instead of a backpack. Unfortunately, wheelie bags are neither a good nor a viable solution at all. An empty roller bag can weigh up to 80% more than an empty backpack. Factor in that there is a tendency to add more things to a roller bag, it can end up weighing 50 pounds or more and pulling it involves twisting the spine! So keep using the backpacks but pack it light and wear it right!

For more information please contact us at the Kilworth Chiropractic Clinic on 025 27436.

Stress and Your Health

When we think of stress or hear people talking about being stressed, we usually think of being too busy, or being out of control in an emotional or mental capacity. However, the concept of stress is more than being “stressed out”.

There are three primary stresses in life: Physical, Bio-Chemical, and Emotional. These stresses come in two forms. Stress that leads to growth or a positive experience is called eustress whereas stress that leads to protection or a negative experience is called distress.

Emotional stress and its affect on the individual is largely dependent on perspective, and our perspective or way of looking at life’s experiences is largely learned. We see life through a filter that has been colored by our previous experiences. We can, at any point, decide to change that filter by changing our perspective on any situation or series of experiences.

Bio-Chemical and Physical stresses are much less dependent on perspective and more dependent on our interaction with our environment and our internal adaptive state. Obviously there are certain stresses that are clearly harmful regardless of the adaptive capacity of the individual. However, the degree that Bio-Chemical and Physical stress harm the individual is dependent on the quantity and frequency of the stress and the adaptive capacity of the individual. The human body has the innate ability to adapt to stress in its internal and external environment via the nervous system. One of the keys to creating health is to minimize external stress while maximizing the internal adaptive capacity of the individual. Health is a consequence of a balanced lifestyle regulated by a balanced nervous system, whereas sickness is a consequence of an imbalanced lifestyle, an imbalanced nervous system, or a combination of the two.

Our Thoughts Create Our Beliefs, Our Beliefs Create our Actions, Our Actions Create Our Reality, so to change your current reality as it pertains to stress, you must change your thoughts about stress and empower yourself through education.

DRUGS

No doubt, you are aware that we have a drug problem in our society. However, I am not talking about recreational street drugs; rather I am talking about the prescription drug problem that continues to rise. In light of some new research, several medications have recently been removed from the pharmacy shelves due to dangerous side effects. Vioxx and Bextra are just a couple of the popular medications that have recently made the headlines.

So why are medications so dangerous? Simply because of the side effects. If a medication only caused the effect that was desired, then there would be no problem. Unfortunately, medications do not interact with our bodies that way. For example, antihistamines decrease inflammation in most areas of the body but in the brain, it decreases nutrient absorption, which leads to amongst other things drowsiness. What more and more researchers are finding is that many of the medications, which have been approved for use, have side effects that were previously unknown. This raises a couple of very important questions. First, how many people have these medications actually injured before they were taken off the shelves? Secondly, how many other medications currently in use have unknown dangerous side effects.

So what do we do to correct the problem? The most practical solution is to lead a healthy lifestyle that reduces the need for medications. If we lead a healthier lifestyle and make healthier choices then our infatuation and reliance on dangerous medications can be reduced! And this is where in my humble opinion medicine has got it totally wrong! Rather than being on prevention, all the focus of medicine is on diagnosis and treatment! It is like shutting the stable door after the horse has bolted. It is not sustainable! We all know that “an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure”.

Thus maintaining the health of the spine and nervous system—the master system of the body—is essential to maintaining a healthy lifestyle. Chiropractors specialize in helping people maintain the health of the spine and nervous system. Aside from chiropractic care, proper diet, drinking plenty of water, exercise, and adequate sleep are just a few of the many things we can do to help our bodies function better.

Remember; always consult your doctor before changing any of your medications.

Vaccination vs. Immunization

Today as the number of recommended childhood vaccines continues to increase, so do the number of concerned parents, scientists, lawmakers, and healthcare practitioners. If you are following the recommended vaccination schedule, before your child reaches 6 years of age they will receive at least 14 vaccines. Growing concern over the manufacturing process and how each ingredient affects a child’s developing neurological and immune system has prompted many parents to choose not to vaccinate their children.

The practice of vaccination began in 1796 when Edward Jenner, a British physician, took diseased matter from a cowpox blister on the hand of a milkmaid and inserted it into the cut arm of a healthy eight year-old boy. Later, the boy was exposed to smallpox to see if he would contract the disease. He did not, even after being periodically exposed to smallpox for twenty years. This is recorded as the first vaccination. Throughout the 1900s the medical community credited vaccines for eliminating many diseases, such as polio. However, great controversy exists as to whether or not this is really true. Many books and articles have been written about the controversy. A good synopsis of this is detailed in Neil Z. Miller’s; Vaccines: Are They Really Safe & Effective?

Today many vaccines exist and pharmaceutical companies are developing more and more each year with profits well into the billions. Vaccines are injections that contain inactivated or weakened amounts of a disease-causing organism or specific parts or chemicals of a disease-causing organism. They are said to work by stimulating the production of antibodies, which are specific proteins that help defend the body against infection. Frequently, multiple doses are required in order to develop immunity. Before the organism can be built into a vaccine it must be cultured in some live organic material such as monkey kidney, calf serum, or chick embryo. Once the organism is cultured, harvested, and prepared, it is built into a vaccine. In order for the vaccine to be effective and have shelf life, other chemicals are added to stabilize and preserve the vaccine. Many of these chemicals are considered inactive and to have no outward effect on the person receiving the injection. However, some ingredients, such as thimerosal – mercury based preservative, have come under intense scrutiny and are implicated in many adverse reactions. For a complete list of ingredients and other valuable information, visit http://www.nvic.org/.

Even though the terms vaccination and immunization are commonly used interchangeably, I am going to refer to immunization as natural infection or the process that actually occurs in the body when you develop true lifetime immunity against a disease-causing organism. Your immune system is a collection of cells and organs whose complex interaction provides an efficient way of protecting you from outside invaders and your own altered cells, which lead to cancer. Just like the wall of a military fort, your skin and mucous membranes provide the first line of defense. In order for a total immune response to occur, invading organisms must pass through this first line of defense. The second line of defense is your internal army of immune cells that recognize, eliminate, and remember invading organisms. In addition, fever and inflammation play a major role in your immune response. Fever intensifies your immune response and limits the growth of invading pathogens. In most cases fevers should be allowed to run their course, otherwise you are interfering with your bodies attempt at healing.

So, why do I make the distinction between vaccination and immunization? Because the immunity developed through vaccination is different and less effective than natural immunization. This is why many vaccines require booster shots throughout life. By injecting a vaccine directly into your body you bypass many immune system defenses that would naturally have been stimulated. The key factor in testing a vaccine’s effectiveness is whether or not the vaccine causes the production of an antibody to it. However, that is only one component of many complex strategies employed by your immune system. Many scientists believe that this creates a kind of partial immunity where all the immune system strategies are not being activated. In fact, some believe that vaccines may even trick the immune system into focusing on that organism and not other potential invaders, thus lowering immune defenses. Have you ever noticed how many children have a chronic snotty nose during their vaccination years? Others believe that vaccines actually suppress the immune system rather than make it stronger. If this theory were true that would mean that when you are infected, your immune response would be suppressed and you would experience less symptoms or no symptoms and thus believe you were not sick. Many vaccines are given as multiple doses in one injection. Some believe this may overwhelm the nervous and immune systems leading to chronic disorders such as autoimmune diseases, where your immune system no longer distinguishes some of your own cells from invading organisms.

Much is not known about the effects vaccines have on us, especially long-term effects. No real efforts have been made at studying long-term side effects. However, evidence is beginning to surface that suggests that vaccines may be playing a major role in the rising incidence of autoimmune disorders and chronic childhood disorders such as autism, asthma, and ADHD. One thing we know for sure is that the practice of vaccination defies how nature intended for our immune system to function. As B.J. Palmer, D.C. puts it, in most cases “nature needs no help, just no interference.”

As a parent I take my responsibility to my children seriously and I am sure you do to. No responsible parent would ever do anything to would harm their child or limit their potential. So please take your vaccination choices seriously and learn as much as you can about vaccines before you make the choice. There are many books published on the matter.

Whatever you decide, invest in your child’s health today by incorporating healthy lifestyle habits that build a strong immune system. Start your child out right by breastfeeding them as nature intended. Don’t be a “germ-o-phobe”. Not everything in your surroundings needs to be completely sterile. Your child’s immune system must be challenged by common bacteria and viruses in their environment in order to grow stronger. Support your child’s immune system by allowing most fevers to run their course. Learn and teach your child how to eat healthily, exercise, and have positive thoughts and beliefs that build a good foundation for self-esteem. And lastly, improve your child’s immune function with regular chiropractic care.

More On Ear Infections

As discussed in a previous post it is common to hear of young children who have had multiple ear infections and been through multiple rounds of antibiotics, with seemingly no improvement. Why do some children suffer so frequently, while others go through life without a single ear infection? Even in the same family, one child may suffer while the other does not. They eat the same food, drink the same water and are genetically similar—so what’s the difference?
Health is defined as optimal physical, mental and social wellbeing, not merely the absence of disease or infirmity. More simply—health is 100% function. When things don’t function right, you are not healthy.
The following is a good analogy that explains these chronic, recurrent problems: If you have a dump, there are likely to be rats in the dump. If you poison all the rats, but leave the dump, the rats will come back. The only way to truly get rid of the rat problem is to clean up the dump—improve function. In the case of ear infections, it is usually a case of a dysfunctional immune system (see page 2). Once again, this is a multifactorial problem, but chiropractic care and dietary changes have proven to be extremely effective in eliminating these problems. Most of the time, ear infections are related to interference with the nervous system in the upper cervical spine. These nerves are primarily associated with functional control of the eyes, ears, nose and sinuses. If you know of a child who is suffering from ear infections, please encourage the parents to look into chiropractic care. It can make a world of difference in that child’s life.

CHIROPRACTIC PRINCIPLES - turn on the power

As chiropractors, we often encounter people who don’t understand what we do. Unfortunately, there is a lot of misinformation about chiropractic that can make it challenging for people to understand its basic principles. I know that the public sees chiropractors as back and neck pain doctors. However, I have witnessed patients in my office return to health from a wide variety of health problems. How is this possible? It comes down to four basic principles.

First, each of us is born with an innate intelligence that keeps us functioning every minute of our lives. It’s that animating force that separates us from a corpse. We don’t have to know how a liver works for it to work. It just does what it was designed to do. This innate intelligence is far more superior than our educated minds will ever be.

Second, the nervous system is the master system of the body. It controls and coordinates everything including the body’s ability to adapt and heal.

Third, misalignments of the spine can interfere with the nervous system and compromise the body’s ability to adapt to stress. In chiropractic, we call this condition a vertebral subluxation complex, often shortened to subluxation.

Finally, the job of the chiropractor is to remove these subluxations with an adjustment to the spine. This removes the stress to the nervous system and allows the body to function better.

When this happens, we see miracles occur. We have had patients that were told they were infertile who were able to conceive after correcting the subluxations in their spine. Children with chronic ear infections are able to get off all their antibiotics. Headache and migraine sufferers are able to get off their pain medications. We have also helped people with digestion problems, asthma, psoriasis, allergies, and depression. We don’t treat these conditions. We simply remove the stress from the nervous system which allows the body to function better and we watch as the body heals itself.

If you have a health problem and want to know if chiropractic can help, call us on 025 27436.

ASTHMA

Asthma is on the increase. More children in the developed world are afflicted by it than ever before. For some children the effects of asthma can be serious with wheezing, uncontrolled coughing, difficulty breathing and even trips to hospital A&E departments. While others live with mild effects and medicate themselves. Chiropractors who treat children are frequently asked by concerned parents the role chiropractic has to play in the treatment of asthma.

Chiropractic has a distinct role to play in the management of a child with asthma but like other treatments available, chiropractic alone does not hold all the answers. To appreciate the role of chiropractic in asthma, the known causes or “triggers” of an attack need to be understood. Children with asthma have very sensitive airways (the tiny branches air passes through in to the lungs). These tubes can become inflamed causing them to narrow, making it difficult to inhale and exhale easily. This can result in shortness of breath, wheezing and a persistent cough, which is more apparent with exercise and at night. Various things can set off an asthma attack. Viral infection of the respiratory tract is a common trigger. Infection can occur at any time, but it is much more frequent during winter and spring. Passive smoke inhaled by children living with parents who smoke has been linked to an increased likelihood of children developing asthma. Emotional and physical stress can also set off asthma attacks. Another cause is house dust mites, often found in bedding, carpets and soft toys. Dust mites can cause an allergic reaction, which in some people can develop in to an asthmatic reaction. Food allergies are another possible trigger. Each person is different but some common foods known to trigger attacks including nuts, seafood, eggs and some preservatives.

The medical approach to asthma treatment is to provide the child with medication that reduces inflammation in the respiratory tract and keeps the bronchus as open as possible.

However many of the causes of asthma can be greatly assisted, drug free, through chiropractic care. Chiropractic contributes to asthma management most effectively in cases triggered by allergies. In these cases the lining of the airways can become highly sensitive. This is referred to as “non-specific bronchial hyper-reactivity”. When the reactivity of the bronchus is high, it takes very little exposure to the offending allergic substance to trigger an attack. Research performed in Europe has shown that chiropractic care can reduce the degree of sensitivity of the bronchial lining by up to 40%.

How this happens is by reducing pressure on the nervous system. Your nervous system controls everything including your sensitivity to allergens. In other words it is just like resetting a trip switch in your fuse box! The better your nervous system is functioning the better your body can adapt to stressors! The principle behind Chiropractic is so simple yet so profound!

Eat Well for Your Heart

So what is healthy eating? Ideally our goal should be to eat healthily for all of your organs in your body. The medical field tends to have a reductionist mechanistic mindset where things are broken down into pieces and parts. Chiropractic on the other hand tends to have a more holistic approach to life. Where your body is concerned, it cannot be broken down into pieces and parts because the body functions as a whole, each part communicating and interacting with the other. A healthy diet for one organ is a healthy diet for all.

To begin, let’s consider the nutrition of animals in the wild. An elephant, or say a dung beetle, doesn’t wake up in the morning and say, “Hmm, I wonder what I’m going to eat today”. They simply eat what they are genetically programmed to eat. It is my opinion that humans should do the same. Through studying the diet of our ancient ancestors we can determine what our genetically compatible diet would be. Now, one might argue that our ancient ancestors didn’t live as long as we do today and enjoy the health standards of contemporary society. Certainly scientific evidence suggests that our ancestors lived shorter life spans and had their own diseases to contend with, but in today’s contemporary society we also enjoy less harsh living conditions and better hygiene. However, the leading killers in today’s society are all diseases of lifestyle, many of which are directly related to our diet. Here are some simple guidelines for implementing a diet that is genetically congruent:

~ Eat mostly vegetables - “If you want to be more alive than dead, eat foods that are more alive than dead”, so stay away from processed foods. Try shopping around the outside isles of the grocery store. Eat some raw vegetables with every meal. Vegetables should make up 70% of your meals.

~Drink a lot of clean water but avoid drinking water with your meals. Drinking water dilutes the digestive enzymes your body produces to help you digest the food you are eating. This habit comes from eating processed foods that contain no water, making them hard to swallow.

~Eat grass fed meat or organic.

~Eat at home or pack homemade lunches when possible.

~Purchase tools for healthy eating: food processor, slow cooker, vegetable steamer, a juicer, stainless steel pots and pans (no non-stick) and glass storage containers.

~When frying, use heat tolerant oil such as sesame oil, almond oil, or organic raw butter.

~Eat frequent small meals rather than eating a few large meals each day. Enjoy what you eat and don’t use food as an emotional comfort or reward.

~Never shop when you are hungry – otherwise you will buy convenience foods!

The nutritional decisions that determine your health are made at the supermarket. If “bad” foods aren’t purchased they can’t be eaten. Never feel guilty about a food choice. Guilt will never serve you well. Always look forward to your next meal as a chance to improve your eating habits and your health. The farming techniques and depletion of soils over the last century have drastically reduced the vitamin and mineral content present in our food supply. It is very difficult to get all the nutrients you need from your diet alone.

Therefore, in addition to the recommendations above I suggest adding a quality Omega-3 oil supplement such as Eskimo or IQ oil, and possibly a good multivitamin and probiotic to your dietary regime.

By incorporating the recommendations above you will be taking important strides not only toward the health of your heart but the health of your entire body. My hope is that you will use and share this information with others. Please feel free to contact me with any questions or comments.

Hear This

The Truth About Ear Infections

Chances are your children have had an ear infection, if not multiple ear infections before the age of 3. Ear infections or otitis media as it is also known, is the most common illness in children.

Ear infections most often occur when bacteria or viruses get into the middle ear through a tube called the Eustachian tube, which helps to balance pressure within and drain fluid from the middle ear. Ear infections usually occur after another health challenge, such as a cold or flu. When the Eustachian tube becomes swollen or inflamed it can trap fluid within the middle ear and because Eustachian tubes in children are situated more horizontally they don’t drain as well. Ear infections can be quite painful due to increased pressure in the middle ear from the build up of fluid. However, ear infections do not always cause pain. Other symptoms might include tugging of the ears, crying more than usual, fluid draining from the ears, or trouble with sleeping, hearing, or balance.

The most common form of treatment for otitis media is a course of antibiotics. In more chronic severe cases a procedure called a myringotomy (“tubes”) may be performed.

However recent research suggests that antibiotics are virtually ineffective at treating non-severe ear infections. A 2005 study published in Pediatrics, in which 223 children were divided into two groups and treated with and without antibiotics, revealed no difference in parents’ satisfaction with their child’s care, resolution of symptoms, or failure and recurrence rate of ear infections.

Another concern with the use of antibiotics is the creation of antibiotic-resistant bacteria. A study in the Pediatric Infectious Disease Journal found that 3-4 days after a round of antibiotics there was a significant increase in the number of antibiotic resistant bacteria found in the nasal passages of 120 pediatric patients.

The use of antibiotics in non-severe cases of ear infections also decreases the efficiency of the child’s immune system, which can lead to further ear infections, and there is the issue that antibiotics can kill off beneficial bacterial populations in the body, which can lead to an overgrowth of yeast and other microorganisms. These problems are prompting parents and doctors to seek more conservative methods for treating ear infections. In fact many physicians are now recommending a wait-and-see approach.

Regardless of the approach, no drug will cure an ear infection. The only thing that will heal an ear infection is the immune system. Any other attempt can only be considered as supportive or for the relief of symptoms. As a parent it is difficult to see your child in pain. Rather than giving them a pain relieving medication that may have harmful side effects, consider using a warm compress over the ear to alleviate the discomfort. Many homeopathic remedies, such as mullein, garlic, lavender, peppermint tea, and Echinacea have been shown to support the body’s natural defense. As always prevention is obviously best. So let’s look at some things that you can do to help prevent ear infections.

1) Chiropractic care has been found to be very effective at alleviating and preventing further ear infections. A study in the Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics found that out of 332 children receiving a series of chiropractic adjustments nearly 80% did not have another ear infection within the first six months of their initial evaluations.

Chiropractic is not a cure for ear infections but rather chiropractors focus on correcting imbalances within the nervous system that result from daily stresses. For children the birth process, especially with medical interventions such as use of forceps and vacuum extraction, can cause imbalances within the nervous system called subluxations that affect the body’s ability to regulate and heal itself. Just as all children should have their teeth checked on a regular basis, all children should have their neuro-spinal systems evaluated by a chiropractor on a regular basis.

2) If you are pregnant the importance of breastfeeding your child cannot be overstated. No formula on Earth can compare to nature’s formula. Breast milk is necessary for the proper development of your baby’s immune system and the World Health Organization recommends exclusive breastfeeding for the first six months of life.

3) Avoid exposing your child to cigarette smoke. Cigarette smoke and clothing and materials saturated in it have been shown to increase the incidence of ear infections.

4) If conservative treatment hasn’t been effective, your child may have a food allergy. Some common allergens include dairy, wheat, corn, soy, citrus, chocolate, eggs, and yeast. Dairy is by far the most common culprit. Eliminate any form of dairy from your child’s diet for two weeks and see if symptoms subside. If not, consider a visit to a naturopathic doctor for food allergy testing.

So once again it comes down to simple advice a well functioning spine ands nervous system, a healthy diet, exercise, and a loving supportive home. Meet these needs and your children will have a much better future!