Chiropractic Care For Ear Infections
According to the National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders (NIDCD) a middle ear infection - scientifically known as Otitis Media - is one of the most common reasons that parents bring their children to the doctor.Caused by a buildup of fluid behind the eardrum, ear infections tend to happen most often to children due to the fact that their eustachian tubes are smaller and more level than adults. This means that if the tubes get blocked with mucus for any reason, it is more difficult for the fluid to drain from the ear.Most ear infections start with a virus which means most will not respond to antibiotics. This is why the American Academy of Pediatrics supports a “wait and see” approach: allowing 48-72 to pass before moving forward with any form of medical treatment. In fact, ear infections rarely require drugs and/or surgery, tending to resolve naturally in healthy children.
Chiropractic Care - A Proactive Approach To Self-Healing
Even though healthy children are likely to fight off an ear infection without intervention, it is always recommended to consider proactive strategies that have shown to help prevent future episodes. Along with other wellness-based approaches like nutrition and lifestyle modifications, chiropractic care has been shown to help not only improve ear infection symptoms but also avoid recurrence.How does chiropractic help?Spinal subluxations not only stunt the body’s ability to self-heal but can also directly affect the eustachian tubes' ability to drain properly. Although they do not travel through the spine, the twelve cranial nerves (responsible for sense or movement) can still become pinched or experience interference. Chiropractic adjustments are a gentle way to release and restore the proper function of those nerves.While chiropractic is not a “cure” for ear infections, it is a great way to naturally support your child’s immune system so that their body is always ready to fight infections the way that it’s meant to.
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Sources:
Ear Infections in Children. March 2013. NIH Publication No. 10–4799 https://www.nidcd.nih.gov/health/ear-infections-children#1
Active Chiropractic. Cranial Nerve Injuries and Chiropractic Care. https://activechiro.ca/cranial-nerve-injuries-and-chiropractic-care/
Wellness Media. The Pediatric Series: Ear Infections. 2014.