Resolution of Colitis, Breastfeeding Issues and Multiple Health Problems in Infant Under Chiropractic

The Journal of Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health Chiropractic published the results of a case study documenting the resolution through chiropractic care of allergic colitis, colic, plagiocephaly, and breastfeeding challenges for an infant who suffered a traumatic birth process. Plagiocephaly is an unevenly shaped infant's head with some sort of flat spot.

In this study, the authors begin by giving an overview of the purpose of chiropractic. "The purpose of chiropractic is to help patients, families, and communities express their innate human potential. Doctors of Chiropractic help patients realize this by establishing an optimal neural connection between their brain and body as it relates to the structure and function of the spine."

In short, chiropractors accomplish this by correcting vertebral subluxations that interfere with nerve signals between the brain and the body tissues. The authors further explain subluxation by stating, "Vertebral subluxation is defined by the Association of Chiropractic Colleges as '...a complex of functional and/or structural and/or pathological changes that compromise neural integrity and may influence organ system function and general health'."

In this case, a 2-month-old infant boy was brought to the chiropractor by his parents. The boy was suffering with a variety of health issues which included allergic colitis, an inability to latch and feed properly, and an irritability during the day which was much worse at night and described as inconsolable.

The infant had a traumatic birth which his mother described as "horrific." The mother suffered from pre-eclampsia and a decision was made to induce the birth at 38 weeks. At the birth, it was reported that the umbilical cord was wrapped around baby's body, resulting in a vacuum extraction birth. When the boy was born, he was not breathing and was completely cyanotic and needed to be resuscitated.

An age and size appropriate chiropractic examination was performed to assess the presence of subluxations. From this examination, it was determined that subluxations were present at the top and bottom of the baby's spine. With this information, specific forms of pediatric chiropractic adjustments were performed almost daily for the first few weeks.

Within the first three weeks, the study reports that the boy experienced profound changes in his gastrointestinal system and moderate changes in his emotional distress. The boy's pediatrician also noted on a visit at this time that there was no longer any blood in the boy's stool which had been present prior to the beginning of chiropractic care. The pediatrician noted the baby's improvement and cancelled all prescriptions that had been given to the baby.

By the 6-12 week mark, all symptoms related to the digestive system and the emotional distress had resolved. The baby was now happy and could even sit in a car seat without crying. By the 12-20 week of chiropractic care, the study reports that all symptoms and problems had resolved and the baby boy was healthy and normal.

In their discussion section of this study, the researchers explain the chiropractic approach by saying, "Chiropractic care has been a vitalistic health care intervention for over 120 years. All vitalistic health care providers acknowledge a similar primary value for the healing power stored within the body. Chiropractors call this Innate Intelligence. Chiropractors recognize the primacy of the nervous system as the source of the self-healing, self-regulating and self-adapting system within the body. This is a much different premise than allopathic medicine whose primary premise is that the body has a genetic predisposition for illness and failure."

In the conclusion the authors state, "This case study demonstrates the successful management of vertebral subluxation over an 8-month period in an infant who had experienced birth trauma with resulting health challenges."