The most common immune disorder is the allergic reaction which occurs when the immune system overreacts to an allergen (dust, pollen, milk, dog or cat dander, strawberries, etc.) and produces too many neutralizing chemicals (especially histamines) to counteract it.
* Bacteria normally live in some parts of your body (i.e. your gut and skin). When bacteria travel to places they shouldn’t be, then your immune system will attack them.
** Organ recipients must take drugs to suppress their immune systems so these “foreign” organs are not rejected.
Your immune system keeps you 100% natural, organic, unadulterated YOU. It recognizes and destroys anything not supposed to be in you.
Bed-wetting or enuresis (the involuntary passage of urine) is a poorly understood problem that continues after the child reaches five years of age.
Some nocturnal bed-wetting is related to maturation, especially in boys. Commonly, bedwetting is blamed on immature sleeping patterns or small urinary bladder capacity.
One of the common causative factors involved in nocturnal enuresis is categorized as bladder innervation disorder.
This is the area in which the Doctor of Chiropractic can be of help to the child. Chiropractic studies have indicated that bed-wetting has been resolved when vertebral subluxations (nerve interferences) are corrected.
The most important thing for parents to understand is that bedwetting is generally outside a child’s conscious control.
It should not be treated as bad behavior, and children should not be punished, embarrassed or humiliated because of it.
Parents can help by remaining supportive and discussing persistent bedwetting with the child’s pediatrician, particularly if it begins suddenly, continues beyond the expected age, or occurs with pain, excessive thirst, urinary symptoms or other health concerns.
If parents also choose chiropractic care, the chiropractor can determine whether the child has any musculoskeletal findings that are appropriate for chiropractic evaluation or care.
A fever is a natural response that occurs when the body raises its temperature, often while responding to an infection. In most cases, the fever itself is not an illness, but part of the body’s normal response to what is happening internally.
It is important to understand that chiropractors do not treat fevers or the infection that may be causing them. Instead, a chiropractor evaluates the child’s musculoskeletal and nervous system function and looks for areas of restricted spinal movement or other concerns that may be appropriate for chiropractic care.
The source material describes chiropractic care as focusing on communication between the brain, spinal cord, nerves and the rest of the body.
From a chiropractic perspective, the goal of an adjustment is to address areas of spinal restriction or misalignment and support normal nervous-system and musculoskeletal function. It should not be presented as a way to eliminate a fever or cure the illness causing it.
What Happens During the Visit?
When a child with a fever is brought to a chiropractor, the chiropractor may evaluate the child’s spine, movement and overall condition to determine whether chiropractic care is appropriate. If an adjustment is indicated, pediatric chiropractic techniques are typically adapted to the child’s age, size and individual needs.
The purpose of the adjustment is not to force the child’s temperature down. In fact, because fever is often part of the body’s normal response to infection, the primary chiropractic objective is simply to address appropriate musculoskeletal or spinal findings rather than to treat the fever itself.
Supporting a Child While They Have a Fever
Regardless of whether a child receives chiropractic care, parents should pay attention to the child’s overall condition. The source material emphasizes giving the child adequate rest and fluids while the body responds to illness.
Chiropractic care should also not replace appropriate pediatric medical evaluation. A fever can have many causes, and infants, children with unusually high or persistent fevers, or children showing concerning symptoms may require prompt evaluation by a pediatrician or other qualified medical professional.
The Bottom Line
A chiropractor does not treat or cure a child’s fever. Chiropractic care focuses instead on evaluating and addressing appropriate spinal and musculoskeletal findings.
Some parents choose to include chiropractic care as part of their child’s overall wellness care while the child is recovering, but the underlying illness and the fever itself should be monitored appropriately and medically evaluated when necessary.
Parents naturally want to give their babies the healthiest possible start in life. During infancy, rapid growth and development take place throughout the body, including the muscles, joints and spine.
Pediatric chiropractic care focuses on evaluating musculoskeletal function, movement and areas of the spine or joints that may be restricted or uncomfortable.
Because babies are smaller and physically different from adults, any chiropractic techniques used for treating an infant should be adapted to the baby’s age, size and needs.
What About the Birth Process?
Birth can place physical forces on a newborn’s body, particularly during difficult, prolonged or assisted deliveries. If parents have concerns about a baby’s movement, positioning or musculoskeletal comfort, they may want to have the child evaluated by an appropriately trained healthcare professional.
A chiropractic examination looks at posture, movement and musculoskeletal function to determine whether chiropractic care is appropriate.
When Should a Baby Be Evaluated?
Parents sometimes seek a chiropractic evaluation after birth or during developmental milestones such as beginning to hold the head up, sit, crawl, stand or walk.
Whether chiropractic care is appropriate depends on the individual child’s history, examination and needs.
Regular pediatric care remains important throughout infancy.
Common allergy symptoms can include sneezing, congestion, itchy or watery eyes, skin reactions and other symptoms depending on the type of allergy.
Chiropractic care does not cure allergies or remove the body’s allergic response to a specific allergen.
At Ohana Chiropractic Center, chiropractic care focuses on musculoskeletal function, spinal mobility and related physical concerns.
Some people with allergies may also experience headaches, neck tension or other musculoskeletal discomfort, and those symptoms may be appropriate for chiropractic evaluation depending on their cause.
Research on Chiropractic Care for Cervicogenic Headaches
A randomized controlled trial published in The Spine Journal studied 256 adults with chronic cervicogenic headaches. Participants received varying numbers of spinal manipulation treatments over a six-week period. Researchers found a dose-response relationship between spinal manipulation and the number of headache days experienced. Participants receiving 18 spinal manipulation visits experienced approximately half as many cervicogenic headache days over a four-week period by the end of treatment, decreasing from about 16 days to about 8 days. They also experienced approximately three fewer headache days per month than participants receiving the light-massage control treatment at the study’s primary follow-up periods. The researchers concluded that spinal manipulation was associated with a reduction in the number of cervicogenic headache days, although individual results varied and the study did not establish an optimal treatment frequency for every patient. Read the study summary on PubMed An earlier randomized trial involving adults with chronic tension-type headaches found that spinal manipulation and amitriptyline produced similar improvements during treatment. Four weeks after treatment ended, participants who received spinal manipulation maintained greater improvements in headache frequency and intensity, although the study was older and the authors called for further research. [Read the study & summary on PubMed] Conclusion Research supports spinal manipulation and other therapies as treatment options for some patients with cervicogenic headache and certain types of neck pain, depending on the diagnosis and individual clinical findings.Whether a child should receive chiropractic care depends on the child’s individual needs.
Children can experience musculoskeletal problems related to sports, falls, posture, repetitive activities and other everyday physical stresses.
A chiropractor can evaluate a child’s posture, movement, joints and musculoskeletal function to determine whether chiropractic care may be appropriate.
Chiropractic care should not replace routine pediatric care or treatment for medical conditions.
Parents should make sure all of their child’s healthcare providers know about the treatments and therapies the child receives so care can be coordinated appropriately.
Pregnancy causes significant physical changes, including changes in your posture, weight distribution, the center of gravity and the muscles and joints that support the back and pelvis.
These changes can contribute to back pain, pelvic discomfort, muscle tension and other musculoskeletal symptoms.
A chiropractor can evaluate pregnancy-related musculoskeletal concerns and determine whether chiropractic care is appropriate.
Chiropractic Care During Pregnancy
Chiropractic techniques can be modified to accommodate the physical changes of pregnancy.
The goal of treatment is to address appropriate musculoskeletal concerns such as mobility, joint function and discomfort.
Pregnant patients should also keep their obstetric provider informed about other healthcare they receive.
When Can Chiropractic Care Be Considered?
Some women choose chiropractic care before, during or after pregnancy to address musculoskeletal discomfort or mobility concerns.
Whether treatment is appropriate and how frequently it should be provided should be based on the patient’s individual symptoms, examination and healthcare needs.
Allergies occur when the immune system reacts to a substance that is normally harmless to many other people.
Common allergens include pollen, dust mites, animal dander, mold, insect stings, foods and certain medications.
Genetics, environmental exposure and other factors can influence a person’s likelihood of developing allergies.
The free flow of nerve communication from the brain, through the spinal column, to all parts of the human body governs itself and all its functions.
When nerves become stretched or twisted (commonly referred to as a “pinched nerve”), this vital communication system is disturbed. These neurological disturbances are called subluxations.
Chiropractic science has determined that subluxations can lead to health consequences. Conversely, the removal of subluxations has been shown to have important health benefits.
When nerve supply or communication is disrupted, one or more parts of the body begin to fail. Health in general begins to fail and as your body weakens, sickness and disease are the result.
Instead of treating the symptoms of disease, the Doctor of Chiropractic corrects the subluxations, so that normal body function may take place.
Chiropractic is a very specific science. By minimizing nerve interference through chiropractic adjustments, the natural strengths of the human body are maximized increasing the body’s capacity to heal itself without the use of drugs or surgery.
Musculoskeletal problems can develop for many reasons.
Falls, automobile accidents, sports injuries, repetitive activities, prolonged posture, age-related changes and physical stress can all affect muscles, joints and movement.
Children and adults who experience persistent pain, stiffness or reduced mobility may benefit from an appropriate musculoskeletal evaluation.
A chiropractor can examine the spine and other joints to determine whether chiropractic treatment is appropriate.
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome is a Repetitive Stress Injury (RSI). It usually develops slowly over time.
The repetitious contraction and relaxation of the arm muscles enable continuous hand and finger movement, which can irritate the nerves, tendons, and fascia (muscle covering) in the arms, wrists, and hands.
Why do some people get Carpal Tunnel Syndrome, and others don’t, even though they perform identical tasks?
The Carpal Tunnel is a small canal inside the wrist. The top part is formed by the alignment of the carpal (wrist) bones while the bottom part consists of the transverse ligament- a fibrous band that completes the tunnel.
WARNING SIGNS OF CARPAL TUNNEL SYNDROME:
Numbness, Tingling, Weakness of hands, Neck tension, Night Pain, Swelling, Abnormal sensation, Hand Clumsiness
Combined Within The Carpal Tunnel Are Three Structures:
1. The Median Nerve
2. Nine (9) Flexor tendons that enable you to curl your wrist and fingers
3. Blood Vessels to the palm and fingers
Carpal Tunnel Syndrome results from compression of the Median Nerve within the carpal tunnel.
The Median Nerve originates in the neck and travels down the center of your forearm and through the carpal tunnel to the hand muscles.
What Does The Median Nerve Do?
The Median Nerve controls some of the sensory and motor (movement) function in the hand (Shaded areas in the hand diagram above).
How Does The Median Nerve Become Compressed?
The Median Nerve can become compressed anywhere along its course from the neck to the carpal tunnel.
Misaligned bones in the neck, tight neck muscles, cervical (neck) ribs, shoulder dysfunctions, inflamed tendons, and misaligned carpal bones are capable of compressing or irritating the Median Nerve, resulting in the symptoms of CTS.
What Causes All These Things?
A small portion of the conditions listed above are congenital (with you at birth), the rest are the result of poor posture, repetitive movements over time done improperly (RSI)*, poor ergonomics, falls experienced throughout life, sleeping on your stomach or hands, awkward hand positions playing sports or hobbies such as bowling, racquetball, or motorcycle riding.
Pregnancy, birth control pills, high salt diets, and systemic diseases like diabetes, which cause the body to retain water, can also contribute to compression of the Median Nerve in the carpal tunnel.
Most doctors assume that it’s all in your wrist or hand; but did you know that most Carpal Tunnel Syndrome victims have a Primary Median Nerve “Crush” Site in their NECK? The Median
Nerve comes straight out between the bones of your neck. Doctors are trained to diagnose and treat symptoms, and with this approach, it is easy to miss the neck when treating the pain instead of the cause.
Sometimes nerve compression is so advanced that drugs and surgery are the only courses left to take. Don’t wait too long!
Not everyone requires ongoing chiropractic care simply because they’ve previously received an adjustment.
How often someone should see a chiropractor depends on the reason for care, examination findings, symptoms, response to treatment and personal health goals.
Some people seek chiropractic treatment for a short-term episode of back or neck pain. Others with recurring musculoskeletal problems may choose periodic care to help manage mobility, stiffness or symptoms.
Why Might More Than One Visit Be Recommended?
Musculoskeletal problems do not always resolve after a single treatment.
Depending on the condition, a chiropractor may recommend a course of care that includes adjustments, exercises, activity changes, posture recommendations or other treatments.
Progress should be reassessed periodically.
If treatment is not producing meaningful improvement, the care plan should be reconsidered and referral to another healthcare professional may be appropriate.
What Is Maintenance Chiropractic Care?
Some patients choose occasional chiropractic visits after an initial problem has improved.
Maintenance care should be individualized rather than automatically prescribed indefinitely.
Its purpose may be to address recurring musculoskeletal symptoms or mobility concerns—not to increase immunity, prevent disease or guarantee better overall health.
Fatigue Is A Warning
Fatigue or low energy is a very common condition. It can range from awakening in the morning with a chronic tired feeling to a severe physical and psychological depression characterized by a total lack of pleasure or sense of fulfillment (anhedonia).
Fatigue is a warning: it is one of the earliest signs that something in our lives, physical or emotional, is not right.
Boredom
No baby is born bored. And if anyone should be bored, it’s a baby! All it has to do is to eat, excrete and sleep. But babies are full of energy, excitement and vitality; they’re full of life.
When a child complains that he or she is tired all the time, or bored, we know that something is very wrong.
A Big Mistake
What happens to our natural curiosity, sense of wondrous adventure and boundless energy as we age? Why have so many adults lost (or rather, lost touch with) life’s excitement? What happened to life’s sparkle?
When adults exhibit chronic tiredness or fatigue, we don’t get nearly as concerned as when a child does-and that’s a big mistake.
Life should be filled with energy, no matter what a person’s age-the biographies of many notable people teach us that well into their seventies, eighties and even nineties they are robust-full of lust for life.
The Causes Of Chronic Fatigue
There can be many causes of chronic fatigue. They can be organic conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disorders and endocrine disorders; or emotional stress such as depression, anxiety or trauma.
Chronic fatigue can be due to sleep deprivation; the adverse effects of prescribed, over-the-counter or illegal drugs; or an unhealthy lifestyle that doesn’t permit you to “catch up” with yourself.
Others feel that chronic fatigue may be a nutritional condition that can be corrected with improved diet.
Spinal Balance, Energy
A common cause of fatigue is an unbalanced spinal column. How? A simple analogy: If you were carrying a bowling ball, how much more difficult would it be to carry it at a distance from your body than at your side? Your head weighs about as much as a bowling ball; if your head is off-center, “carrying” it can exhaust you!
Also, your 24 movable vertebrae, sacrum, hips and pelvis also need proper alignment in order to make efficient use of your energy. A modest unbalance (for example, a “short” leg) could translate into a considerable amount of wasted energy as the hours, days, weeks and months add up.
“Nerve Energy”
Energy flows over your brain and spinal cord through your nerves (and other tissues) and back to the brain and spinal cord.
A healthy spine and nervous system keep your flow of energy balanced, your immune system strong and your resistance to disease high.
An unhealthy, unbalanced spine can interfere with the natural flow of energy through your body, often causing physical and emotional fatigue.
Chiropractic’s Unique Place
When chiropractors correct a mechanical distortion in your body with a chiropractic spinal adjustment, nerve system energy is normalized.
In effect, chiropractic care heals a broken bridge in order to restore harmony to your “body-mind.”
Conclusion
All your body systems run on energy and, when properly working, give you an abundance of the energy and life with which you are naturally endowed.
If you are fatigued, bored, tired, depressed or lacking enthusiasm, you should investigate the natural health approach of chiropractic.
