by Joseph Klein
Colic is defined as crying, in a healthy infant, more than three hours per day, more than three days per week, for more than three weeks. It is thought to currently be prevalent in up to 21% of all infants and to be caused by gastrointestinal discomfort in the infant. Colic can not only put strain on the family dynamic, but it can also have lasting adverse effects on the child’s development. The standard medical treatment for colic is to prescribe Dicyclomine, which has side effects of apnea, seizures, and coma, and is contraindicated in infants less than 6 months of age. However there are other alternative ways to treating colic.
There is evidence that chiropractic care can effectively treat a wide range of childhood ailments such as colic. Because chiropractic care deals with adjusting the spine to restore proper nervous system function to the entire body, it is believed that adjusting an infant’s spine with colic can restore proper function to their gastrointestinal system. This relieves the discomfort that the infant is having and relieves their colic symptoms. One research study involving 316 infants with colic found that 94% showed improvement following chiropractic care. There is an increasing body of evidence showing that chiropractic care can effectively treat colic and it should be given consideration when searching for the right healthcare provider for your infant.
Reference
Castellucci RR, BS, ACP, DC. Resolution of Colic in an Eight Week Old Infant Undergoing Chiropractic Care: A Case Study. J Pediatric, Maternal & Family Health. November 28, 2012. 109-112