Pain Relief for Joint Disorders

If your infant or small child suffers from frequent bouts of constipation, you may have already tried changes in diet and medications with no long-term success. Although these treatments can provide relief for a few days or weeks, they will not last forever unless they address the root of the issue, and they often fail to do so. Pediatric chiropractic therapy is seeing increasing popularity as a way to safely and gently bring your baby's system into its natural alignment following the trauma of birth. Read on to learn how that can be used to stop constipation in your child once and for all. 

Finding the Link Between the Stomach and the Spine

At first, it may seem strange to you that minor adjustments to the spine would be able to influence your baby's bowel. Although there is still plenty of research to be done, it is thought that spinal adjustments free any pinched or restricted nerves within your baby's spinal column, which are common following the pressures of birth. Once your baby's spine is very gently manipulated to correct for this, his or her various systems may benefit from greatly increased nervous communication with the brain, prompting the proper release of brain chemicals to help relieve the constipation. 

Encouraging a Parasympathetic State of Mind 

Your nervous system, broadly speaking, operates in one of two ways depending on your current situation: sympathetic or parasympathetic. Your sympathetic nervous system is responsible for keeping you alive, triggering a "fight-or-flight" response every time it comes across stressful stimuli. The parasympathetic system, on the other hand, kicks in when it is time to "rest and digest." One study found that parasympathetic patients were more likely to experience diarrhea, while sympathetic patients were more likely to have constipation. Because chiropractic adjustments can significantly encourage a parasympathetic response over a sympathetic one, they may be able to both help your child relax while also relieving his or her constipation.  

Decreasing the Need For Long-Term Medications

Few parents want to keep their children on medication for long periods of time, particularly if it has side-effects or doesn't always work. By taking your infant in to see a chiropractor regularly, you may eventually no longer need to follow a regimen of traditional medicine alongside it. Always consult with your physician before halting a medication for your baby, but if the constipation is gone, it should not be an issue. By working to fix the problem rather than control its symptoms, you will be able to ensure your child's comfort while laying the groundwork for healthy development and growth in the future. 

For more information, contact Wave Of Life Chiropractic or a similar location.