If you’re a parent, there’s a better than average chance that you’ve had a child with an ear infection. Which means there’s also a really good chance that you took your child to a pediatrician who prescribed an antibiotic.
But did you know that there’s a better alternative?
Ear infections are the number one reason parents take their kids to the pediatrician and account for around 35 percent of all pediatrician office visits. In other words, this is a huge problem. And one in which a better alternative is definitely needed.
The Problem
The problem is the treatment itself – antibiotics! The research is clear; antibiotics are not effective when treating ear infections in many cases. And now, the medical profession is beginning to change its position on antibiotics as a treatment option for ear infections.
However, there’s another reason why antibiotics are a poor treatment option –and a reason for their ineffectiveness – and that’s something we call antibiotic resistance.
This issue has become a global problem and one that transcends well beyond ear infections. Antibiotics have been used so prevalently for so many conditions and illnesses that we’ve built up a resistance. And you’ve heard the saying – whatever doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
That pretty much sums up how new super bugs have become so hard to combat. This is also why using antibiotics to treat ear infections has become less effective. Think about it; The majority of people who have had a child with an ear infection go to the doctor and get antibiotics. And we’ve been treating ear infections this way for decades. Of course, those bugs will become harder to combat as well.
The Truth
The truth is that bacteria and germs are all around us, all the time. There is no escaping them. And most of the time, they don’t affect us at all.
So, when do bacteria and germs affect us? They affect us when our immune systems are weakened or when our immune systems aren’t functioning as they should. And one reason for this is because our nervous systems have become much too stressed.
The brain coordinates every bodily system and function through the nervous system. When the nervous system is stressed, it doesn’t function as well, and thus that brain to body coordination and communication is hampered, and those bodily systems (like the immune system) and functions begin to falter, which leads to illness and disease.
Nervous system stress can be physical, chemical, or emotional. Stress is all encompassing in our modern world; it’s nearly impossible to isolate yourself from it. Which means the best course of action is keeping your nervous system healthy.
Research has backed this up and shown that the nervous system controls the immune system, and when the nervous system isn’t working properly, that’s when bacteria and germs cause problems, like your child’s ear infection.
The Solution
The solution is keeping your nervous system healthy, but how do you do that? Well, since this is a chiropractic blog, one great alternative that may surprise you is chiropractic adjustments.
There is a common misconception that goes something like this – chiropractors only treat back and neck pain. However, what chiropractic care really does is keep the nervous system healthy and functioning properly.
The Cliff’s Notes version of the story is this: Chiropractic adjustments takes stress off the nervous system and allows the brain to communicate better with the rest of the body, including the immune system. When this communication is working properly, all systems work better, including the immune system. And as you know, when the immune system is working properly, your body is better able to fight off illness and disease … and ear infections.
Research has also been able to back this up and shows that chiropractic adjustments can help treat ear infections faster and more effectively.
One 1996 study published in JMPT, showed that 93 percent of children who got chiropractic adjustments for their ear infections showed improvement. More than 75 percent showed improvement in less than 10 days and 43 percent showed improvement after just one or two visits.
It really comes to down to this – do you want to get to the source of the problem or just try and combat individual symptoms?
Germs and bacteria aren’t going anywhere. However, our bodies are completely capable of handling them, which is why we have immune systems. The key is making sure your immune system is working as it should, and this requires a nervous system that’s working properly.
A Solution for You
If you’re interested in finding a truchiropractor (or TRUCHIRO, as we like to say), meaning one that is more focused on your nervous system health, then contact the chiropractor who shared this blog article with you. You can also visit Truchiro.org where we have a searchable database of TRUCHIROS. Simply put your location into the search box and see if there are any TRUCHIROS near you.
If that search comes up short, contact me directly, Dr. Clint Steele, and I’ll help you find one in your area.
Please share this information. The normal treatment option of kids going on antibiotics over and over for ear infections (or other things) is doing more harm than good and is only contributing to a cycle of suffering.
