Here is how to approach this without the needless suffering by both the child and parent and being able to avoid the use of antibiotics in most of the cases. First, every newborn should be checked by a chiropractor shortly after being born to check the spine. Second, if the child shows any signs of a possible ear ache or infection then it is time to get to a chiropractor to assess the upper spine and make sure that the nerve supply to the middle ear and that Eustachian tube is clear so the child’s body can drain the middle ear and allow the body to take care of business. A chiropractic adjustment will take pressure off of the nerves, allowing the nerves to talk to the smooth muscle properly in the Eustachian tube, allowing the tube to open up and drain the fluid into the throat, and decreasing pressure in the ear. Understand that the immune system itself gets a direct boost when your child or you are adjusted. So not only will your child benefit from proper draining of the middle ear in this scenario but their immune system will get a direct boost giving the youngster a one up on the bugs attempting to set up shop in their body. The chiropractic adjustment is a foundation for getting or keeping your child on the right path to health and healing faster. There are more things to be done including nutrition, massage techniques, and craniosacral therapy to help your child make ear infections and those trips to the emergency rooms a thing of the past.

A common scenario…A child upper spine is stressed (delivery, falls, sleeping positions) and the first 3-4 spinal nerves are interfered with as the spinal bones’ alignment and/or movement is impaired. This altered nerve transmission will impact the smooth muscle of the Eustachian tube(s) and most commonly will cause the tube’s diameter to decrease (as the smooth muscle contracts), altering the flow of fluid from the middle ear. This altered flow can range from partial to complete stoppage. Next, the fluid builds up in the middle ear. Soon a buildup of pressure is noticed by the affected individual and a pulling or tugging at the ear may ensue. Once this happens, this is now an ear ache. Too many times an antibiotic is prescribed here too early here when there are no bacteria even present yet. Many of these children are too young to communicate what they feel, so the parent is left in the dark frequently. As the fluid becomes stagnant the environment becomes a breeding ground for bugs like bacteria. Once this begins then this becomes an ear infection. Here is where an antibiotic is first warranted, when there are actually bacteria present and confirmed.

Being in healthcare for the past 12 years as a chiropractor has allowed me to help many. I have decided to share simple nuggets of information related to health development, fitness, natural healing, and the mind that are in my bag of knowledge with you.

My wish is for this to help you can be in better relationship with your physical well being.  The Health Development Tips are available to anyone and everyone. If you know someone who could benefit from the information, then feel free to forward the email onto this person. And if they like what they see, then they can email me and ask to be added to the weekly email. If you do not want to receive the weekly tips, then email back and ask to be removed. Thanks, Dr. Lee Schwartz Active Solutions DrLee@ActiveSolutions2008.com (651)324-0364

Very commonly youngsters, babies to adolescents, deal with ear aches which can develop into an ear infection. This is the #1 reason for a mom and dad to take their young child to the emergency room. Let’s take a peek at how we can help these youngsters and their parents.

First, a quick anatomy lesson, the ear is made up of an outer, middle, and an inner ear compartment. We will be discussing the middle ear as it is what is affected with ear aches/infections. The middle ear is filled with fluid that naturally drains into the throat via a tube called the Eustachian tube. How this tube is functioning is integral to the draining of this fluid or building up of this fluid leading to an ear ache first and then onto a full blown ear infection if not discovered. The Eustachian tube is made up of smooth muscle that is under control of the first 3-4 spinal nerves. As long as these nerves are able to communicate to the tube then the tube functions normally and all is well.

Look for tip #2