Why do children suffer from colic?

Colic is a disorder suffered in early infancy which is characterised by sudden uncontrollable bouts of crying, abdominal pain and irritability. Colic usually begins in the first few weeks of life and may persist until the baby is three to four months old. Medically speaking the causes of colic are largely unknown. Generally most babies with colic eat and sleep well and gain weight normally. However sudden unexpected bouts of screaming can transform any household into a battlefield, with family relations strained and parents left feeling guilty, that it is somehow their fault. Of course it is important to rule out other causes of crying and pain in an infant such as illness with fever, an ear infection, failure to thrive, etc. Once these conditions have been ruled out the accepted medical treatment is to give advice on feeding, and ways to pacify the child. Parents are to be reassured that their child will grow out of the problem and that too much crying is not harmful.

The chiropractic viewpoint on colic is based on the notion that irritation to the nervous system can cause pain and abnormal function of the end-organ. That is to say, if you have a 'pinched' nerve you may suffer from numbness, or pins and needles in the arm or leg, or muscle weakness. If you have an irritated nerve you may suffer from pain and muscle spasm. In the same way irritation to the nervous system may cause over or underactivity of the abdominal organs resulting in constipation, diarrhea, gas, intestinal distention and pain. In a child who cannot communicate their discomfort in words, crying uncontrollably is the only way to get the message across.

Specifically, the nervous system is split into two opposing systems: one which allows digestion to occur and one which limits the process of digestion. Digestion is allowed to occur by the nerves originating in the upper neck and pelvis. In times of stress however these nerve controls can be overridden by the nerves coming from the spine at the rib cage. Thus if there are structural abnormalities (subluxations) in the spine, abnormal bowel motions can occur and can leave any person in pain and discomfort. Subluxations can only be found and corrected by a qualified chiropractor. It is in your babies best interest and for your peace of mind to have your children checked by your chiropractor.