Also see Natural Therapies – treating common conditions without pharmaceuticals
Effectiveness of OSTEOPATHY
at treating common conditions
Effectiveness of CHIROPRACTIC
at treating common conditions
Women, babies and children can benefit greatly from chiropractic and osteopathic care. These therapies are highly effective in treating a range of conditions by ensuring the nervous system is functioning well:
pregnancy – low back pain, nausea, heartburn, shortness of breath, constipation, haemorrhoids, frequent urination, fluid retention
babies – colic, reflux, respiratory and ear infections
breastfeeding related issues, including poor latch and sucking, neck and back strain or tension and asymmetry
During pregnancy (and even before conception) it is beneficial to have your spine checked by a chiropractor or osteopath as they can “ensure your pelvis sits correctly to allow optimum room for your baby to grow and move”(Source).
A well positioned baby can mean the difference between a straightforward labour and one requiring intervention (see Optimal foetal positioning).
All newborns can benefit from a check up but especially those who can support their own head (this can mean they have very tense neck muscles); those who will only breastfeed from one side or only turn their head to one side when lying down; those who “make peculiar grunting sounds, wriggle a lot and either arch their back or want to stay excessively curled up from birth, which may indicate abdominal discomfort" (Source).
See the Natural Parenting Directory (on the left hand side of this website) for a list of practitioners.
The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association – Research Foundation
The International Chiropractic Pediatric Association – Research Foundation (ICPA), a non-profit organization, has an excellent website with articles on issues such as co-sleeping, breastfeeding, asthma, immunisation (or not), wellness and holistic approaches to sickness. They also have a free quarterly newsletter.