More and more parents are seeking Chiropractic
Care for their children. Many spinal problems seen in adults began as early
as birth. Even so called 'natural' birthing methods can stress an infant's
spine and developing nerve system. The resulting irritation to the nerve
system caused by spinal and cranial misalignment can be the cause of many
newborn health complaints. Colic, breathing problems, nursing difficulties,
sleep disturbances, allergic reactions and chronic infections can often be
traced to nerve system stress.
Since significant spinal trauma can occur at
birth, many parents have their newborns checked right away. As the infant
grows, learning to hold up the head, sit, crawl and walk are all activities
that affect spinal alignment and are important times to have a child checked
by one of our complex Doctor of Chiropractic.
As the child begins to participate in regular
childhood activities like skating or riding a bike, small yet significant
spinal misalignments (subluxations) may occur. If neglected, the injuries
during this period of rapid growth may lead to more serious problems later
in life. Subtle trauma throughout childhood will affect the future
development of the spine leading to impaired nervous system function. Any
interference to the vital nerve system will adversely affect the body’s
ability to function at its best.
One of the most common reason parents seek
care for their child is trauma from an injury of some sort. These
misalignments may or may not result in immediate pain or symptoms. Regular
chiropractic checkups can identify potential spinal injury from these
traumas, make the correction early in life and help avoid many of the health
complaints seen later in adults. Proper spinal hygiene is an important key
to better health.
Another sought out reason for care is the
resolution of a particular symptom or condition. Parents seek care for
conditions such as colic, ear infections, asthma, allergies and headaches
(to name a few) because they have heard from other parents that chiropractic
care can help.
It is important to understand that the doctor
of chiropractic does not diagnose or treat conditions or diseases. The
expertise of the chiropractor is in checking the child’s spine for
misalignments that impair nervous system function therefore affecting
overall body function. The bones of the spine, the vertebrae, house and
protect the spinal cord. The spinal cord is an extension of the brain and
carries information from the brain to the body parts and back to the brain
again. Subluxations interfere with the nerves’ ability to transmit this
vital information.
The nerve system controls and coordinates the
function of all the systems in the body: circulatory, respiratory,
digestive, hormonal, eliminative and immune system. Any aspect of health may
be impaired by nerve interference. The chiropractic adjustment restores
nerve system function allowing the body the ability to express a greater
state of health and well-being.
Our doctors will take a case history and
perform a chiropractic exam to determine if spinal subluxations exist.
Chiropractic adjusting procedures are modified to fit a child's size,
weight, and unique spinal condition. They are both gentle and specific to
the child’s developing spinal structures. Most parents report that their
children enjoy their chiropractic adjustments and look forward to subsequent
visits. They also report that their children experience a greater level of
health while under regular chiropractic care.
To enhance your child’s ability to function
in a state of Optimal Health, we can help you. Allow one of our
doctors who is dedicated to serving children with the utmost of care. Once
your family has experienced the many benefits of Chiropractic Care—please
help us tell others!!
#1) Vaccines are not given in the way we
normally contract the disease. With the exception of the oral polio
vaccine, all other vaccines are injected into the body. Naturally
contracted diseases must go through a series of defense systems which
promotes life-long immunity.
#2) All children, regardless of size or age
get the same dosage of vaccine. All other medicines dispensed are based on
weight. This is not done with vaccines.
#3) Most childhood diseases had already
drastically declined BEFORE vaccines were introduced. For example, the
polio epidemic of the 1940’s was on its way out when the vaccine program
began in the 1950’s. And in many cases, there was an increase in the
number of cases after the vaccines were introduced. The decline in
incidence of disease can be much attributed to an increase in sanitation
with indoor plumbing and the flushable toilet, as well as clean water and
nutritious food.
#4) Vaccines contain harmful substances.
Chemicals, such as mercury, formaldehyde, aluminum, and thimerisol are
added to bacterial or virus preparations.
#5) Vaccines are not proven to be
effective. There continue to be “outbreaks” of disease in vaccinated
communities. In the 1993 pertussis (whooping cough) outbreak in
Cincinnati, 80% of those under 5 years had been vaccinated. In Australia,
where vaccines are not mandated, only half the population is vaccinated
and the rates of disease are the same.
#6) Vaccines are not proven to be safe.
Many other countries around the world have stopped mandatory vaccination
programs after serious side effects are observed. Sweden and Japan no
longer routinely give the pertussis vaccine. A US study found that 1:875
DPT shots caused convulsions and/or shock and collapse. There are studies
which show the measles vaccine can cause death and the hepatitis B vaccine
can cause shock.
#7) We don’t know all the long term effects
of vaccines. They know there is a connection with polio, diphtheria,
tetanus, measles, and smallpox vaccines and multiple sclerosis. The
measles vaccine can cause Chron’s disease. The MMR vaccine may cause
arthritis. Hepatitis B vaccine is linked with central nervous system
demyelination. Female children who do not get childhood diseases naturally
will not develop antibodies to pass along to their babies through breast
milk, causing them to be at risk for infection.
#8) The “Germ Theory” doesn’t exist. If it
did EVERYONE would be sick ALL the time. You will only “get sick” when
your body’s immune system has become weakened.
#9) Vaccines weaken the immune system.
Since mass vaccination programs began, there has been a rise in ear
infections, allergies and asthma which have been in part attributed to
vaccines. Only when diseases stimulate the normal immune response do they
cause lifelong immunity and make the immune system even stronger.
#10) Children vaccinated with childhood
diseases are likely to contract these diseases as an adult. Measles,
mumps, and chicken pox are much more severe when contracted as adults.
#11) Vaccines are big business. Vaccines
are a multibillion dollar business shared by the government, public health
department, medical doctors, pharmacies, and the insurance industries.
They have a financial stake in your child getting vaccinated...
Hepatitis B is a viral infection which is
acquired when there is blood to blood contact; it can be passed from an
infected mother to her baby during birth. By screening mothers for the
Hepatitis B antigen, it can be determined whether or not the baby is at
risk. High risk groups include: those who have sexual contact with
multiple partners, intravenous drug users, and criminals. It is estimated
that 33,000 - 165,000 cases of Hepatitis B occur annually, with fewer than
1% occurring in children less than 15 years old. It is currently given at
birth with 2 additional booster shots. The “protective” effects of the
vaccine are thought to last five years. Studies and case reports have
revealed that demylenating nervous system diseases such as multiple
sclerosis; autoimmune diseases such as Guillain Barre Syndrome &
thrombocytopenia purpura; arthritis, and anaphylaxis (paralysis of the
respiratory system) are some of the adverse reactions to the hepatitis B
vaccine.
Diphtheria is the “D” component of the DTP
vaccine. It is caused by a bacterial infection, usually acquired via the
respiratory tract or mucus membranes. Diphtheria is extremely rare in the
US; in the 1980’s there were only 0-5 cases reported per year. The
mortality rate had dropped 50% from 1900 to 1920, before the vaccine was
introduced. The vaccine is generally given at 2, 4, 6, and 15-18 months,
and 4-6 years of age, in combination with Pertussis and Tetanus toxoids,
as well as sodium chloride, sodium hydroxide, formaldehyde, hydrochloric
acid, aluminum, and thimerosal (mercury).
Pertussis, or whooping cough, is the “P”
part of the DTP or DTaP toxoid. It is a bacterial childhood infectious
disease, characterized by coughing fits ending with a deep inhale, which
often makes a “whooping” sound. The incidence of the disease has declined
from 100 cases per 100,00 population from 1930-1945 to 1.5 per 100,000
from 1984-1993 with 5 deaths per year. The vaccine appears to wear off
after 5 - 10 years and cannot be given past the age of 7 because it causes
severe reactions. The acellulat pertussis vaccine(aP) is often used for
the last booster shot at 4-6 years in an attempt to prevent severe
reactions. Studies have shown, however, that the rate of severe reactions
did not significantly differ between the acellular and whole cell
vaccine. Adverse reactions to the pertussis toxoid causes brain damage
which initially presents as fever and sleepiness; often it results in
seizure activity, behavioral changes, ADHD, learning disabilities, lowered
IQ, mental retardation, coma, and death.
Tetanus is the “T” part of the DTP shot. It
is caused by a bacterium which lives in manure-treated soil and the gut of
farm animals; it enters the body via a deep cut, usually a puncture wound.
In the past 10 years about 50 cases of Tetanus were reported per year and
the majority of the people are over 50 years old! The case fatality ratio
for those less than 50 years old is only 5%. The tetanus toxoid is made
with human blood. After the initial vaccination schedule of DTP, booster
shots are recommended every ten years. Immediate adverse reactions usually
include swelling and abscess, but also reported are nervous system
disorders such as Guillan Barre syndrome, neuropathies, and
encephalopathies, allergic reactions and death due to anaphylaxis (stopped
breathing), and arthritis.
Hib stands for Haemophilus Influenzae Type
B Meningitis. Haemophilus Influenza is a common childhood bacterial
infection, which can cause sinus, throat, or ear infections. These
problems are usually not serious and tend to resolve on their own. Type B
Haemophilus, however, tends to invade deeper levels of the body and cause
infections of the spinal fluid (meningitis), lungs (pneumonia), heart (pericarditis)
and blood. It is NOT a form of the flu. Meningitis initially presents with
flu-like symptoms in children. These may be followed by a change in
alertness, stiff neck, and seizures (20-30%). Medical treatment usually
consists of antibiotic therapy. The yearly incidence of Hib meningitis is
estimated to be 8,000-15,000 cases, with the peak incidence at 6-7 months.
It occurs more often in children who attend day care. The incidence has
increased over the past 30 years and is thought to be related to immune
suppression caused by other vaccines, especially DTP and measles. The
mortality rate is 3-8%. The Hib vaccine was found to be more effective
when bound to a protein carrier. In 1990, the first “conjugated” form was
licensed for use beginning at 2 months of age. Several conjugate vaccines
have been rushed through licensure with only one or two efficacy trials.
The short term effectiveness of the vaccines has varied, ranging from 35%
to 96%; no long term studies have been performed. Hib vaccine adverse
reactions include seizures, anaphylactic allergic reactions, serum
sickness-like reactions (joint pain, rashes, and swelling), and death. The
most common reaction has been an increased incidence of Hib infection
following vaccination.. The conjugate vaccines have also been associated
with Gullain-Barre Syndrome, transverse myelitis (a paralyzing disease of
the spinal cord), and thrombocytopenia.
Chicken pox is caused by the varicella-zoster
virus (VZV) and is normally a mild disease with no complications when
contracted during childhood. Infection with varicella confers lifelong
immunity. The chickenpox usually presents with a fever and runny nose,
followed by eruptions of flat, pink areas which develop into itchy,
fluid-filled vesicles. The disease usually lasts a week. Complications of
chickenpox include secondary infections of the skin and neuroloic disease.
Encephalitis rarely occurs and it is usually mild. Death from chicken pox
complications occur in less than 50 children per year and these kids are
usually immune compromised. The risk of death in healthy kids is .0014%!
The introduction of the chickenpox vaccine will invariably cause a shift
of the disease to the adult and infant population, just as the measles and
mumps vaccines have done. Adults who contract varicella have a more
prolonged and serious illness with more complications. Pregnant women who
contract chicken pox may have children with congenital malformations.
Mothers will not be able to protect their infants with maternal
antibodies. Reactions to the chickenpox vaccine are rash, herpes zoster or
shingles, cancer, and neurological problems.
Streptococcus Pneumonia is a bacteria
associated with many cases of pneumonia, meningitis, and ear infections. A
vaccine has recently come onto the market where the vaccine is bound to a
protein carrier. It is not yet “mandated”. Efficacy studies have mostly
been done on adults who are at high risk. Studies show that the vaccine is
ineffective in children under 2 years old. Other studies show that the
vaccine did not prevent ear infections; it only altered the type of
microbes present. The long term effects are unknown. Side effects include
swelling and pain at the injection site, fever, and allergic reactions.
The “M” portion of the MMR vaccine, which
is given at 12 months or older. MEASLES are caused by a virus that
is transmitted via the respiratory system. Symptoms include cough,
irritated eyes, high fever, and a rash. The disease has become
progressively milder and deaths are rare. Resurgences of measles cases
since the vaccine primarily occurred in children less than 15 months of
age; this is because mothers who were vaccinated as children didn’t have
measles antibodies to pass on to their infants. This has caused a shift
away from measles occurring in childhood to becoming a disease of infants
- and adults. Measles cases continue to occur in the vaccinated population
at a rate of about 60%. When vaccinated children contract measles, they
tend to develop atypical measles. They will have an exaggerated rash,
muscle weakness, peripheral swelling, and severe abdominal pain with
vomiting. Vaccine reactions include encephalitis (inflammation of the
brain), meningitis, sub acute sclerosing panencephalitis (demyelination of
the nerves causing death), seizure disorders, deafness, optic neuritis,
transverse myelitis, autism, Guillan-Barre Syndrome (autoimmune problem
causing progressive paralysis), thrombocytopenia purpura, and inflammatory
bowel disease.
The middle,”M” of the MMR vaccine. A mild
disease of childhood characterized by fever, headache, ear ache, and
swollen salivary glands. Complications are rare in children. The vaccine
caused a shift of the disease to the adult population, where the effects
are more severe; adults are more likely to suffer from infections of the
testes, ovaries and other organs. Adverse reactions include meningitis,
diabetes, seizures, encephalitis, and atypical mumps.
The “R” of the MMR vaccine, also known as
“German Measles”. A mild childhood disease with rare complications. It is
only harmful to the developing fetus when pregnant women contract the
disease during the first trimester. The vaccine doesn’t confer lifelong
immunity, and therefore women vaccinated as children may become
susceptible to rubella as child-bearing adults. Adverse effects of the
rubella vaccine include encephalitis-type syndromes, meningitis,
Guillan-Barre syndrome, and arthritis.
Given as OPV (oral “live” polio vaccine) or
IPV (injected “killed” polio vaccine), usually started at 2 months with 4
booster doses over 5 years. When given as OPV, the live virus will be shed
in the infant’s feces and could possibly cause polio in the caregiver. The
mode of transmission is fecal-oral. The vaccine is the only source of
polio in the US; the “wild” polio virus doesn’t exist. Polio existed for
centuries, but became epidemic in the early 1900’s; there has been no
epidemics in the US since 1954. In rare cases (1%), poliomyelitis produces
weakness and paralysis of muscles supplied by the affected nerves; and
only a small percentage of these have residual paralysis. In 90-98% of the
cases, polio causes no symptoms or manifests as sore throat, headache,
nausea and abdominal pain. It is usually diagnosed as a cold or flu!
Controversy exists surrounding the effectiveness of the polio vaccine; By
the time the polio vaccine was introduced in the 1950’s, the disease was
already declining. The criteria of the diagnosis of polio changed after
the vaccine to provide more favorable statistics. Polio tended to be
renamed as meningitis in the post vaccine era, again, skewing the
statistics. Adverse effects include: vaccine-associated paralytic
poliomyelitis, Gullain-Barre syndrome, and transmission of monkey viruses
which are associated with cancers and possibly the HIV virus.
Before you give your child a vaccine, you
should have knowledge of the risks they pose. This is called Informed
Consent. Deciding whether to vaccinate your child will be one of the major
decisions you make as a parent and it is not one to be taken lightly and
certainly not blindly. It is you, the parent, your child, and the family
who will have to live with the consequences should your child be injured
or killed by a vaccine. Information is power; once you have ALL the
information regarding vaccines, you can make an educated decision about
which vaccines, if any, you want administered.
Many medical doctors are now questioning
the wisdom of MANDATORY vaccination. Some states have philosophical
exemptions from vaccines (California is one of them. On the back of the
school vaccine form there is the waiver form!) Most states have a
religious exemption and all have a medical exemption. For more information
on vaccines, contact the National Vaccine Information Center at
800-909-SHOT or www.909shot.com.
Mother nature has equipped us with an
immune system in order to be able to combat bacteria, viruses, and other
"germs". Many of the childhood diseases actually help to strengthen the
immune system - in other words, "if you don't use it, you lose it!" A
child's immune system begins to function around 6 months of age. Before
that time, immunity is gained through breast milk. So, one of the
proactive things you can do is to breastfeed your baby for at least 6
months.
Chiropractic adjustments also help the
immune system to function at 100% capacity. The nervous system is
responsible for directing the immune system. You could have adequate white
blood cells, but without stimulation from the nervous system, they will
not act!! I picture the white blood cells just kind of milling about
saying, "Do you know what we're supposed to do?" Chiropractic removes any
interference which might stop the natural healing process from occurring
and being at Optimal Health. Let's face it, germs are everywhere
(especially in a kids world) - it is how our bodies process these germs
that counts.
The doctors and staff
have dedicated themselves to you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. We are on
call and will make house calls to our patients at anytime throughout the
day or night to keep you and your family "Naturally Healthy!"
