Any parent or caregiver who has cared for an infant with Colic knows just how life-altering this condition can be both for the child and parent. Colic in an infant is defined as crying more than 3 hours a day for more than 3 days a week and lasting for at least 3 weeks. It occurs in up to 40 percent of babies and begins between the third and sixth week after birth. 

Debate exists around the cause of Colic with experts on all sides and research supporting them. While the cause is somewhat unknown it is widely believed to be the result of some form of food allergy. As the infant takes in the specific allergy gastrointestinal discomfort will result causing the continuous and intense crying. 

Milk protein allergy is the most common cause attributed to Colic which is primarily in formula fed babies. However, breastfed babies may also be reacting poorly to a food in mom’s diet. Other hypothesized causes are immature digestive system and overstimulated senses. Experts do agree that the cause is not genetic or linked to anything that did or did not occur during the child’s development in pregnancy. 

Symptoms of Colic, as mentioned previously, are primarily excessive and intense crying. To distinguish regular infant crying from Colic the symptoms to look for are clenched fists and pulling up of the legs as an attempt to remove gas or relieve stomach pain, and crying that occurs at the same time daily.

Colic is not known to have any long-term side effects, but the short term and immediate repercussions can be intense. Due to the excessive crying infants can become tense and rigid. This may lead to musculoskeletal issues. Sleep disturbances are common as they are often interrupted with bouts of crying making both the infant and the caregiver tense and sleep deprived. 

Feeding is a major concern for infants with Colic. It can be difficult and painstaking to get through a feeding with a Colicky infant. This is primarily due to gastrointestinal pain and pain associated with eating. It is thought that the amount of nutrients received is not reduced because of Colic, it just takes a bit longer for the infant to get what they need. 

While babies can and do outgrow Colic it is still an unpleasant and painful experience for the infant and if it can be avoided or cured measures are certainly worth taking. There are steps parents can take to reduce the intensity and time that a child has this condition. 

Removing cows milk protein is generally a first step in reducing Colic. A hypoallergenic diet for the mother may be suggested. Home remedies include swaddling the infant during naps and sleep, frequent and smaller feedings, and feeding the infant upright. 

Parents are increasingly taking their babies and children to chiropractors for a variety of conditions, including asthma, ear infections, ADHD, autism, and certainly colic.  Chiropractic adjustments work to reduce Colic symptoms by releasing stress and tension in the infants body. Adjustments also correct subluxations that interfere with nervous system functions in the intestines, stomach, and organs associated with digestion.  There is research to support the effectiveness of chiropractic care for a Colicky child.

The Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics published a clinical trial where researchers found that “Spinal manipulation is effective in relieving colic in infants.”  In this study, researchers put babies with colic in two groups. Group 1 was given an anti-gas medication and Group 2 was given chiropractic adjustments from a pediatric chiropractor.  The babies in the medication group showed a 38% decrease in the amount of crying their moms recorded, but the babies that received chiropractic adjustments, after just 3 sessions showed a 67% decrease in crying and symptoms.

When a subluxation disturbs nerves in the stomach, intestines, and other abdominal organs gastric function can be adversely effected producing discomfort, gas and other colic symptoms. A Chiropractic doctor specializes in the detection and correction of subluxations.  Chiropractic care restores normal function of the nervous system enabling an infant’s digestive tract and related organs to have a better opportunity to receive nerve supply from the spine and brain, bringing the entire digestive tract back to full normal function. The result is a happy and content baby.

Craniosacral Therapy is another alternative medicine therapy that can be beneficial in treating Colic. It has been shown to be successful in relieving symptoms of Colic. Craniosacral Therapy is a gentle hands-on technique that facilitates the unwinding of areas of compression and misalignment, encouraging the release of stress and associated emotions.

Your baby’s body can then start to soften and relax as pressure along with tension are removed. This allows for the full circulation of cerebrospinal fluid to return; room in the body is freed for natural growth and functioning, and your baby’s health and wellbeing can be much improved.  Also Craniosacral therapy commonly releases residual tension around the stomach and colon that have been causing a degree of colicky symptoms to occur. 

Alex was born in March 1972. At the age of 7 he started to experience frequent headaches with all the conventional symptoms of a Migraine headache. His particular headache resulted in him experiencing auras, nausea and sensitivity to light with no particular trigger to the onset of the migraine.

After years of treatments, therapies and medications, his headaches were no better and Alex continued to experience them all throughout childhood and into young adulthood. Some years the headaches would come monthly, some years every two to three months and some years weekly. His headaches were incurable, there was nothing that could alleviate the symptoms and head pain. Until he experienced cranial manual therapy, which resulted in the complete eradication of his life-long Migraine Headaches.

At the age of 16 Alex noticed a mild deformity in the right side of his ribs, a slightly lower right shoulder and the experience of constant lower back pain. Although mild, a diagnosis of Idiopathic Adolescent Scoliosis had been labeled.

At the age of 18 he was involved in a serious car accident that exacerbated his lower back pain. Throughout the years Alex had tried a multitude of conventional treatments but continued to suffer on and off with lower back pain, even throughout Chiropractic school and beyond.

In 2015 and fifteen+ years out of Chiropractic school, Dr. Kaminsky participated in his first and life changing Craniosacral Therapy seminar and he was fascinated, intrigued and hooked. It all made sense, he was immediately astute to its methods and since that first seminar, and as a result of trading sessions of Craniosacral Therapy with his colleagues, his back pain subsided and till this day has never returned.

Dr. Kaminsky decided to enhance his skill-set to better serve his patients. He began reaching out to other craniosacral therapists, cranial osteopaths, and many types of leading practitioners from various fields for advise and consultations He also enrolled in Upledger continuing education seminars with a focus on mostly hands-on manual and alternative therapies.

And, as he gained knowledge with his own health issues, he has learned to help more and more patients achieve great health results.

Dr. Alex Kaminsky is headache free and low back pain free, and has committed himself to a life of learning, teaching and treating patients. His emphasis is on the patient’s stored patterns of the body and each individual healthcare needs.