Reflux, also known as gastro-esophageal reflux disease (GERD), is a condition characterized by extreme vomiting and chronic coughing. In infants and children it can commonly be observed through refusal or trouble eating and/or crying associated with mealtimes before, during or after. 

Unfortunately, reflux is termed as “normal” and infants are placed on medications and made to “wait until they grow out of it.”  This process leads to a fussy baby who is subject to painful symptoms and commonly results in difficulty eating. While reflux is quite common among infants it is by no means normal. 

Integrating Chiropractic Care and Craniosacral Therapy can lead to the much needed break-through in your child’s gastrointestinal health. 

To best understand how chiropractic care can facilitate successful treatment in reflux patients it is helpful to start with a basic understanding of reflux.   Reflux is a chronic condition where the stomach’s contents, primarily acid, come-up the esophagus and produce burning and pain. Symptoms of reflux in infants are vomiting associated with eating, obvious pain during or after eating, and arching the back. Some infants have “silent reflux” which does not exhibit the usual vomiting or spitting up as is seen in most reflux cases, but it is just as serious and painful. 

Reflux has long been attributed to a weak sphincter connecting the stomach and esophagus, and while this may be the case in some circumstances, more research is showing how the nervous system and subluxations of the spine may create this painful condition in children. Having your child with reflux examined by a chiropractor to determine the cause and possible correction could be a beneficial step in the process of healing. 

Subluxations that occur in the spine correlating to the stomach and esophagus area cause physical stress resulting in nerve system compromises associated with their functions. Chiropractic adjustments in these spinal areas have been shown to reduce and alleviate the symptoms associated with reflux. 

The Journal of the Canadian Chiropractic Association conducted a study wherein a 3-year old’s reflux improvement after four sessions of chiropractic adjustments. The practitioner used spinal chiropractic adjustments. The mother reported that the infant began sleeping longer at night, vomiting reduced to once per day rather than after every meal, the child’s eating became easier and with less crying involved, and the child’s body became less rigid and more relaxed also resulting in less pain and vomiting. 

It’s also worth noting growing body of evidence is beginning to support the use of other alternative modalities as effective means for addressing reflux in infants. Craniosacral Therapy or gentle touch/baby massage, is becoming a popular means of both relaxing the infant suffering from reflux along with bringing relief to the symptoms. Craniosacral therapy works in babies by helping to relieve stresses and strains in the tissues resulting from pregnancy, labor and birth. Very gentle techniques are used to assist in the release and unwinding of the tissues around the baby’s head, neck, upper back and sacrum (base of the spine).

Within Craniosacral Therapy altered nerve function from altered spinal alignment is referred to as “nerve interference”.  Nerve interference can reduce the amount of vital nerve energy reaching the organs, including the stomach. If left untreated, the stomach and digestive tract will go into a state of dysfunction, and eventually digestion. Many GERD sufferers under the care of Craniosacral Therapy have reported significant reduction in their symptoms. The reason is realigning and returning the spine back to full health along with strengthening muscles and other soft tissues, reducing the mechanical pressure on the internal organs allowing nerve energy to flow freely throughout the body restoring normal function to the stomach and other vital organs.

About Dr. Kaminsky & Craniosacral Therapy

Dr. Kaminsky earned his Chiropractic degree in the year 2000 and is licensed to practice in NY. He has since completed close to three thousand hours of continuing education seminars in various healthcare fields.

Since 2015, he is implementing primarily the hands-on techniques of Craniosacral Therapy (CST), a gentle, non-invasive, laying of the hands that brings about reversal and restoration.

The Craniosacral Mechanism is the driver of moving fluid in the body and head called cerebro-spinal fluid (CSF), which is produced by the Choroid Plexus of the brain and encapsulated within the head and spine.

The craniosacral system is the hydraulic mechanism of a human being and is a component of the Central Nervous System (CNS) and (ANS) Autonomic Nervous system.

There is a function inside of your brain that autonomically generates rhythmic impulses that function to pump CSF throughout your body via the craniosacral pathways, regulating your central and peripheral nerves, nervous system and organ systems, musculoskeletal system, etc.

This moving fluid is palpable to a trained craniosacral therapist, like the heart rate, pulse rhythm, breath, that can all be seen, heard or felt, so too can the Cranial Sacral Rhythm (CSR) be palpated and diagnosed for its health.

By placing his or her hands on your body, including your head and sacrum, the therapist can detect, feel and evaluate the SQAR (symmetry, quality, amplitude, rate) of this fluid rhythm.

The health of your body and mind are dependent on the vitality of this fluid. Compromises of your CSR’s rhythmic impulse correlates to CSF flow restrictions in the system which, when the fluid isn’t flowing optimally, your bodily rejuvenation and recovery is affected.

With anatomically correct hand placement on different parts the body during a session, through gentle manipulation and mobilization the therapist guides and facilitates a positive change in that region of the body which brings forth a correction. A myofascial release in a sense.

A craniosacral therapist stimulates and helps your rhythm refocus, allowing for improvement of musculoskeletal tightness and spasms, neurological issues, organ function, many common conditions, pain, and the mind-body re-connect.

Through a practitioners properly focused and individually attuned touch, your body is facilitated to release channels of fluid stagnation and flow restriction, which ultimately breakthrough, overcome and improve your rhythmic fluid and your potential for health improvement.

The existence of the Craniosacral mechanism was first discovered by Osteopath Dr. William Sutherland in the early 1900’s, who called it Cranial Osteopathy. And many years later, renamed to Craniosacral Therapy by Osteopath, Dr. John Upledger.

Dr. Alex Kaminsky is an advanced and certified Craniosacral Therapist, having studied advanced levels including SER, Brain and Pediatric courses. He has built a significant skill-set with many years of experience treating adults, children and babies. To learn more, visit the other pages on this website. Call to schedule your appointment with Dr. Kaminsky.