It is estimated that nearly 75 percent of children under the age of three years will experience at least one ear infection. Ear infections are the most common reasons children are taken to their pediatrician. While ear infections are clearly “common” they are in no way without pain and discomfort to the child experiencing them. Ear infections occur when there is fluid build-up and inflammation in the middle ear and as a result of fluid stagnation results in possible bacteria build-up within the ear. 

Symptoms and Causes

Bacteria or virus in the middle ear is generally what results from congestion of fluid as a result of less than optimal flow of lymphatics within the head and neck areas. This causes ear infections, which can be painful due to inflammation and a build-up of fluids. Allergies, flu, and colds can produce an overproduction of fluids and hence, ear infection from the congestion and swelling of nasal passages, throat and eustachian tubes.  Commonly the symptoms of fluid stagnation develops quickly. The most common symptoms include:

• Ear pain, worsened when lying down
• Difficulty sleeping
• Feeling of fullness in the ear
• Diminished hearing
• Loss of balance
• Fever
• Headache

Symptoms to Look for in Children

• Tugging or pulling on the ear
• Crying more than usual
• Irritable/changes in mood
• Lack of response to sounds
• Fevers over 100° F

Antibiotics are generally the first line of treatment when a child is seen for an Ear Infection. Along with antibiotics the physician may also recommend over-the-counter pain relief medications, ear drops, administering of heat and other interventions. 

Through Pediatric Chiropractic care and other alternative manual hands-on techniques Ear Infections can be prevented and quickly erradicated.  How exactly? Be mindful of 2 things, (1) spinal and cranial misalignment can cause undue pulling on the child’s neck muscles creating fascial tension within the head and neck drainage canals, effecting the eustachian tubes; and (2) this tension leads to dysfunction of lymphatic system around and inside the ears that drain lymphatic fluid causing a build-up and creating an unhealthy environment and risk for infection.

Chiropractic pediatric gentle adjustments reduce the tension of misalignments all throughout the body–restoring normal muscular physiology. Gentle spinal adjustments to the musculoskeletal system reduce stress related interferences thereby enhancing overall body function. The Body’s systems (respiratory, circulatory, muscular, glandular, digestive, hormonal, eliminatory, and immunological) rely on the optimal functioning of the craniosacral system. 

Pediatric Chiropractic care allow the body to restore its natural state of function and health. The best course of action is to support the body in regaining its balanced flow within the lymphatic system. The science of physiology has made clear that the body is an intricate ecosystem.  Chiropractic care focuses on returning the body to normal physiological function. Once balanced your lymphatic system flow functions at optimal efficiency.

The Journal of Clinical Chiropractic Pediatrics published a study indicating a strong correlation between chiropractic adjustments and the resolution of ear infections.  332 children experiencing chronic ear infections were enrolled in the study. Their ages ranged from 27 days to 5 years, and each was given a series of gentle chiropractic care.  The conclusion of the study showed nearly 80% of the children no longer experienced ear infections within the six-month period following their initial visits.

It’s important to understand that imbalance in the internal tissues of the cranium influence the structure and integrity of the Eustachian Tube. The Eustachian Tube is a small channel that drains fluid and mucous build up from the middle ear into the back of the throat.

Another alternative approach to treating and preventing Ear Infections is Craniosacral Therapy. For babies and children who suffer with ear infections Craniosacral treatment focuses on the fluid flow, re-alignment and balance of the cranial and facial structures that correlate to the Eustachian Tubes. This is because it’s critical that the Eustachian Tubes themselves is freely mobile and able to drain the middle ear.  Craniosacral Therapy has effectively treated children suffering from chronic ear infections. Craniosacral treatment addresses factors causing stress to the immune and nervous system which may be driving increased susceptibility to infection. These stressors are removed by releasing stagnation restrictions and fluid flow congestion in the cranium and the ears.

A healthy cranium is a balanced cranium where the Eustachian tube is a free channel that drains efficiently, keeping the middle ear clear and clean.   It’s when the Eustachian Tube is blocked that the middle ear can become infected, inflamed and swollen, becoming a perfect environment for the proliferation of bacteria and viruses.

Seeking out alternative means of treatment can be beneficial for the child and the parents. Through Chiropractic care and craniosacral therapy the child with chronic Ear Infections can experience immediate improvement and relief long-term. 

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.