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

To best understand how craniosacral Therapy 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 craniosacral Therapist to determine the cause and possible correction could be a beneficial step in the process of healing. 

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.