Colic and Chiropractic Care

Chiropractic doesn’t cure colic. Colic is due to irritation of the vagus nerve (also known as cranial nerve X). This irritation causes the nerve to function at less than optimal capacity.

The vagus nerve is very important for digestion. It originates at the brainstem (at the level of the base of the skull) and travels down the neck to give nerve supply to the stomach and other organs. If the nerve is irritated digestion is affected and in babies causes discomfort and reflux. Chiropractic uses very light pressure adjustments to take pressure off the nerve (Dr John Sutherland uses cranial therapy and activator therapy with babies).

Parents often comment that the reflux is diminished by later in the day after the treatment and that the baby is feeding and sleeping much easier.