10 ways in Easing Children’s Cold Symptoms Naturally

It’s frustrating to watch your child suffer with a cold, and it can be tempting to reach for cold medicine. But recent research has reveals that children’s cold medication pose serious health threats- and are not even effective.

Here at Nelson Chiropractic we teach that colds are a normal natural and possibly even necessary part of childhood. By fighting off colds your youngster’s immune system builds strength. Dr. Nelson encourages parents to avoid children’s cold medication whenever it is safe to do so, and focus on prevention and all natural symptom relief.

All natural cold relief for children 

  

1.       Maintain regular chiropractic checkups

Keeping appointments with Dr. Nelson will speed recovery and prevent future bouts with the common cold. Numerous studies reveal that regular chiropractic care keeps a Childs immune system in optimal condition and better equipped to fight off colds.

2.       Clear the nose

Drip saline in the baby’s nose. Saline drops are available at your local pharmacy.  After administering the drops use a bulb syringe to clear your baby’s nose. First squeeze the bulb to expel all the air then place the top about ¼ - ½ inch into the baby’s nostril and point toward the back of the nose. Once in place, release the bulb so it can suction the mucus, then dispense of the collected mucus.

3.       Humidify the air

Dr. Nelson recommend using a hot steam humidifier and making sure it’s somewhere safely out of reach for your child in your child’s room. Aim the mist away from the baby’s crib, or it will dampen the bedding. He also recommend using the vaporizing solution as well, this will help the lungs relax and help reduce coughing.

4.       Boost fluid intake

Try chicken soup or chamomile tea. For children over 1 year old, try warm water or tea with lemon and honey (do not give honey to children under 1 year of age).

5.       Elevate the head

Keep your child up right as much as possible. For infants consider placing a pillow under the head end of the crib mattress (never put a pillow on top of the mattress because it’s a suffocation hazard).

Tune in on our next blog where we will continue our 10 ways in Easing Children’s Cold Symptoms Naturally Part 2.

A Great Loss

Recently my cousin, Norris Erickson, DC passed away. He was not just a relative but a friend, mentor, and collegue. This is what I wrote as a tribute to him.

Neil Armstrong died yesterday. As I was reading his obituary it struck me how there are many similarities to Norris’s life story. Both had humble beginnings being born in a small town and moving around quite a bit in childhood. Both became fascinated with a principle (chiropractic/aviation) early in life and never lost that fascination, in fact, turning it into a passion. As with Neil, Norris served our country proudly if only for a short time in the military. But that shaped him in lasting ways and gave him a sense of patriotism that guided his life to the end. Both pursued higher education related to their lifelong passion and set off to make a difference for people. They took risks, not carelessly but necessarily. Each kept working toward a goal bigger than himself.

As he could, Norris started giving back to others. Early on he mentored other chiropractic students including myself. Then he became a leader among the alumni of the college and worked to keep the college focused on its mission. While Neil became a professor officially, Norris frequently returned to Palmer to provide insight to the students and unofficially became their teacher of life and chiropractic philosophy. Eventually he “adopted” whole classes to be even more involved.

While Norris didn’t have a singular “one small step for a man” moment, he regularly made steps towards the “giant leap” that is now transforming healthcare and people’s way of thinking about their body. Instead of ever more increasing drugs and surgery, Norris wanted people to think about how their body worked. He deeply wanted us to realize and understand the often discounted or ignored innate intelligence that drives each and every one of us. He fought hard in the headwinds of a society that took the phrase “better living through chemistry” and tried to apply it to the body without any regard for our inborn healing and regulating abilities.

Norris’s obituary points out his service in many organizations. But during his life I seldom heard him mention the leadership roles he had taken. Often he would talk about events from the Shriners, the Legion, or the Mason’s but never in the context of what he did. A great example was when he was instrumental in bringing the moving Vietnam Memorial Wall to Aurora. His statement to me was “we are bringing the wall to Aurora” not “I”. I didn’t know his key role in this until reading his obituary. But that was typical for Norris, get out there, get the job done, and not worry about who gets credit for it.

This is what is said of Neil as well. His family released a statement that I believe applies just as much to Norris. This is an excerpt: "[he was a] reluctant American hero [and had] served his nation proudly…While we mourn the loss of a very good man, we also celebrate his remarkable life and hope that it serves as an example to young people around the world to work hard to make their dreams come true, to be willing to explore and push the limits, and to selflessly serve a cause greater than themselves." Even the part about young people around the world fits him because he had substantial influence on Palmer chiropractic students who come from all over the world.

And finally, Neil Armstrong’s family responded this way when asked how best to honor Neil, “For those who may ask what they can do to honor Neil, we have a simple request. Honor his example of service, accomplishment and modesty…” I can’t think of a better way to honor Norris either.

Some Tips for Good Posture

Excellent posture is not only beautiful to look at, but it also reflects self-confidence. This can be beneficial in any environment where you want to be more impressive, like at a job interview or on a first date! Improper posture causes misalignment in your spine, and this can put excessive stress and strain on muscles, joints and the supporting connective tissues.

Forward head position occurs when the ear is not centered over the middle of the shoulder (from a side-view). Because the weight of the average head is approximately that of a large bowling ball, for every inch it drifts forward relative to your shoulder, 10 times more weight is exerted upon the muscles, joints and ligaments of the neck and upper back, causing strain in these tissues. This occurs most commonly when sitting in front of a computer screen or television. To avoid it, position the screen at the level of your eyes, preferably directly in front of you.

Slouching occurs when the upper back is over-curved and the shoulders round forward. This makes a person look tired or dejected, and is one of the most unattractive postures. It also alters the curvatures of the entire spine, so it is the least desirable in that respect too. Postural muscles of the lower back are placed under a tremendous load, increasing the likelihood that these tissues will become irritated or inflamed.

Pay attention to your posture when sitting or standing. If you know you are out of position, correct it. Instead of “pulling your shoulders back”, imagine standing as if you are a quarter-inch taller. The thoracic curve will balance out, and your chest should naturally rise, thereby allowing the shoulders to gently fall back into position. Head position will be more centered, taking stress and strain off the area where the head meets the shoulders.

Is that pill worth it?

Iatrogenic illnesses, or problems directly resulting from medical intervention, are the third leading cause of preventable deaths in North America, with most of these due to over-medication. Only heart disease and cancer lead to more deaths annually.

Most people take too much medication and don't get enough exercise.We have become a society of “need it now”: we have fast-food, fast cars and want faster and better technology all the time and this is spilling over into the healthcare industry. Most people nowadays are seeking that “quick fix”—that one-treatment wonder or one pill that will make them instantly better. We need to start taking care of ourselves. We need to shift to a more health-based paradigm and get back to the basics. The solution will not be found in the treatment of our problems, but in the prevention of them. A headache is not the indicator that the body needs more Tylenol! We need to reduce the amount of stress we are exposed to in our environments. We need to take control of our own health, and stop handing it over to a system that is inherently flawed.

Chiropractors have been working diligently for over a hundred years under the basic premise that “the power that made the body heals the body”. They adjust spines to remove vertebral subluxations—helping take stress away from the spine. Alleviating pressure from the sensitive joints and nerves of the spine works to facilitate a better mind-body connection, thus helping to improve the general health and wellness of the whole patient, no matter what condition they are suffering from. Since nothing is added or taken away from the body, it is the most natural, safe and effective thing you can do to enhance your health. Regular chiropractic adjustments help prevent sickness by making the body work better.

Sleeping Habits

While comfortability will vary from person, here's a quick comparison of different sleeping positions:

On your back
- Rank: The best
- Pros: Sleeping on your back on a medium-firm mattress helps to best support the natural curves of your spine. You should use a light or down-filled pillow, as thicker pillows can push your head too far forward.
- Cons: This position may contribute to snoring.

On your side
- Rank: Acceptable alternative
- Pros: Can adequately support your spine, but requires proper pillow selection. Be sure to use a firm pillow to separate your head and shoulder and a pillow between the knees to maintain pelvic alignment.
- Cons: Sleeping in this position has been linked to wrinkles and breast-sagging.

On your stomach
- Rank: Worst
- Pros: NONE
- Cons: Turning your head to one side while you sleep is bad for your neck. Also, if you have a soft mattress, your low back is almost guaranteed to be sore in the morning when you wake up from this position. If you can avoid it, DO NOT sleep in this position.

Exercise and Academics

If you want your child to do better in school, you should make sure your son or daughter gets plenty of exercise. Research indicates physical activity can impact a child’s brain as much as the body.

In a review of exercise studies published earlier this year in the Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine, researchers uncovered compelling evidence that children who participated in regular physical exercise achieved better academic performance.(1)

Researchers argued that physical activity increases the amount of oxygen and blood to the brain, which in turn boosts cognitive function. As well, exercise develops brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) - a protein that exerts significant influence over the creation of neurons. BDNF is primarily found in brain areas important for learning, memory and higher thinking. Laboratory experiments showed mice that were exercised increased their production of BDNF considerably compared to sedentary mice. Exercise also increases production of mood-lifting endorphins and this may give kids the confidence to tackle academic challenges.

Research published in the Journal of Sport & Exercise Psychology showed that elementary school children who had good aerobic fitness were more likely to excel in reading and mathematics. However, strength training was not associated with improved academic performance. In their conclusion, the study researchers remarked: “These findings suggest that fitness was positively associated with neuroelectric indices of attention and working memory, and response speed in children.”(2)

Most experts agree additional human studies are needed on exercise and its impact on academic performance, but so far the research shows promise.

1. Physical Activity and Performance at School - Arch Pediatr Adolesc Med. 2012;166(1):49-55.
2. Aerobic Fitness and Neurocognitive Function in Healthy Preadolescent Children - Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise: November 2005 - Volume 37 - Issue 11 - pp 1967-1974.

The Connection Between Body and Mind

Have you ever felt intense back pain that you thought was caused by “sleeping funny?” Have you ever bent over to tie your shoes, but were not able to straighten up afterward? When intense back or neck pain happens seemingly out of the blue, one of the things you may be experiencing is psychosomatic pain. This is defined as a pain that can manifest physically, but originates from mental or emotional causes.

A simple example of this is what physically happens to your body during a negative emotion, such as anger or fear. If your computer hard drive crashed and important files were lost, you would feel more tense. As a result, your muscles would be tighter and your normal range of motion would be decreased, leaving you more likely to experiences strains. Normal, everyday motions such as tying your shoes or looking over your shoulder can become difficult.

This imbalance can even be magnified by pre-existing conditions. Chiropractors work to maximize your muscle and joint movement, therefore minimizing your chances of physical pain from your state of mind.