Dr. Mercola January 11 2007 7,021 views
There's probably few things more worrisome to mothers, both young and old, than a crying, colicky baby. Fortunately, the same natural treatment that may prevent childhood allergies -- a high quality probiotic -- does wonders to lessen colic.
For 28 days, Italian researchers compared the effect of the probiotic Lactobacillus reuteri on colic versus simethicone (the over-the-counter drug commonly called Mylanta) on 83 breast-fed infants, during which their mothers also avoided consuming any dairy products.
Daily crying times for babies treated with the probiotic lessened by 74 percent from an average 159 minutes on day seven to an amazing 51 minutes by day 28, blowing away the simethicone group, as colicky crying times dropped from 177 minutes a day to just 145 minutes by day 28 (a 26 percent change).
Scientists speculate a probiotic worked far better than simethicone because it contributed to an overall anti-inflammatory effect in a baby's intestines that modulated immune responses in the gut. And, with all the bacteria existing in our guts, it's not surprising that balancing a baby's developing gut flora has such a beneficial effect. Total health begins in the gut, so if your GI tract isn't in optimal health, your overall health will be compromised.
Thank you Jason!! I just registered only because this subject is dear to my heart. My own daughters benefitted tremendously from chiropractic adjustment as babies and then I had my own back trouble that was helped. My oldest will be 21 in March and the youngest at that time will be close to 19 1/2.
What prompted my coming on mostly is my boyfriend's father is a retired M.D. who around New Year's insisted to me it wasn't even POSSIBLE for the spine to get out of alignment!! And that the entire practice is basically a hoax. A practice for something that doesn't even exist. I remained polite but tried to educate him and explained "I'm just sharing my experience; this has been my journey and it's been a long one" allowing him his dignity to keep his (wrong) beliefs yet stand by what I KNOW is truth for my life and many, many others. I tried to gracefully end the conversation which had started with him chastising me for watching Fox News in another room, mind you. Over and over, I was told in various ways that this was all in head. Meaning the immediate relief and help my babies got and I guess me too. He continued about how chiropractors have a wonderful bedside manner and that's what makes folks think they're cured. NO ONE fools me with such stuff! I had too many times I believed I'd found an answer to certain health problems myself and what I tried didn't work. So if it was simply placebo effect, I would have been cured of all my ills with the first thing I took or first method I chose. And that even includes surgeries I had believing that would end certain problems. NOT.
I was appalled that my boyfriend, who I thought at least in private believed me, suddenly doubted me and what I KNOW works! A major kink/ probable dealbreaker in this relationship. Twenty years ago I would have demanded he speak up on my behalf. All I wanted then was his belief and reassurance in private. I do think there's some hope for us. He did admit to me (only after this happened) he didn't get a flu shot this year when his mom called and pressured him and offered to get his appointment for him! He's 37 years old!! I am grateful he did some thinking when I pointed out (in 2005) how he'd gotten terribly sick the years he got a flu shot. And he always ended up with strep throat as well. He gracefully bypassed her offer of help and no one knows he's now a "heretic".
Colic doesn't just suddenly disappear as a coincidence at the time of adjustment. His dad seemed to think that's the very moment the colic just disappeared all on it's own and had the audacity to suggest drugs that weren't even available when I had my girls. Not that I would have chosen drugs once seeing this method work. This was hard for me as they gave a generous welcome during our visit but it took me a couple days to process the verbal "attack". I would never have said anything to anyone for their choice of TV program/news, much less instigate the conversation that followed. Of which an offshoot was government control of how we raise our children.
My only regret was I should have just let him think chiropracters "massaged" patients and "that's why they felt better". I probably could have prevented the entire episode by letting him go on believing that.
My experience with this and discovering the horrendous dangers of vaccines caused my parents and one sister to do a complete 180 in their view of both. They saw how healthy my girls were! One sister opted for the "traditional" route and her kids were sick almost always. She later had second thoughts about her choice of vaccinating.
By the way, the only grandchild in this family, is constantly sick due to vaccines and no one ever faces the fact that his raging illnesses come on the heels of his vaccines.
Certainly had I known probiotics could help as well, I'd have done that. Thank you for letting folks know about the benefits of chiropractic care for babies. [:D] And please forgive my rant but this is one place where I feel people know the truth and I can vent. I think I need that bumper sticker that says "Question everything".......