7.04.2008

ADHD...and your Neck?


While doing research on ADHD (attention-deficit-hyperactivity disorder) I came upon this study of a 5-yr.old boy who was diagnosed w/ ADHD and was treated w/ CBP chiropractic adjustments. The boy had a cervical kyphosis (loss of normal neck curve, or a 'straight neck'), and had a history of neck trauma at birth. He had been treated unsuccessfully by a pediatrician with methylphenidate (Ritalin), Adderall, and Haldol for 3 years. After 8 weeks of chiropractic care, the boy's cervical curve had returned to normal, and there was such a reduction in ADHD symptoms, that he was taken off the medication, and no longer diagnosed w/ ADHD.

See the entire article here

Although this is only a single case, it is so important to make this connection between function and structure. Due to the location of the brainstem in connection w/ the upper cervical spine, it is clear that if you have impaired structure (in this case the loss of normal curvature -- changing the anatomy of the structures around the spinal cord), then an altered function will be expected. No, chiropractic care won't cure ADHD, but it treats the body, which in turn regulates itself, through the various systems (nervous, endocrine, immune, gastro-intestinal, etc...) and creates homeostasis, or balance. This is the true expression of health...not just covering up symptoms w/ a drug. ** and another thing, how do you diagnose a 2-yr old with ADHD? Are you serious?

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

...and is ADHD even a real disease, or is it just hyperactivity caused by pain, lack of rules, poor parenting, caffeine, other illnesses, or doctors who don't want to dig deep into the real issue?

dr. nicholas weddle dc said...

I have found that there are about 6 good clinical reasons for ADHD. Here is a good link to Dr. Amen's site, who does SPECT Brain Imaging specifically for ADHD...

http://www.amenclinics.com/clinics/information/ways-we-can-help/adhd-add/

What's good is that there are many natural treatments, including chiropractic care, that do not require the use of stimulant medication, what is currently given out like candy...