Let’s Talk: Your Child’s Nervous and Immune Systems
Most conditions develop due to improper nerve communication between the nervous system and the rest of the body. The same applies to pediatric chiropractic care cases.
The Nervous System
If we compare the human body to a house or apartment, the nervous system would be the electrical system. If something happens to the electrical, to the fuse box, problems can occur throughout the home. The same applies to the nervous system and the human body. The nervous system is vital for a child’s overall growth and health, sending signals to the appropriate muscles, tendons, glands, and cells on how and when to work. All these pathways connect to the spinal nerve, protected by the vertebrae and discs. With proper spinal alignment, the brain communicates with the rest of the body efficiently, and the child continues to grow, being healthy throughout the process.
So, if there is a disturbance in a child’s nervous system, conditions such as bed wetting, colic, ear infections, acid reflux, and trouble sleeping develop. Ironically, though, parents and children may not realize these conditions occur because of one detail: the lack of pain. Children fall, trip over something, and play sports often, showing how high their pain tolerance can be. As such, it is not surprising for symptoms to appear, but the child doesn’t experience pain. In addition, parents are unaware of the cause behind the symptoms, which can lead to more trouble.
The Immune System
The nervous system isn’t the only network that can be affected. Along with the nervous system, a child’s immune system may be affected as well. The immune system is the body’s own defense system, protecting the body from harmful germs and infection. It keeps track of every harmful substance it has fought previously so it knows how to handle future occurrences. Working properly, the body performs daily tasks without worry of being harmed by potentially dangerous germs. If there is stress, however, on this system, there may be trouble throughout the whole body. Certain substances may slip in undetected and cause a lot of damage, including inflammation and infection in affected areas. Cells that are designed to fight those substances may not know what to do. As such, children can suffer several symptoms because of what is going on in the body.
Both the nervous system and the immune system are important for proper growth, especially with children. Not only should children be getting plenty of sleep and rest, but they should also eat healthy and be active. Regular visits to the chiropractor are another option for children to stay healthy and keep growing into strong adults.
Zone Technique: Where to Start
It may surprise parents that Zone Technique can help a child’s growth and development, and the results show that improvement. Zone Technique focuses on finding any imbalances in one or more of the body’s six zones and correcting them. For pediatric chiropractic care, the most common Zone 2, Zone 5, and Zone 3.
Zone 2- Elimination Zone
Zone 2 is responsible for “flushing out” harmful waste products from the body. Consisting of organs such as the lungs, kidneys and the intestines, this zone assists in flushing out any harmful byproducts produced in the body. For example, carbon dioxide gets expelled from the body through the lungs. As such, when this zone becomes imbalanced, harmful byproducts in the body might not get flushed out properly. Those substances would cause damage – even poison – the body from the inside, leading to other complications. With children, an imbalance in Zone 2 can result in symptoms such as bed wetting, prolonged sneezing and/or coughing, constipation, diarrhea, and throat pain. Such symptoms, especially bed wetting, leads to children – even teens – feeling embarrassed and stressed due to not understanding what is happening within their own bodies. By focusing on this zone, especially during regular adjustments, children will feel less stressed, will feel more confident in themselves, and they will have more control over their body’s functions.
Zone 5- Musculoskeletal Zone
Zone 5 is the body’s support system and foundation. Thanks to 637+muscles, ligaments, and bones in the body, we can move around and perform daily tasks effortlessly. While Zone 5 can suffer from mental and emotional stress, the most common cause behind pain in this system is physical stress. Slips and falls. Learning to walk for the first time. Running into walls and/or corners. Sports. All of these are examples of what can cause an imbalance in this zone, especially for children and teens. This is because the muscles in the body tighten up, bracing the body for impact against something. Whether it is the floor, a wall, or another person, children and teens will experience pain shortly after the incident. As such, focusing on this zone will result in children and teens feeling less pain in their bodies. They will become more active and healthier as well, feeling more energized and stronger than before.
Zone 3- Nervous Zone
Zone 3 is the Nervous System, the body’s electrical system. This zone tells your body when to switch “on” and “off”. Your body relies on this zone to determine when to sleep, to digest nutrients, and to relax throughout a given day. Overall, Zone 3 acts as the master balancing system for the body. Like the other zones, however, this zone can become stressed and burnt out. Whether it is physical, mental, emotional, or a chemical imbalance, this zone will experience issues from stress and/or spinal misalignment. Children suffering from a Zone 3 imbalance may experience hormone imbalances, headaches or migraines, trouble sleeping, nervousness, balance issues, poor eyesight, and much more. Due to such varying symptoms, children become more stressed, leading them to make poor health decisions and getting less sleep than before. Therefore, it is important that children get plenty of sleep, eat lots of fruit and vegetables, and they get plenty of exercise. In addition, visiting the chiropractor regularly will help keep children feeling energized and on the right health track.