ADD/ADHD - Barrett Chiropractic

Does your child suffer from hyperactivity, difficulty concentrating, anxiety, poor performance in school, and restlessness? These symptoms could be characteristic of ADD/ADHD. Often times, accompanying these symptoms, are parents that may feel frustrated or overwhelmed. The average age of ADHD diagnosis is 7 years old according to healthline.com. (ADD also affects adults) If you don’t like the idea of your 2nd grader being treated with medications; you may just try your hand with alternative methods first. This is where chiropractic care comes in.
Chiropractic is the largest natural health profession in the world and promotes the idea that the body has an inborn ability to heal itself provided there is no nervous system interference. You and your child’s health is both directly and indirectly controlled by the nervous system and any interference or instability within this system can impair normal function and lower your resistance to disease.
The top two bones in your neck are C1 and C2, these bones are named the atlas and the axis respectively. Focusing on this region within the neck could be the very thing to help with ADHD. Why? It has to do with the effect that a subluxation in this area could have on the function of the brainstem and the central nervous system. There is sufficient evidence showing that ADD may have its roots in abnormal brain activity. Dr. Daniel Arman, an American psychiatrist and brain disorder specialist, has shown that people with ADD/ADHD have abnormal brain scans. He believes that many factors are involved in the increased prevalence of ADD, some of which include:
– Diets filled with processed foods
– Limited physical education in school
– Excessive video games
– Exposure to environmental toxins (i.e. pesticides in food)
Therefore, not only is it imperative to get checked for an upper cervical misalignment, but it is also important to maintain a healthy diet, get plenty of exercise, and be located in a loving and supportive environment.
When you have a misalignment of the atlas or axis, not only is brainstem function affected but blood flow to the brain and CSF (cerebrospinal fluid) flow can also be affected. The vertebrae in the cervical region (neck) have tiny holes called transverse vertebral foramen. Vertebral arteries are located safely within these holes of the vertebrae and these arteries bring oxygen-rich blood to the brain. Blood flow can be inhibited when a misalignment is present, this can keep the brain from properly functioning due to a lack of required oxygen. When a misalignment inhibits the drainage of cerebrospinal fluid, the excess fluid can start to build up and this pooling of fluid may lead to increased intracranial pressure. A precise correction of the misalignment from an upper cervical chiropractor is vital in relieving these changes and allowing the body to properly adapt and heal.
The removal of interference within the nervous system can also help balance the body. Sympathetic and parasympathetic segments of the nervous system need to be in perfect balance for optimal concentration, sleep, digestion and immune system support. Stress places the body in a sympathetic dominant state, also known as a “fight or flight” state. Accurate adjustments can help break this dominance and restore a more balanced state and a state of relaxation, this is known as being in parasympathetic mode or “rest and digest” mode.
Many different conditions respond to upper cervical care and while we don’t know exactly how you or your condition will respond, we aim at not just treating symptoms but instead relying on the fact that the body is a self-healing and self-regulating organism provided the removal of neural interference. Schedule an appointment with us today to see if you or your loved one is a good candidate for upper cervical chiropractic care.