Understanding Fevers: Why Your Child's Fever Might Actually Be a Good Thing

It's the middle of the night, and you're jolted awake by your child's warm forehead and flushed cheeks. Your heart races as you scramble for the thermometer, confirming what you already knew – your child has a fever. Like most parents, your instinct might be to immediately reach for fever-reducing medication. But what if everything we've been taught about fevers is actually incomplete or even incorrect?

The Misunderstood Healing Response

Did you know that fever-reducing medications might actually prolong illness in some cases? What if that elevated temperature isn't an enemy to be fought, but an intelligent healing response orchestrated by your child's brain and nervous system – one that's actively fighting infection, activating the immune system, and doing a very important job!

Fevers account for approximately one-third of all pediatric office visits in the United States. That's millions of worried parents rushing their children to doctors each year, often unnecessarily. What's even more concerning is that many parents administer fever-reducing medication for temperatures below 100.4°F, which isn't even technically a fever!

What a Fever Really Is

A fever is not simply an elevated temperature—it's a sophisticated response produced by your child's brain and nervous system. Specifically, the hypothalamus which acts as the body's thermostat.

When your child's immune system detects pathogens like viruses or bacteria, it releases chemicals called pyrogens that signal the hypothalamus to raise the body's temperature via prostaglandins. This creates a controlled, intentional increase in temperature that's quite different from dangerous overheating that occurs in conditions like heat stroke.

From a neurological perspective, a fever is actually a sign that your child's nervous system is regulating properly, actively coordinating a complex immune response to eliminate pathogens and restore health.

The Powerful Benefits of Fevers

Here's what's happening when your child has a fever:

1. Slowing down pathogens: Many bacteria and viruses replicate optimally at normal body temperature. Even a modest increase in temperature can inhibit their reproduction and spread.

2. Enhancing immune function: Higher temperatures actually accelerate white blood cell production and improve their mobility and effectiveness. Research indicates that fevers increase the number of circulating neutrophils, a type of white blood cell.

3. Activating the healing process: The fever is literally your child's immune system kicking into high gear, creating an internal environment where healing can happen more efficiently.

When Fever Patterns Indicate Deeper Issues

A child's fever patterns—whether they spike high fevers easily, struggle to develop fevers when fighting infections, have prolonged low-grade fevers, or never develop a fever when they should—often indicate there might be dysfunction within their neuro-immune system.

If your child's fever response is consistently excessive OR suppressive, it could be a sign of underlying nervous system dysfunction, sometimes triggered by early life factors like:

• Prenatal stress

• Birth trauma (especially from interventions like forceps, vacuum extraction, or c-sections)

• Frequent early antibiotics

These can disrupt proper neurological development and affect how a child's body mounts fever responses.

When Fevers DO Warrant Medical Attention

While fevers are generally beneficial, certain situations require professional care:

• Any fever in infants under 3 months

• Fever above 102.2°F in children 3-6 months old

• Persistent fever above 102.2°F for more than two days in children over 6 months

Watch for accompanying signs like lethargy, difficulty breathing, severe headache with neck stiffness, refusal to drink leading to dehydration, or a rash that doesn't fade when pressed.

Remember that even when medical intervention is necessary, this doesn't invalidate the premise that fevers themselves are beneficial. The goal is to approach them with understanding while recognizing situations that truly require attention.

Supporting Your Child's Fever Without Suppressing It

Instead of immediately reaching for medication, consider these supportive approaches:

1. Focus on hydration: Offer room temperature water, diluted electrolyte drinks without artificial colors, herbal teas for older children, or homemade popsicles.

2. Create a healing environment: Ensure extra rest, a comfortable room temperature, lightweight clothing, and light blankets that can be easily removed.

3. Consider tepid sponging: If your child is uncomfortable, try sponging with lukewarm water, but avoid cold baths, which can cause shivering and actually raise core temperature.

4. Get your child checked for nervous system dysfunction (subluxation): Consider having your child's nervous system checked by a neurologically-focused chiropractor to ensure proper communication between the brain and immune system.

From a neurological perspective, these supportive measures create an optimal environment for the vagus nerve and parasympathetic nervous system to function properly, leading to more effective fever patterns and faster recovery.

Empowering Your Approach to Childhood Illness

At Pure Chiropractic, we understand fevers from a natural and neurological perspective that transforms how we approach this common childhood experience. Rather than fearing fevers, we can recognize them as evidence of a well-functioning neuroimmune system organizing an intelligent healing response.

If you are ready to schedule a consultation, please reach out to us today!  If you are not local to us, check out the PX Docs directory to find a PX Docs office near you.

When we support rather than suppress this process, we honor the body's innate wisdom and help our children develop resilient, self-regulating immune systems!

Why Your Newborn Needs to be Adjusted Right After Birth

As a brand new parent, you want to give your newborn the absolute best start in life. You're carefully selecting the safest car seat, researching the most nutritious feeding options, and creating the perfect sleep environment. But what many parents don't realize is that even the most "normal" birth process puts tremendous physical stress on your baby's delicate body—particularly their brainstem, neck, and nervous system.

Birth Is More Physically Demanding Than We Realize

In the United States, nearly 1 in 3 deliveries now end in C-sections. Beyond that, many births involve other interventions like induction, forceps or vacuum delivery, and various forms of manual assistance. The numbers are quite staggering once you look closely at what's happening in labor and delivery rooms across developed countries.

But it's not just birth interventions that can cause concern. Even in natural, intervention-free births, the physical stress of labor and delivery places significant pressure on an infant's spine and delicate nervous system. This pressure can lead to subtle birth trauma and neurological interference caused by misalignments, also known as subluxation, which may impact your child's development, nervous system regulation, and overall health from the very beginning.

Understanding Those Challenging First Weeks

Those first few weeks with your newborn can be challenging if you are dealing with constant crying, difficulty nursing, sleep struggles, reflux, or colic. While conventional medicine often dismisses these as "normal baby problems" that they'll eventually outgrow, these signs may actually be indicating underlying neurological dysfunction that can be addressed.

In a study from the American Osteopathic Association, subluxation or "somatic dysfunction" was found in 99% of healthy newborns. The severity and incidence of these biomechanical challenges within the spine and cranial system increase with longer labor times and the use of birth interventions.

This statistic may seem staggering, especially considering that conventional pediatricians typically have no training in identifying or addressing these issues. Even children born naturally without intervention can benefit massively from an early life chiropractic check-up that looks for subluxation and nervous system dysfunction.

Why Early Detection Matters

The reason it can be beneficial to find subluxation early is that it not only can cause immediate issues with latching, nursing, digestion, sleeping, and soothing—but they are NOT something your child will simply "grow out of." Due to their location within the nervous system and brainstem regions, they commonly begin to affect various aspects of growth and development as time goes on—most notably interfering with gross motor development, fine motor skills, speech, and other developmental milestones.

The Science Behind Birth-Related Subluxation

Infants Cannot Protect Their Delicate Spine

What makes birth trauma particularly concerning is that newborns have no motor or muscular control developed yet, so they can't protect themselves during the birth process. This significantly increases the likelihood and severity of neck and brainstem injuries from birth intervention.

Understanding Subluxation in Newborns

Subluxation in your baby's neurospinal system has three key components:

1. Misalignment within the neurospinal system, which can lead to issues like difficulty latching, torticollis (neck tightness), and plagiocephaly (flat spots on the head).

2. Fixation and restricted motion. Movement is essential for a developing infant as it provides the brain with proprioception—when subluxation creates fixation, it reduces this vital input to the brain.

3. Neurological interference and imbalance, which disrupts proper communication between the brain and body.

The Critical Role of the Brainstem and Upper Neck

All motor tone and development for the entire body is controlled and coordinated by the cerebellum, brainstem, and upper cervical region of the spinal cord. It functions like an "air traffic control" center. When the nerves and muscles of the upper neck and spine are compromised in the first moments of life, all motor development downstream is negatively affected.

And remember—motor development equals brain development in infants.

The Vagus Nerve Connection

The upper neck and brainstem region, the area most affected by birth trauma, houses the vagus nerve—the primary controller of your baby's parasympathetic "rest, digest, and regulate" nervous system.

When birth trauma creates subluxation in this area, it can significantly disrupt vagus nerve function, leading to dysautonomia (imbalance in the autonomic nervous system). This disruption can affect virtually every major system in your baby's body: digestive function (colic, reflux, constipation), sleep regulation, immune response, emotional regulation, and developmental milestones.

Common "Normal Baby Problems" That Signal Neurological Dysfunction

What if those common challenges aren't just phases to endure but actual signs of a nervous system under stress?

• Colic and excessive crying aren't just "phases" but often manifestations of a stressed nervous system struggling to regulate itself.

• Breastfeeding difficulties frequently stem from upper cervical subluxation affecting the cranial nerves that control sucking, swallowing, and other precise movements.

• Reflux and digestive issues often occur when vagus nerve dysfunction disrupts normal digestive motility.

• Sleep disturbances happen when a subluxated nervous system stuck in sympathetic dominance makes it difficult for babies to relax into deep, restorative sleep.

• Early developmental delays can occur when subluxation restricts normal movement patterns that stimulate proper neurological development.

The Gentle Approach of Pediatric Chiropractic Care

Unlike the adjustments you might picture for adults, newborn adjustments are incredibly gentle—using no more pressure than you would to test the ripeness of a tomato or press on your closed eyelid.

These precise, gentle techniques are specifically designed to release tension patterns and restore proper nervous system communication, allowing your baby's body to function optimally.

Many practitioners use advanced technology like INSiGHT Scans to identify precise areas of nervous system stress, allowing for highly specific and individualized care plans tailored to your baby's unique needs.

Setting the Foundation for Lifelong Health

The first year of your baby's life represents an extraordinary period of development. During this time, their brain will more than double in size and form more than a million new neural connections every second. These early patterns establish the foundation that will influence their health and development for years to come.

By ensuring that your baby's nervous system is functioning optimally from the very beginning, you're not just addressing immediate challenges like colic, reflux, or sleep issues—you're setting them up for a lifetime of improved health, stronger immunity, better regulation, and optimal development.

Taking Proactive Action

Don't wait until those "normal baby problems" become chronic issues. You can take a proactive approach to your child's health by scheduling consultation at Pure Chiropractic with a Neurologically-Focused Pediatric Chiropractor as soon as possible after birth. If you are not local to us, check on the PX Docs directory to find an office near you.

A comprehensive assessment will include a detailed health history, gentle physical examination, and advanced neurological scans to identify areas of nervous system stress.

We know that taking care of your newborn baby can be the most exciting AND nerve-racking time of your life! By considering Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care, you're taking an important step toward giving your baby the best possible start—one where their nervous system can function optimally from day one, allowing them to grow, develop, and thrive as nature intended.

What Traditional Doctors Miss About Your Child's ADHD

Let me guess... your child doesn't just have one speed.

One moment, they're bouncing off the walls — shouting, spinning, climbing on furniture, and melting down when something doesn't go their way.

The next moment? They're completely zoned out and disconnected. Blank stare. Can't follow instructions. It's like they're in the room... but not really there.

You've tried the parenting books, the behavior and reward charts, maybe even medications — and still, you're left asking – Why is my child like this?

And more importantly... How do I actually help them?

Looking Beyond the Labels to Find Real Answers

Here's the truth that most traditional approaches miss: what we label as ADHD or ADD is often just the tip of the iceberg. Underneath those labels are two very different nervous system patterns – what we call "Raging Bulls" and "Drunken Bulls."

Understanding these patterns helps us make sense of not just the symptoms and everyday challenges, but most importantly, the nervous system dysregulation that's actually causing them.

The "Raging Bull" vs. "Drunken Bull": Two Sides of the Same Coin

The "Raging Bull" ADHD Type

This child is stuck in "on" mode – flooded with energy, impulsivity, and big emotions that can't be controlled. They're constantly moving, talking, fidgeting, and struggling to slow down. Traditional approaches often focus solely on "managing" these behaviors rather than understanding why they're happening.

The "Drunken Bull" ADD Type

This child is often shut down, exhausted, foggy, slow to process, and overwhelmed by everything around them. They may appear "lazy" or unmotivated when in reality, their nervous system is struggling to engage properly. This type was formerly known as ADD but is now classified as predominantly inattentive ADHD in modern diagnostic terms.

What's fascinating – and what many parents don't realize – is how often these patterns evolve into each other over time. The hyperactive child can develop attention issues as they become frustrated with academic challenges, while the inattentive child can become hyperactive from the built-up stress and anxiety of constantly struggling.

The Concerning Reality of Current Approaches

According to the CDC, an estimated 7 million children in the United States have been diagnosed with ADHD. Approximately 3.5 million of these children (about 69%) are currently prescribed medication for the condition.

While medications work for some children, they often come with concerning side effects:

• Sleep problems and insomnia

• Appetite suppression

• Emotional dysregulation and irritability

• Anxiety and nervousness

• Tics or involuntary movements

• Persistent headaches

• Stomach pain and nausea

• Increased blood pressure and heart rate

• Social withdrawal or "zombie-like" behavior

Most importantly, these medications do not address the root cause — which is often a stressed, dysregulated nervous system. This can lead to a cycle of chasing symptoms, adjusting dosages, or adding more medications to address side effects.

Understanding the True Neurological Roots

At the core of both ADHD presentations lies a complex interplay of neurological factors that impact a child's ability to regulate attention, behavior, and emotions.

The three key elements we find most often are:

1. Subluxation & Sympathetic Dominance: Misalignments, tension, and restricted mobility within the neurospinal system that interfere with how the brain and body communicate. These physical disruptions, often stemming from birth trauma or early injuries, create "noise" in the nervous system.

2. Nervous System Dysregulation & Dysautonomia: When subluxation persists, it throws the autonomic nervous system out of balance, often leaving children stuck in a heightened "fight or flight" response that makes calm focus nearly impossible.

3. Vagus Nerve Dysfunction: The vagus nerve is essential for activating the "rest and regulate" parasympathetic response. When it's not functioning properly, children struggle to regulate emotions, attention, and behavior.

Hope, Healing, and Transformation Are Possible

Your child isn't broken. They don't need more labels. They need answers. They need understanding. And they need a care plan that finally gets it right.

The best part? We can actually measure what's happening in your child's nervous system using specialized scans. These Neurological INSiGHT Scans don't just label — they measure and map out what's causing the chaos, so a customized, drug-free care plan can be created to help your child calm their brain, regain focus, and thrive.

From Struggle to Superpower

Here's what every parent needs to know:

Millions of kids today are either struggling with undiagnosed ADHD — or have a diagnosis but are still stuck in the same cycle of symptoms, side effects, and little to no progress.

That's because most ADHD tests and treatment plans stop at surface-level symptoms. They label the child... but don't look deeper into the real root cause.

True ADHD struggles begin in the brain and nervous system. And unless we measure what's happening under the surface, we miss the most important part.

When your child is locked in stress mode neurologically, no amount of behavior charts, medications, or consequences can bring lasting change. But when we help restore balance to the nervous system? Focus can improve. Meltdowns can decrease. Sleep stabilizes. And what was once seen as a disorder can become a superpower.

Taking the Next Step

If you're tired of guessing... tired of medications that don't work... or tired of watching your child struggle without answers — it's time to look deeper. It's time to turn your child's struggle into their greatest strength.

At Pure Chiropractic, we take the time to find the root cause that can help your child heal safely and naturally. If you are not local to us, check out the PX Docs directory to find a PX Doc near you.

Remember: Understanding which kind of "bull" is charging through your child's brain is the first step in finding the right solution. With the right approach, your child's unique brain can become their greatest asset rather than their biggest challenge.

Why Your Family Constantly Feels Exhausted and Wired

Do you find yourself reaching for that third cup of coffee just to make it through the afternoon? Does your child seem constantly wired yet somehow exhausted, struggling to focus at school but unable to wind down at night? You're not alone—and there's a reason for it.

What you and your family are experiencing could be a cortisol addiction. This neurological pattern has become increasingly common in our fast-paced world, affecting not just adults but our children too. The good news? Once you understand what's happening, you can take effective steps to break the cycle and help your entire family thrive naturally.

Understanding Cortisol Addiction: Why Your Family Feels Wired and Tired

Your body has an amazing system designed to help you respond to the world around you. It's called the autonomic nervous system, and it has two main branches:

1. The Sympathetic Nervous System (fight-or-flight): Activates during emergencies, releasing stress hormones like cortisol and adrenaline that increase heart rate, sharpen focus, and prepare you to respond to danger.

2. The Parasympathetic Nervous System (rest-digest-restore): Takes over during calm periods, allowing your body to heal, digest food properly, and restore energy.

These systems should work in harmony, with the sympathetic activated only when truly needed and the parasympathetic dominant most of the time. But in today's world, many families exist in a state of constant sympathetic activation.

Over time, your body can become dependent on these stress hormones just to function—creating a genuine physiological addiction to cortisol. You feel simultaneously wired and exhausted. Your child appears hyperactive yet struggles to focus when needed.

How It All Begins: The Perfect Storm

For many children, this pattern begins earlier than you might think. Birth interventions like forceps, vacuum extraction, C-sections, and even induction can create physical trauma to a baby's delicate upper neck and brainstem area. This trauma causes subluxation (misalignment, tension, and neurological interference in the nervous system) and impacts the vagus nerve—the master regulator of the parasympathetic system—and shifts a child into sympathetic dominance right from the start.

This neurological imbalance often manifests first as colic, reflux, or sleep issues in infants. As children grow, it can evolve into focus issues, hyperactivity, emotional dysregulation, and behaviors commonly diagnosed as ADHD or anxiety.

Modern life makes everything more challenging:

• Screens emit blue light that triggers cortisol production and disrupts sleep cycles

• Processed foods spike and crash blood sugar, creating stress on the body

• Packed schedules leave little downtime for parasympathetic recovery

• Constant digital stimulation keeps the nervous system activated

Children with already dysregulated nervous systems often seek intense stimulation (risk-taking behavior, screen time, sugar) to get the dopamine and cortisol their brains are craving. Parents mirror this pattern with caffeine dependence, busy schedules, and their own screen habits.

Together, these factors create family-wide patterns of sympathetic dominance that become increasingly difficult to break.

The Medication Trap: Why Conventional Approaches May Not Be Working

When children display signs of sympathetic dominance like hyperactivity, difficulty focusing, or emotional outbursts, they're often prescribed stimulant medications such as Adderall or Ritalin. These medications temporarily boost focus by further activating the sympathetic nervous system.

While these medications might provide short-term symptom relief, they don't address the underlying neurological imbalance. In fact, they can reinforce the body's dependence on sympathetic activation, potentially making the long-term situation more challenging.

As parents, we often don't realize we're caught in the same trap with our caffeine, energy drinks, and chronic stress, which keeps our own nervous systems in sympathetic overdrive. We're modeling the very patterns we're trying to help our children overcome.

Breaking Free: A Family Approach to Resetting the Nervous System

The good news is that the nervous system is remarkably adaptable. With the right approach, both you and your children can break free from cortisol addiction and establish healthier neurological patterns. Here's how:

1. Address the Root Cause

Rather than simply masking symptoms, look for approaches that identify and correct the underlying neurological imbalance. Nothing can accomplish that better than Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care, which is what we do here at Pure Chiropractic. Our INSiGHT Scans can identify areas of tension and interference in the nervous system, which we can use to develop personalized care plans to restore proper function.  Each specific adjustment helps release stuck stress, activating the parasympathetic branch and allowing the body to shift out of fight-or-flight and into rest-and-restore mode naturally.

1. Create a Home Environment That Supports Parasympathetic Activation

• Establish consistent sleep routines with earlier bedtimes and screen-free wind-down periods

• Reduce sensory overload by creating quiet spaces and scheduled downtime

• Spend time in nature, which naturally promotes parasympathetic activity

• Practice deep breathing exercises 

• Limit processed foods and sugars that create blood sugar instability and stress

Your Family's Path Forward

If you recognize your family in this story, take heart. You're not alone, and there is a path forward. The first step is understanding that what you're experiencing has a physiological basis—it's not a parenting failure or a character flaw in your child.

By addressing the root neurological causes of cortisol addiction and making supportive lifestyle changes, you can help your entire family break free from the stress cycle and discover what true balance feels like.

Imagine what life could be like when:

• Your child can focus when needed and relax when appropriate

• You have natural energy throughout the day without constant stimulants

• Bedtime becomes peaceful rather than a battle

• Your family enjoys time together without the constant undercurrent of stress

This vision isn't just a fantasy—it's entirely possible with the right approach. Your family deserves to thrive, not just survive. The journey to neurological balance starts with a single step, and that step is understanding what's really happening beneath the surface of those challenging behaviors and exhausting days.

Don’t wait to schedule an appointment at Pure Chiropractic for a consultation. If you are not local to us, check out the PX Docs directory to find an office near you.

You have more power to change your family's health trajectory than you might realize. The time to start is now!

An Exhausted Mom's Survival Guide: Navigating Motherhood with Adaptability and Resilience

Motherhood is an excessive amount of responsibilities, from caring for our children to managing household chores, work commitments, and more. It often feels like there needs to be more hours in the day to accomplish everything on our to-do lists. With carpool lines, meal prepping, loads of laundry, and trying to keep all of the kids accounted for, it's easy for moms to neglect their own well-being, leading to exhaustion and burnout. Although motherhood is literally the best job in the world, it can also sometimes feel like the hardest, too. This season is full of joy, and it is very rewarding but can get lonely at times, which is why we created this little “survival guide” to help ease those tough days, to remind you to give yourself grace, that you are the best mother for your child, AND to give you some practical tips to help your overall health and wellbeing.

Understanding the Science

As mothers, our bodies undergo significant changes, both physically and mentally. Due to frequent hormonal changes, sympathetic overdrive, and exhaustion, we need to do all we can to support our bodies through motherhood. One key contributor to exhaustion is adrenal fatigue, a condition where the adrenal glands become overworked due to chronic stress. This constant state of heightened stress can lead to feelings of anxiety and overwhelm as our nervous system gets stuck in fight-or-flight mode.

Moreover, the lack of quality sleep exacerbates the problem, leaving us reliant on caffeine to get through the day. Unfortunately, coffee, energy drinks, and other caffeine only act as band-aids, forcing us as moms to never get out of this cycle and help the root cause, which is helping our nervous system become more adaptable to all of this stress! 

Tips for Survival

So, how can we navigate motherhood with resilience and adaptability? It starts with prioritizing self-care and making small but impactful changes to our daily routines. Here are some tips to help you thrive:

• Prioritize sleep: Aim for at least 7-8 hours of quality sleep each night by establishing a bedtime routine and creating a relaxing sleep environment.

• Fuel your body with nutritious foods: Focus on eating whole, nutrient-dense foods that nourish your body and provide sustained energy throughout the day. Start the day with protein first, even before coffee! 

• Delegate tasks and ask for help: Don't be afraid to ask for support from your partner, family members, or friends. Delegate tasks and responsibilities to lighten your load and give yourself time to recharge.

• Make time for self-care: Schedule regular self-care activities that rejuvenate your mind, body, and soul. Whether it's taking a long bath, going for a walk in nature, or indulging in your favorite hobby, prioritize activities that bring you joy and relaxation, even if it is just 10 minutes to reset! 

Regulate Your Nervous System 

This should be the first step! The above suggestions are very important, but most of them won’t make a major impact unless our nervous systems are rested and regulated FIRST. So what does this mean? There are two parts of our nervous system: The Parasympathetic Nervous System (the brake pedal)  and the Sympathetic Nervous System (the gas pedal). Each part is equally important! The goal is to have fluidity between the two. If you need to be in go mode, chasing after your child, you want the gas pedal on! But once they start to calm down, your nervous system should be able to recognize this and enter a rested and relaxed state as well. Most of us as moms are stuck in sympathetic dominance. This means that even when our children are safe, our body is stuck in stress mode. When we are chronically stuck in this state, exhaustion really settles in, and motherhood challenges become physical fast. 

Taking the First Step

If you're struggling to find balance in motherhood, consider exploring Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care. By being on a care plan that is customized to your “mom exhaustion,” your nervous system will be able to find the balance between the gas vs brake and strive for resiliency and adaptability to all that comes with being an amazing mom! 

So, how do you start?! Our cutting-edge technology, called the CLA INSiGHT Scan, assesses your nervous system's function, which shows our PX Docs exactly what is going on within your brain and body and can pinpoint that mom exhaustion! Take the first step towards a healthier, happier you by scheduling a nervous system scan today. 

Success Story: Alyssa’s Journey

Let me tell you about our awesome friend, Alyssa, and we’ll look at one of her Neurological INSiGHT Scans.

About three months after giving birth, Alyssa threw out her back. She thought it would just resolve over time, but instead, the pain she was experiencing was not decreasing and, in fact, was increasing rapidly. Alyssa was at the point where she was barely able to move off the couch, let alone care for her newborn baby. 

When she saw her scans, Alyssa was really shocked and immediately a little disappointed. She was expecting everything to be lit up like a red Christmas tree! But there wasn’t a lot lit up at all. She immediately felt hopeless and like she was “unhelpable.” BUT then her local PX Doc explained to her that her body was so exhausted from the pain and the neurological state of the “gas pedal” that it was in power-down mode! The scan wasn’t lit up because it was exhausted!!

Surprisingly, pain relief wasn’t the first sign that Alyssa’s care plan was working. Instead, she noticed that she was finally able to sleep! She had always struggled with sleep and had never been able to fall asleep or stay asleep. She also noticed that her anxiety was no longer affecting her everyday life. AND finally her back pain began to diminish!

Here is Alyssa’s first EMG scan! The yellow in Alyssa's neurological scans indicated exhaustion in her body after being stuck on sympathetic 'stress mode' for too long. 

Alyssa’s life has looked different in many ways since starting with PX Docs. She is completely off all anxiety meds, has less and less pain every day, and has been able to achieve her initial goal - PLAY ON THE FLOOR WITH HER BABY.  Alyssa said that she loves having a provider team that believes in her and feels more empowered to advocate for herself and her family.

Ready to see what your Neurological INSiGHT Scans look like?! Visit our PX Docs Directory to find a doc in your area! 

Motherhood is the most extraordinary club to be a part of, but it is also just straight-up HARD sometimes. As PX Docs, we hope that we can help you find the hope, answers, and drug-free help that you have been searching for… for not only your sweet kiddos and family but FOR YOU too! 

Why So Many Kids Today Are So Sick (It's Not Just Toxins)

If you're a parent wondering why children today seem to face more health challenges than ever before, you're not alone. The statistics are truly alarming - the CDC admits that an astonishing 40% of American children are currently struggling with at least one chronic illness, while other research and medical experts put this number even higher at 50% or beyond.

As parents, we have to ask ourselves: Why are our children struggling more than ever with chronic health issues?

It doesn't matter which path we look down - from chronic digestive disorders to inflammatory and autoimmune conditions, to neurological conditions like Autism Spectrum Disorder, ADHD, Sensory Processing Disorder, anxiety, epilepsy, and depression - millions of children and families are suffering.

Beyond Conventional Explanations

While conventional medicine often blames genetics and bad luck, rushing to prescribe medications that only mask symptoms (and potentially create new problems), there's a deeper truth that most doctors aren't addressing.

Even many holistic-minded, natural health, and functional medicine providers may miss this critical piece of the puzzle.

The truth is that chronic illness in children is almost always multi-factorial. The root cause isn't just genetics, and we can't simply blame toxins and poor nutrition either.

What if we need to look even deeper than genetics, gluten, and environmental toxins? What if all those factors do play a role, along with overuse of medications, antibiotics, and other interventions... but there's still more to the story?

What if the most pervasive and persistent cause of chronic illness in our kids is something hiding right in plain sight?

For Parents Who Have Tried Everything

This information is especially for you if you feel frustrated and disappointed by conventional healthcare, but also feel like you've exhausted every natural and holistic treatment available.

If you've tried medications, supplements, detoxification protocols, and maybe even approaches like hyperbaric oxygen therapy or treatments targeting neuroinflammation - but still feel that something fundamental is missing - trust that intuition.

The Perfect Storm: Understanding Early Life Stressors

Let's break down what we call "The Perfect Storm" of early life stressors that can lead to chronic illness. This complex health crisis begins with three primary factors that create the perfect conditions for disruption in our children's developing nervous systems:

1. High levels of maternal stress during pregnancy and/or fertility challenges
   The mother's physiological state and stress levels during pregnancy directly impact the developing baby's nervous system.

2. Birth interventions and trauma
   C-sections, forceps deliveries, vacuum extraction, induction, cord complications, and other birth interventions can create physical stress on the infant's delicate neurological system.

3. Early exposure to medications, antibiotics, toxins, and environmental stressors
   These exposures can disrupt the developing nervous and immune systems at critical developmental windows.

Today, we must also recognize the additional stress that technology, screen time, and social media exposure places on our children's nervous systems, often long before they're developmentally ready to handle this type of sensory and emotional input.

Nervous System Dysregulation: The Missing Link

When a child's developing brain and nervous system are exposed to these stressors early and often, it causes their autonomic nervous system to shift into a sustained "fight-or-flight" response. This means their sympathetic nervous system gets stuck in overdrive and is constantly "switched on."

This neurological dysregulation manifests differently at various developmental stages:

• In infants, it looks like colic, reflux, and excessive fussiness

• In toddlers and young children, it appears as meltdowns, tantrums, and trouble with transitions

• In school-age children, we see impulsivity, behavior issues, and focus or concentration challenges

• In teenagers and young adults, it often "grows into" anxiety, ADHD, and other diagnosed conditions

This state of constant neurological stress prevents children from being in their natural "growth and development" mode, throwing them off track developmentally.

Early warning signs like colic, reflux, constipation, chronic ear infections, and developmental delays aren't just isolated issues that children will "grow out of." They're actually red flags signaling deeper neurological dysfunction and the beginnings of "The Perfect Storm."

The Cascade Effect on Body Systems

Once the nervous system is thrown into sympathetic overdrive and becomes dysregulated (a condition known as dysautonomia), it begins to "shut down" the function of other core bodily systems:

The Gut + Digestive System

When the nervous system is constantly stuck in fight-or-flight mode, it diverts energy away from digestion. This shuts down digestive motility, absorption, assimilation, and elimination - leading to limited detoxification pathways and leaving the body more prone to the buildup of toxins and harmful microorganisms.

The Respiratory-Immune System

Sustained sympathetic stress leaves the immune system in a hypersensitive, pro-inflammatory state. Neurological inflammation is now implicated in nearly every chronic childhood condition, from autism to autoimmune conditions.

The Sensori-Motor System

Nervous system dysfunction significantly alters motor tone, coordination, and sensory processing, leading to sensory challenges, gross and fine motor delays, speech delays, and more.

Why Most Approaches Fall Short

Here's where both conventional and alternative approaches often miss the mark. The conventional medical system chases symptoms and works on "individual systems" rather than addressing the whole body and nervous system.

Similarly, even functional or natural medicine practitioners often work on specific symptoms with supplements or detox protocols instead of addressing the foundational nervous system dysregulation directly.

The critical issue is that nervous system dysregulation, dysfunction, and dysautonomia typically don't show up on standard medical testing, lab work, or blood work. These foundational root cause issues can only be identified through specialized assessments like INSiGHT Scanning Technology, which evaluates the function of the autonomic nervous system.

The Path to Healing and Recovery

The good news is that your child's health challenges aren't simply genetic destiny or bad luck. By addressing the root cause - nervous system dysfunction and dysregulation - we can help restore balance and function naturally to the brain and body, without relying on endless medications and interventions.

Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care, particularly through specific, gentle chiropractic adjustments, can directly address these nervous system imbalances and help restore proper function.

Signs of Healing

We know children are on the right path to healing when what we call the "neurological soft signs" of recovery begin to emerge:

• Improved sleep

• Better digestion

• Enhanced immune function

• Improved motor tone and coordination

• Better ability to handle transitions and make decisions

As care progresses and we begin to see momentum building with these improvements, we can be confident that a child is on the path to optimal health and wellness.

Taking the Next Step

While it can feel overwhelming to learn about these complex factors affecting our children's health, understanding the root cause is the first step toward true healing.

Trust your parental intuition. If you feel there's more to your child's health challenges than what you've been told, you're probably right. The nervous system connection is often that missing piece of the puzzle.

If you're ready to discover the real root cause of your child's health struggles and learn about natural, drug-free solutions, reach out to Pure Chiropractic today to schedule a consultation for your child. We specialize in Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care and understand the critical connection between nervous system function and overall health.

If you are not local to us, please check out the PX Docs directory to find a local office near you. Your child deserves to thrive, not just survive. And understanding this missing link could be the key that unlocks their full health potential.

Hidden Birth Trauma May Cause Your Child's Picky Eating

Are you exhausted from the daily mealtime battles with your picky eater? If you've tried hiding vegetables in smoothies, created elaborate reward charts, or found yourself negotiating "just one more bite" at every meal, you're not alone. As a parent, these struggles can leave you feeling frustrated, worried, and sometimes even like you're failing.

But what if I told you that your child's picky eating likely isn't really about the food at all?

Beyond Behavior: Understanding What's Really Happening

Studies show that up to 22% of children are classified as picky eaters, with 40% remaining picky for two years or longer. While most healthcare providers suggest waiting it out or trying various behavioral approaches, they're often missing a crucial piece of the puzzle: the nervous system connection.

The truth is, picky eating frequently has less to do with stubbornness or behavior and more to do with an overwhelmed nervous system.

Let me share a story that might sound familiar. Leo's family faced significant challenges with his eating habits — there were many days when he wouldn't eat at all. His mom felt completely helpless, especially when their pediatrician kept saying he would "grow out of it." They tried speech and eating therapy but saw little progress.

Everything changed when they discovered that Leo's nervous system was overwhelmed. Once they addressed this root cause, Leo's sensory skills improved dramatically, his meltdowns decreased, and he began eating regularly. He transformed from a struggling picky eater to a thriving, happy toddler.

The Nervous System Connection

To understand what leads to picky eating, we need to look deeper at what's happening neurologically:

Sympathetic Dominance: When Your Child's Body is in "Fight or Flight"

Your child's picky eating likely stems from a neurological state called "sympathetic dominance" — where their nervous system is stuck in a constant "fight or flight" mode. This creates several challenges:

• Sensory overload makes normal food textures, smells, and tastes feel overwhelming or even threatening

• A stressed nervous system actually programs the brain to crave simple carbs and sugars that can be quickly converted to energy

• What seems like a normal mealtime to you feels like a battlefield to your child's body and brain

The Three Root Causes of Picky Eating

1. Sensory Processing Challenges

When there's stress or subluxation in the upper neck and brainstem regions, it creates nervous system imbalance. This leads to heightened sensitivity to food textures, temperatures, and tastes.

What might seem like a normal food texture to you can feel extremely uncomfortable or even painful to your child. That soggy cereal or slightly lumpy yogurt isn't just unappealing — it might trigger a genuine sensory aversion.

2. Vagus Nerve Dysfunction

The vagus nerve is crucial as it controls digestion, appetite regulation, and the gut-brain connection. When this nerve isn't functioning optimally, it disrupts natural eating patterns.

This can cause digestive discomfort, making children associate eating with unpleasant experiences. No wonder they become hesitant at mealtimes!

3. Oral-Motor Coordination Issues

Proper neural connections affecting the cranial and cervical areas impact chewing and swallowing abilities. When these aren't working efficiently, children often prefer soft, simple-to-eat foods.

The struggle with certain textures isn't stubbornness — it's a physical challenge requiring proper neurological support. When your child says they "can't" eat something, they might be telling the literal truth.

Why Traditional Approaches Often Fall Short

Now it becomes clear why hiding vegetables, using reward charts, or creating mealtime rules often don't create lasting change. These approaches focus on behavior modification without addressing the underlying neurological causes.

It's like trying to teach someone to swim while they're actively drowning — they can't learn new skills until they feel safe.

A Different Approach: Supporting Your Child's Nervous System

Understanding these neurological connections is the first step toward real, lasting change!

Remember Leo's story? His transformation didn't happen overnight, but addressing the root cause — nervous system dysfunction — made all the difference. His mom went from feeling helpless to empowered, and mealtimes transformed from battlegrounds to bonding time.

At Pure Chiropractic we use advanced INSiGHT scanning technology to identify specific areas of nervous system subluxation that might be contributing to your child’s picky eating. Our gentle precise adjustments help restore nervous system function, allowing your child’s natural eating instincts to emerge.  Don’t wait to give us a call today and schedule a consultation for your child. If you are not local to us, please check out the PX Docs directory to find an office near you.

Don't let another meal end in tears and frustration. With the right support and understanding, your child can develop a healthier relationship with food, and your family can enjoy peaceful mealtimes together.

Why Your Baby Feels Everything You Feel During Pregnancy

As an expecting parent, you're likely surrounded by advice about baby registries, prenatal yoga classes, folate supplements, and which stroller to buy. While all these preparations are important and exciting, there's something even more fundamental that deserves your attention first: your nervous system. In America, we're often encouraged to focus on the material aspects of pregnancy preparation, but the health of your nervous system should be your #1 priority.

Why? Because your nervous system controls every cell, tissue, and organ in your body, it directly impacts your baby's development, too.

Your Baby Feels Everything You Feel

Did you know that your baby's nervous system begins developing just 3-4 weeks after conception? That's often before many women even realize they're pregnant! This early nervous system development sets the foundation for everything else—from organ development to immune system function.

But here's what's truly fascinating: the umbilical cord isn't just delivering nutrients and oxygen to your baby. It's essentially the power cord connecting your nervous systems. This means:

• When you experience stress, your body releases hormones that cross directly to your baby through the umbilical cord and placenta

• Your baby experiences everything you experience, from moments of calm to periods of stress

• Your emotional state directly influences your baby's developing nervous system

Modern Life and Pregnancy Stress

Today's pregnant mothers face more sustained, chronic stress than ever before. Between work demands, family responsibilities, financial pressures, and even the constant monitoring and testing of traditional prenatal care, it's easy to become overwhelmed.

This sustained stress can shift both you and your baby into what we call "sympathetic dominance"—essentially a state of constant fight-or-flight. When your body stays in this stressed state, it can affect:

• Your sleep quality

• Your mood and emotional wellbeing

• Your physical comfort during pregnancy

• Your baby's development

• Your birth experience

Gabriella's Story: From Overwhelmed to Empowered

Let me share a story that might resonate with you. Gabriella came to our office around 30 weeks pregnant, initially because she had experienced some falls. Her scans showed what we often see—her nervous system was stuck in "fight or flight" mode, leaving her exhausted and overwhelmed.

"I instantly regretted not starting sooner," Gabriella told us about beginning care. After getting her nervous system checked and starting a personalized care plan, she experienced dramatic improvements. Not only did her physical pain decrease, but her mood swings, anxiety, and energy levels changed significantly.

In her own words: "My anxiety, depression, brain fog, and back pain have improved so much... I wake up energized and ready to start my hectic days, when before I dragged my feet. Overall it has been such a blessing."

Measuring and Understanding Your Nervous System

The good news is that we now have technology that can measure nervous system function. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) scans show us exactly how your nervous system is handling stress and where you might be stuck in fight-or-flight mode.

These non-invasive scans allow us to create personalized care plans specific to your needs and your baby's development stage. Think of it as a window into how your body is handling the stress of pregnancy—and a roadmap for bringing things back into balance.

How Neurologically-Focused Chiropractic Care Helps

Specific adjustments can help activate your vagus nerve and parasympathetic nervous system—your body's "rest and digest" mode. This helps shift your body out of stress mode and into a state of healing and optimal development.

Regular care helps maintain this balance throughout your pregnancy journey, providing benefits such as:

• Reduced physical discomfort

• Better sleep quality

• Decreased anxiety and mood swings

• More energy for daily activities

• Optimal conditions for your baby's development

• Better preparation for labor and delivery

Your Pregnancy Doesn't Have to Be Nine Months of Stress

Just like Gabriella discovered, pregnancy doesn't have to be nine months of stress and anxiety. You have the power to transform your pregnancy experience and optimize your baby's development through understanding and caring for your nervous system.

The first step is getting your nervous system checked with advanced HRV technology. This simple, non-invasive scan can tell us exactly what's happening with your nervous system and help create a personalized care plan for you and your baby.

Don't wait until you're exhausted and overwhelmed like so many parents do. Imagine waking up with energy, feeling connected to your baby, and actually enjoying your pregnancy instead of just surviving it.

Remember what Gabriella said: "Never would have thought chiropractic care would make such a huge impact on me and my family's lives." Your transformation story can start today.

Taking the First Step

If you're pregnant or planning to be in the future, don’t wait to reach out to Pure Chiropractic to schedule a consultation and Neurological INSiGHT Scan. If you are not local to us, check out the PX Docs directory to find an office near you.

Your baby experiences everything you experience. By focusing on your nervous system health, you're giving your baby the best possible start in life—beginning before they even take their first breath.

An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backwards....

Do you ever feel defeated? Do you ever feel like life or your circumstances are pulling you in reverse?

I think we all have experienced that at different times, life can be very challenging. The responsibility of just getting through each day can be a mountain we often feel we don’t even know where to begin the climb. A recent quote I read that inspired me to write this today is by Paulo Coelho and it says,

“An arrow can only be shot by pulling it backwards. So when life is dragging you back with difficulties, it means that its going to launch you into something great!”

That thought it so powerful and something we see folks struggle with on a daily basis on their journey to better health. The old saying, if it was easy everyone would do it rings so true in my day to day life caring for people. Health is a marathon not a sprint and we need to give ourselves some grace sometimes. We often see people feel worse before they feel better and while we don’t like that happening we are respectful to the process of healing the body takes. Its one of the many reasons we encourage people to get their body right with us and then maintain that going forward. A well functioning nervous system serves not just our body but our mind as well.

So I encourage you today to be positive in all circumstances, find the good in everything and launch yourself into something great today!

Dr. John