A documented case study published in the February 25, 2008 issue of the scientific periodical, the Journal of Vertebral Subluxation Research (JVSR), showed chiropractic care helping a young girl with a rare eating disorder known as “Rumination”. The journal study describes Rumination as an eating disorder seen in infants less than one year of age. After a period of normal eating habits, the child begins excessive regurgitation and re-chewing of food, which is then ejected from the mouth or re-swallowed. Rumination can include abdominal pain, weight loss, malnutrition, halitosis, dental erosions, electrolyte imbalances, and gastric disorders which in extreme cases can result in death.
In this case a 14 year old girl was brought to the chiropractor by her mother because of chronic knee pain. The girl was involved with gymnastics and had stressed her knee over time. She had previously had orthoscopic knee surgery to remove scar tissue.
Her history revealed that she had been suffering from chronic “vomiting”, which was later determined to be regurgitation that began at age 5. When the frequency of the regurgitation was up to over 100 times per day she was brought to a pediatric gastroenterologist who prescribed Reglan. After discovering the long term neurological side effects that Reglan could cause, her parents decided to discontinue the drug. Eventually the child was brought to the Mayo Clinic, where she was given the diagnosis of rumination. She was then given stomach relaxation techniques that had limited results. The condition continued to the point where her tooth enamel started to erode.
It was not until 7 years after her visit to the Mayo Clinic that her mother brought her to the chiropractor. A chiropractic examination consisting of specialized instrumentation, x-rays, and other chiropractic analytical procedures was performed. The determination of multiple vertebral subluxations, interfering with nerve system function was made, and a course of chiropractic care was begun.
After her 6th visit, the young girls rate of regurgitation had decreased from 30 times per day down to just 3 times per day. After only 11 chiropractic adjustments the patient was free of all symptoms of rumination and these symptoms did not return through the end of her chiropractic care plan.
Study author, Cristina Esposito, B.S., D.C., summed up the importance of this case in her conclusion by stating, “Chiropractic care of a 14-year-old girl suffering with the symptoms of rumination was presented. The total elimination of symptoms after only 11 chiropractic adjustments, after the patient spent 10 years and a substantial amount of money investigating various conventional medical treatment options deserves a considerable amount of attention.”
