Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome (CVS) in a young boy.

Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome is a disorder that can affect people of any age. According to the CVS Association, it was discovered in in 1882 by Dr. S. Gee. CVS is distinguished by recurrent bouts of nausea, vomiting and lethargy. Vomiting can last for hours or days and then things return to normal until the next episode. Making it difficult to diagnose is the confusion with a viral bug or flu, or some  kind of food poisoning.

Frequency and duration of unstoppable vomiting though are curious signs and should absolutely warrant a trip to the doctor.

What does chiropractic have to do with Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome? Well, CVS is, if nothing else, an issue of poor regulation and control over the upper digestive tract. All people have brains that control the regulation and function of the body. If there is interference in communication from the brain to the body (upper GI tract), then the upper GI tract won’t work properly. Interference in communication often happens in the following ways:

  1. Physical trauma leading to misaligned vertebrae or cranial position on the spine. In infants this can stem from a traumatic birth or sleep position.
  2. Mental stress in older children can lead to tension and inflammation in the spine that puts pressure on nerves leading to diminished control and regulation.
  3. Chemical stress on the body from food, the environment, unusual exposer or extreme stress that leads to systemic body chemistry change may also cause nerve stress.

Removal of interference in nerve communication leads to better healing, regulation and control of the entire body. This includes the digestive system. It the video below, I explain my first experience with CVS in a young boy who’s CVS stopped almost immediately following his first chiropractic treatments (3). Since my experience with this child, I have seen more cases of CVS, most of which have resulted in the same long term outcome.

If you have a child, or know someone with a child who has Cyclic Vomiting Syndrome, they should be evaluated by a chiropractor for harmful vertebral subluxation (misalignment and inflammation of the spine that compresses nerve and impairs communication, control and healing). If determined to be present, subluxation may be contributing to nerve communication break down that is affecting their GI tract. Gentle chiropractic massage will alleviate the subluxation and dysfunction and may lead to fewer symptoms and vomiting episodes.

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