Natural Seizure Relief for Kids: How Chiropractic Care Calms Neuroinflammation
As a parent, watching your child have a seizure can be one of the scariest experiences. While many families are familiar with medications to manage seizures, few are told about the growing research connecting seizures to a deeper cause: neuroinflammation. Even fewer have heard of gentle, drug-free seizure therapies that may help calm this inflammation, like low-level laser therapy (LLLT), also known as photobiomodulation.
In this blog, we’ll explore how natural, neurologically-based chiropractic care and laser therapy can support your child’s nervous system—right here in San Diego.
What Is a Seizure in Children? Understanding the Drug-Free Perspective
Think of your child’s brain like a busy city, with messages (electrical signals) constantly traveling from one place to another, helping with everything from breathing to behavior. A seizure is like a sudden traffic jam—or even a lightning storm—where the brain's electrical signals go haywire.
This surge of uncontrolled electrical activity disrupts how the brain works. Depending on where it starts and how strong it is, a seizure might cause jerky movements, staring spells, confusion, or even a temporary loss of awareness.
Parents want to know, “what type of seizure does my child have?”
The Different Faces of Pediatric Seizures
Seizures don’t always look like what you see in movies. Here are a few common types in kids:
Absence Seizures: Brief staring spells, often mistaken for “spacing out.”
Tonic-Clonic Seizures: Stiffening and jerking of the body, usually with loss of consciousness.
Myoclonic Seizures: Sudden, quick muscle jerks—especially in the arms or legs.
Febrile Seizures: Brought on by a high fever in young children.
Focal Seizures: Start in one part of the brain; can cause twitching, unusual sensations, or altered awareness.
Each seizure type tells us something different about what’s going on in your child’s brain—and that’s why accurate evaluation matters.
How to track seizures in kids for parents.
Tracking Your Child’s Seizures at Home
One of the most powerful tools you have as a parent is observation. Tracking your child’s seizures can help your healthcare team identify patterns, triggers, and responses to treatment. A seizure diary is an easy and effective way to do this. Consider recording:
Date and time of the seizure
Duration of the episode
Type of movements or behaviors observed
What your child was doing before the seizure
Possible triggers (missed sleep, illness, lights, etc.)
Post-seizure behavior (confusion, fatigue, etc.)
Apps, printed logs, or simple notebooks all work well. Sharing this information with your provider can guide both diagnosis and care.
How Are Seizures Diagnosed in Children?
Doctors may use a variety of tools to get the full picture, including:
EEG (Electroencephalogram): Measures brain waves to find unusual patterns
MRI or CT scans: Shows the brain’s structure
Genetic or blood testing: Especially when a family history is involved
At Sprout Family Chiropractic in San Diego, we go a step further. Our INSiGHT Scans assess how much stress is stuck in your child’s nervous system. If your child’s brain and body are stuck in fight-or-flight mode, this stress may be contributing to seizure activity.
👉 Curious if your child’s seizures are rooted in nervous system stress? Schedule an INSiGHT Scan today.
What Is Neuroinflammation and Why Does It Matter for Seizures in Kids?
Neuroinflammation refers to inflammation within the brain and nervous system. While inflammation is the body’s way of protecting itself, when it lingers in the brain, it disrupts normal communication between brain cells.
In children with epilepsy or frequent seizures, neuroinflammation may actually be a driver of the condition—not just a symptom. It keeps the brain’s immune system stuck in “high alert,” creating overstimulation, imbalance, and a greater risk of seizures.
How Does Neuroinflammation Cause Seizures in Children?
Research shows that neuroinflammation makes the brain more excitable and less stable. Here’s what happens:
Glial cells release inflammatory chemicals like IL-1β and TNF
These chemicals increase “go” signals and decrease calming ones
Ion imbalances overstimulate brain cells
The blood-brain barrier breaks down, letting immune cells into the brain
This cycle creates both seizure activity and resistance to medications. It’s why drug-free seizure care needs to address inflammation at the root.
Nervous System Dysregulation and Chronic Brain Inflammation
Potential causes of seizures in kids: nervous system dysregulation → an overstimulated brain → neuroinflammation → seizures.
The nervous and immune systems are tightly linked. When a child’s nervous system is chronically stuck in “fight-or-flight” mode, it creates a state of constant stress—and more inflammation.
This often shows up in kids who’ve experienced:
Birth trauma
Sensory overload
Developmental delays
Emotional trauma
Key effects of nervous system dysregulation:
Reduced vagus nerve activity (which normally calms inflammation)
Elevated cortisol, which damages the brain’s protective barrier
Overactive glial cells triggering seizures
At Sprout Family Chiropractic, our goal is to help your child’s nervous system return to balance, using gentle, natural care.
Mitochondrial Health and Pediatric Seizures
Low-level laser therapy for seizures in kids calms neuroinflammation.
Your child’s brain needs energy to function and regulate itself. That energy comes from mitochondria—the powerhouses of every cell. When mitochondria are not working well (called mitochondrial dysfunction), the brain is more vulnerable to stress, inflammation, and seizures.
Low-level laser therapy (LLLT) or photobiomodulation helps by:
Restoring ATP (energy) production
Reducing oxidative stress
Supporting brain cell recovery and inflammation control
This is why LLLT is an ideal, non-invasive support for kids dealing with both seizures and neuroinflammation.
How Chiropractic Care Supports Natural Seizure Solutions in Children
San Diego pediatric chiropractors Dr. Rachel Wong-Homer and Dr. Nicole Wong-Homer take brain and nervous system-first approach to seizures.
We don’t treat seizures directly—but we do help your child’s nervous system find balance.
At Sprout Family Chiropractic in San Diego, we use:
Gentle, neurologically-focused adjustments
INSiGHT Scans to track stress in the nervous system
Low-level laser therapy to support mitochondrial and brain health
Our care can help:
Reduce neurological stress
Improve sleep, energy, and behavior
Enhance brain-body communication
Support your child’s resilience—naturally and safely
👉 Looking for drug-free seizure support in San Diego? Book an initial exam at Sprout Family Chiropractic here.
Real Results: A 3-Year-Old Boy’s Journey with Seizures
One of our Sprout families came to us feeling overwhelmed. Their 3-year-old son had been experiencing frequent absence seizures—brief staring spells that would happen multiple times a day. His neurologist had recommended medication and eventual brain surgery, but his parents wanted to explore a more natural, drug-free approach first.
After a detailed consultation and an INSiGHT Scan, we found signs of significant nervous system stress and dysregulation—especially in the areas that control calming and coordination. Over the next several months, he received gentle, neurologically-focused adjustments and low-level laser therapy (LLLT) to support brain and mitochondrial function.
His parents noticed changes early on: fewer episodes, improved mood, better eye contact, and deeper sleep. Over time, his seizure frequency dropped dramatically.
Every child’s journey is different, but this story is just one example of how Sprout Family Chiropractic helps kids thrive—safely and naturally.
Parents are searching for drug-free seizure therapies for their child.
Could Your Child Benefit from a Nervous System Evaluation?
Not every seizure looks the same, and sometimes the signs are easy to miss—especially in young kids. If you’ve noticed any of the following, it might be time to explore a neurologically-focused chiropractic approach:
Frequent staring spells or “zoning out”
Sudden jerky movements or muscle twitches
Head drops, body stiffening, or brief collapses
Unusual repetitive behaviors (like lip-smacking or hand flapping)
Trouble sleeping, extreme fatigue, or irritability after an episode
A history of birth trauma, high fevers, or developmental delays
Seizures that haven’t improved with medication alone
Sensory sensitivities or emotional outbursts
These signs may indicate nervous system dysregulation or inflammation—two key patterns we help support at Sprout Family Chiropractic in San Diego.
👉 If this sounds like your child, let’s start with a gentle, non-invasive INSiGHT Scan to see what’s going on under the surface. Schedule a visit here
Frequently Asked Questions About Seizures in Children
1. What causes seizures in children?
Seizures can be caused by many things, including high fevers (febrile seizures), head injuries, infections, genetic factors, or neurological imbalances. Sometimes, the cause isn’t clear, especially in children with epilepsy.
2. Are seizures dangerous?
Most seizures are brief and not life-threatening, but they can be frightening to witness. The real concern is the potential impact on brain development if seizures are frequent or prolonged. Long-term, unmanaged seizures can affect memory, learning, and emotional regulation.
3. How do I know if my child had a seizure?
Seizures can look very different depending on the type. Some signs include:
Sudden staring or “spacing out”
Body stiffening or jerking
Loss of awareness or responsiveness
Lip smacking or unusual repetitive movements
Confusion or fatigue after the episode
4. What should I do if my child has a seizure?
Stay calm, keep your child safe by placing them on their side, and remove anything nearby that could cause injury. Don’t put anything in their mouth. If the seizure lasts longer than 5 minutes or if it’s their first seizure, call 911.
5. Can chiropractic care help with seizures?
Neurologically-focused chiropractic care does not treat seizures directly, but it supports nervous system regulation. By removing interference in the brain-body connection (like subluxations), chiropractic adjustments can help the nervous system better adapt and regulate itself, which may support improved neurological function.
6. What is an INSiGHT Scan, and how can it help?
INSiGHT Scans allow us to measure how much stress is stuck in your child’s nervous system. This technology gives us a detailed picture of nerve function, helping identify areas that may be contributing to neurological imbalance—like the kind seen in children with seizures.
7. Is low-level laser therapy (LLLT) or photobiomodulation therapy safe for children?
Yes, when done correctly, low level laser therapy is non-invasive and safe. Research shows it may help by improving mitochondrial function and calming brain activity—important factors in seizure control.
8. Do seizures mean my child has epilepsy?
Not always. Many children may have a single seizure triggered by fever or illness and never have another. A diagnosis of epilepsy usually comes after two or more unprovoked seizures.
9. Can stress or emotional trauma trigger seizures?
Yes, for some children, emotional stress or dysregulation in the autonomic nervous system can trigger seizures. That’s why nervous system balance is so important in holistic care approaches.
10. Are there natural or drug-free options to support my child with seizures?
There are supportive approaches, such as neurologically-focused chiropractic care and photobiomodulation, that aim to address the root cause—nervous system stress and dysfunction. These therapies can work alongside traditional care plans and should always be discussed with your healthcare provider.
The Bottom Line for Parents of a Kid with Seizures
If your child experiences seizures—especially if they’re not well-controlled with medication—it’s worth exploring whether neuroinflammation could be a root cause.
Located in Kearny Mesa, San Diego, Sprout Family Chiropractic specializes in natural seizure solutions that calm the nervous system, reduce inflammation, and help your child thrive—gently, safely, and without drugs.
Sources:
Sanz P, Rubio T, Garcia-Gimeno MA. Neuroinflammation and Epilepsy: From Pathophysiology to Therapies Based on Repurposing Drugs.
Silverstein FS et al. Neonatal Seizures: Treatment and Pathophysiology.
Vezzani A et al. Neuroinflammation in Epilepsy.
Villasana-Salazar B, Vezzani A. Neuroinflammation Microenvironment Sharpens Seizure Circuit.
Sprout Family Chiropractic. LLLT, Neuroinflammation and Seizures.
Epilepsy Foundation. Types of Seizures
Epilepsy Foundation. Rescue Medications
CDC. Living With Epilepsy
Cleveland Clinic. Epilepsy in Children
Disclaimer: This article is for educational purposes and is not intended as medical advice. Always consult your child’s healthcare provider for personalized guidance.