Health and medical information

Manipulative techniques can often help insomniacs, and not only by relieving pain in the back or other joints; treatment can be an excellent stress reliever. Insomnia, headaches, migraines and general tension are, for example, often caused or exacerbated by problems in the vertebrae of the neck, which both the osteopath and the chiropractic can relieve or cure.

Both these methods of treating the musculo-skeletal system (the bones, muscles and joints) are becoming increasingly accepted by orthodox medicine. The two therapies were evolved independently in America towards the end of the nineteenth century, and there are variations between them, although some techniques are common to both. There are also variations between the techniques used by practitioners from different training schools.

This is particularly the case with chiropractic: members of the British Chiropractic Association have undergone a full-time four-year course which is medically and academically oriented and now has degree status; many take their own X-rays. Members of the Institute of Pure Chiropractic have trained at the part-time McTimoney School, whose teaching is based on a very gentle but effective technique developed by an Englishman, John McTimoney; as well as training in anatomy and physical techniques, the school encourages the development and use of the intuition.

Both osteopathy and chiropractic are based on the principle that the health of the spine has a profound effect on overall well-being. The spinal cord is an extension of the brain, and connects with all the organs of the body via the circulatory and nervous systems. So although people generally seek these therapies for back and joint pain, they can be beneficial for a wide range of problems as diverse as asthma, migraine, indigestion, hiatus hernia, pre-menstrual tension and so on. Some practitioners are good counsellors; some also take a particular interest in nutrition, and can advise you on diet and supplements, particularly those who have also trained in naturopathy.

Adjusting the vertebrae is not usually painful, and the effects can be extremely relaxing. One woman who had barely slept for four years after injuring her neck in a car accident eventually visited a chiropractor; after treatment she fell asleep for several hours, and subsequently returned to a normal sleep pattern.

Nowadays quite elderly people are turning to these therapies for help with arthritic and back pain with good results. Manipulation may not cure the arthritis, but it can relieve the pressure on arthritic joints and improve the circulation of blood around them, helping to remove toxic waste. Practitioners have a variety of techniques at their disposal, as well as, or instead of, actual manipulation which might be over-traumatic for the old or those in very severe pain. Soft tissue techniques (specific ways of massaging the muscles) also help to realign joints, relax over-tense bodies, and boost the circulation of blood and lymphatic drainage.

A woman in her forties went to an osteopath specifically for her insomnia; for about a year she had been waking at three in the morning, only falling asleep again when it was nearly time to get up. She was not under any special stress, but was overweight and suffered from indigestion. The osteopath first treated her for muscle tension and restriction in the shoulder girdle; in the next two months, as these tensions relaxed, she began to return to normal sleep. The osteopath then went on to treat her back, pelvis and abdomen, relieving her other problems of indigestion and painful periods.

Cranial osteopathy, or cranio-sacral therapy

This is an extremely gentle approach to manipulation practised by some osteopaths and chiropractors. It is based on the connection between the cranium (the skull) and the sacrum, the shield-shaped bone at the base of the spine.

Practitioners often work simply by placing a hand gently on the relevant parts of the spine, relieving tensions and encouraging the flow of cerebro-spinal fluid, which nourishes the spinal cord. This is extremely relaxing in itself, as well as curative. They may also treat the skull and jaw, often an area of much tension.

Cranial treatment can be very helpful for both babies and mothers after a difficult birth. A cranial check-up after birth might prevent a lot of ‘inexplicable’ problems in babies.

A number of cranial osteopaths are very intuitive, and can tune into the emotional origins of their patients’ pain, helping to heal mind and body simultaneously.

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