What is Osteopathy?
What is the scope of Osteopathic treatment?
What happens on your first visit to an Osteopath?
How does Osteopathy relieve pain?
How can Osteopathy help your business?
What is Acupuncture?
Who has Acupuncture?
What is Chinese Herbalism?
Are Chinese Herbs Safe?
What can Chinese Herbal Medicine Treat?
What is Reflexology?
Who has Reflexology?
What is Shiatsu?
What is Reiki?

What is Osteopathy? [Back to Top]
Osteopathy is an established system of diagnosis and treatment that recognises the role of the musculo-skeletal system in the healthy functioning of the body. The musculo-skeletal system is a key element in maintaining health. This system makes up two-thirds of the body's mass. It impacts and reflects the condition of all other systems in the body. Osteopathic theory involves the concept that structure (anatomy) and function (physiology) are inter-related. If the structure of a joint is distorted in any way, this will affect the normal mechanics of the joint resulting in dysfunction, which patients often feel as pain and stiffness.

The body has a natural ability to self-regulate and self-repair. Osteopaths rely on this innate healing ability to return their patients to good health. Osteopaths also promote good nutrition and fitness to sustain healthy body systems. It uses no drugs. Instead, osteopaths work with their hands using a wide range of treatment techniques, such as soft tissue and neuro-muscular massage, joint mobilising techniques and corrective manipulations designed to improve the mobility and range of movement of a joint.

With their highly trained sense of touch, osteopaths use these manual techniques both to discover underlying causes of pain and to carry out treatment. Its main strength, however, lies in the unique way the patient is assessed from a mechanical, functional and postural standpoint and the way that treatment is planned to suit the needs of the individual patient.

What is the scope of Osteopathic treatment? [Back to Top]
Osteopaths treat the mechanical and biomechanical component of disease. Backache affects 4 out of 5 people at some time in their lives and is the most common complaint treated by osteopaths. Many other conditions affect the body frame. Headaches, neck and shoulder problems can be treated as well as ligamentous or joint capsular strain in the hips, knees, ankles, feet, shoulders, elbows, wrists and ribs.

Other conditions which fall within the scope of osteopathic treatment are osteoarthritic (degenerative) joint conditions, various spinal intervertebral disc conditions such as 'slipped' or herniated intervertebral discs and other associated joint capsular and ligamentous problems in sports injuries, including cartilage injuries, tennis elbow, shoulder rotator cuff injuries and shin splints.

During pregnancy, when the change in posture can give rise to back pain and discomfort, many 'mothers to be' find relief from osteopathic treatment.

What happens on your first visit to an Osteopath? [Back to Top]
This is similar to any visit to a Registered Medical Practitioner. The Osteopath will want to know how the symptoms began and physical and other factors which affect them. After a medical history is taken a thorough examination is undertaken which may include orthopaedic, neurological or circulatory examination. X-rays, MRI scans, blood tests, urinalysis or other tests may be requested. Do tell us about what drugs you are taking.

A thorough investigation and assessment of the patient's posture and structural state will lead to diagnosis. Treatment patterns will be explained to you and some idea of the time scale for your recovery, where appropriate. Examination and treatment is seldom painful despite the acute nature of many problems.

There should be time at the end of the first visit for the osteopath to discuss the diagnosis with you and give any advice on exercises, rest, diet or any special aids, (e.g. lumbar, knee or elbow supports, strapping, orthotics etc.) that may be required.

How does Osteopathy relieve pain? [Back to Top]
Patients often report immediate and significant pain relief following spinal joint manipulation. As well as relieving mechanical irritation at the joint these techniques have been shown to cause stimulation of sensory nerve endings in the spinal joint capsule, ligaments and surrounding musculature causing a barrage of sensory input to the spinal cord resulting in reflex inhibition of pain transmission.

How can Osteopathy help your business? [Back to Top]
Employee absenteeism is estimated to cost UK businesses over £1,300 per employee per year or £11 billion to industry as a whole (CBI, 1998). This amounts to 197 million days lost to the economy.
The costs to companies is huge, made up of loss of output and perhaps penalties from missing deadlines, compensation, legal fees and higher insurance premiums, medical costs, sickness benefits, fines and loss of goodwill.

Musculo-skeletal disorders, according to the Health & Safety Executive, form the largest group of work-related illnesses, accounting for 1.2 million of an estimated 2 million cases of occupational ill-health. The aim of working with industry is to be able to bring about a reduction in absenteeism figures due to musculo-skeletal related injuries by promoting the benefits of early intervention. Benefits of early intervention are not only cost effective but also cost saving.

What is Acupuncture? [Back to Top]
Acupuncture is a branch of Chinese medicine in which needles are inserted into a patient's skin as therapy for various disorders or to induce anaesthesia. Research has demonstrated that acupuncture causes the release within the central nervous system of endorphins (substances similar to morphine), which act as natural painkillers.

Who has Acupuncture? [Back to Top]
Acupuncture can help anxiety, arthritis, asthma, back pain, circulatory problems, depression, facial paralysis, fibrositis, high blood pressure, infertility, menstrual problems, migraines, obesity, rheumatism, sciatica, skin conditions and ulcers.

It has also proved to be effective in pregnancy management and for the relief of pain during childbirth. Acupuncture is also helpful for people trying to overcome addictions such as those related to smoking, alcohol and drugs.

What is Chinese Herbalism? [Back to Top]
Chinese Herbal Medicine is an ancient system of healthcare that has undergone continual development over the centuries as the causes of illness that afflict man have evolved. In China it is not an alternative form of therapy, but is used in the state hospitals alongside modern medicine.

Are Chinese Herbs Safe? [Back to Top]
Herbal remedies are based on good science and some mainstream drugs are derived from herbs. Adverse reactions to Chinese herbs are extremely rare and are negligible when compared to those commonly produced by pharmaceutical drugs.

What can Chinese Herbal Medicine Treat? [Back to Top]
Chinese Herbal Medicine is probably most renowned in the west for its effects on:

• Skin disease
• Gynaecology
• Digestive complaints
• Respiratory conditions
• Allergies
• Immune disorders
• Pain
• Psychological problems
• Children's diseases
• Addiction (Smoking, Alcohol, Drugs and Food)

What is Reflexology? [Back to Top]
Reflexology is an ancient therapy of eastern origin, involving the gentle manipulation of the feet or hands to stimulate the body’s own healing and balancing processes. All the organs and systems of the body have their corresponding ‘reflex points’. Reflexologists believe that applying pressure to a specific point on the foot energizes the corresponding zone or function of the body, getting rid of toxins and enabling the body to heal itself.

Who has Reflexology? [Back to Top]
Reflexologists treat a wide variety of conditions. Menstrual problems, endocrine problems, allergies, arthritis, hyperactivity, high blood pressure, infertility, back and neck pain and stress-related problems, irritable bowel syndrome and other digestive problems, ear complaints, sinus problems, migraines and some skin complaints. It has been claimed that having reflexology during pregnancy can significantly reduce the length of labour.

What is Shiatsu? [Back to Top]
Shiatsu is a traditional hands-on Japanese healing therapy. It is a treatment that addresses the human experience, of being both mind and body. Here you can reach levels of relaxation normally associated with meditation or a semi conscious state. The person receiving shiatsu lies on a padded mat on the floor. The Shiatsu practitioner then is able to utilise the pull of gravity in order to be able to work deeply and gently, into the muscles, ligaments, joints, organs, bones, energetic centres and meridians that need attention. Working with the breath in the body, is what is at the heart of Shiatsu and allows for both an intuitive and diagnostic treatment to take place in that moment. This meets the client’s needs as an individual.

The philosophy underlying Shiatsu is that vital energy known as “Ki” in Japanese, flows through the body in a series of channels called meridians. Like the Underground train system in London, these channels provide a service that is integral to the balanced function of our bodies. For many reasons (also like the Underground), Ki can stop flowing freely and this then produces a symptom or a series of symptoms.


The Shiatsu practitioner looks at the symptoms that you are experiencing and takes a case history in order to develop a complete picture of your health according to the principles of oriental medicine.

Treatments take place fully clothed. Please wear loose long sleeves and trousers so freedom of movement is possible. Treatments last one hour, with extra time for case-history on the first treatment.

What does Shiatsu treat?

Back pain
Headaches, migraines
Whiplash injuries and neck stiffness
Joint pain and reduced mobility
Menstrual problems
Digestive problems
Asthmatic symptoms
Sports injuries
Depression

Benefits of Shiatsu:

Relaxes mind and body
Restores and balances energy
Eases tension and stiffness
Improves Breathing
Improves posture
Improves circulation
Enhances well being

What is Reiki? [Back to Top]
“Reiki” means “Universal Life Force Energy” in Japanese. It was discovered by Dr Usui at the end of the nineteenth century and was brought over to the West by his student Takata Moto. Takata dedicated her life to giving and teaching Reiki, although she initiated only seven of her students to be Reiki Masters i.e. to teach Reiki to others.

Since then Reiki has spread all over the world and is used to promote any healing process in the body from a headache to chronic arthritis, from broken bones to failing organs.

Reiki has its own intelligence and goes to where it is needed in the body. The practitioner simply channels energy into the recipient’s body, in the same way a tap pours water into a sink. The water itself contains its own motion and has a pure undiluted quality.

Today, Reiki is used by mothers for their children’s cut knees, bouts of flu and sleepless nights. It is used by neighbours for individual needs within their community, by professional practitioners who may use Reiki alone, as a profound healing treatment or who may use it in conjunction with any complementary health treatment available today.

The key to Reiki’s success is its simplicity:

• The recipient lies fully clothed normally under a blanket.
• The giver channels Reiki into his or her body using the palms of the hands, which lie flat upon the body.
• Reiki can be given “off” the body, if the receiver has a sensitive condition for example burns, skin grafts or simply is uncomfortable with touch.
• Treatments last for about an hour with a little more time needed for an initial consultation.