Hereford Centre for Natural Health

Osteopaths at Hereford Centre for Natural Health are happy to treat patients with any condition listed above.

Tension headaches

The symptoms are easy to recognise - pain behind the eyes and a throbbing head. Although often triggered by stress or emotional events, an important causal factor is often a constriction of the blood supply as a result of the the muscles at the back of the neck and the base of the skull over-contracting. In addition to neck pain, this may frequently be the cause of a headache. In the immediate terms occasional use of analgesics may help as will a cold towel or compress. However, in the longer term, it is recommended that two actions be taken. First, an investigation of the upper neck area which may need to be manipulated or mobilised in order to promote sufficient blood flow. Secondly, it is important to understand the sources of emotional stress and try to deflect it using a variety of techniques such as yoga, meditation or even regular exercise.

Birth Trauma and accidents whilst a child

Psychiatrists and psychologists are well-known for stressing the importance in understanding what happens before a child is born, during the birth process and what happens in the early years. Cranial osteopaths have long recognised that the birthing process imposes enormous strain on babies, particularly if the birth is difficult or elongated. The baby's skull stretches to accomodate the narrow birth canal, but only gradually recovers its shape. After a difficult birth the process of "unmoulding" may be incomplete, leaving residual stress within the head and impacting on the nervous system. These stresses can give rise to conditions such as colic, trapped wind, regurgitation, feeding difficulties and sleep problems. In addition childhood is a time of slips, trips, falls and scrapes, each of which can potentially impose a similar burden of stress.