Will calls to put meditation therapy on the NHS be heeded asks a London osteopath in W1 N2 N10

The results of a survey* released by the Mental Health Foundation suggests that the number of people who often or always feel stressed is 29% and the figures for those feeling anxious were 24% and depressed 17%.

The charity is now calling for a therapy called mindfulness to be made available nationally on the NHS. However, the recommendation is for specific groups of patients. These groups include patients who repeatedly relapse into depression or who are experiencing distress because of a serious physical illness such as cancer.

Mindfulness is derived from Buddhist meditation and is a technique which helps people reduce stress by focussing on the present moment.

Mindfulness sessions can be prescribed by GPs in some parts of the country; however, it is not widely available. The mindfulness technique has been endorsed by NICE (National Institute of Health and Care Excellence) and the Government’s chief medical officer. For some of the groups of patients it is being recommended for, trails have suggested that it can be as effective as anti-depressant drugs.

We will wait to see whether the charity’s recommendations are taken on board.

For many years I have taught Autogenic Training (AT). Both AT and Mindfulness have a common baseline – they tone down the Autonomic Nervous System, which, amongst other functions, controls the ‘Flight or Fight’ response.

AT can be very powerful as one of my patient’s found having suffered from insomnia for many years:

“After all these years and the many, many things I have tried, I really didn’t think anything would help me – thanks to Robin and Autogenic Training, I have been proved wrong – and that’s a first!” DL

Visit an experienced London Osteopath in W1 and N2 N10

If would like further information on how I may help you with AT or to book an Osteopathy appointment at either of my osteopathy clinics in London W1 and London N2 N10 please feel free to send me a message or call me on 020 8815 0979.

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Don’t let tennis elbow keep you off the court this summer follow this advice from an experienced London osteopath in W1

While the name tennis elbow may imply that this is a ‘tennis’ specific injury to the elbow, this is not the case. Tennis elbow is most often sustained as a result of repetitive overuse or wear and tear from any hobby, sport or activity. However, sometimes a single injury can cause the symptoms.

The pain and tenderness associated with tennis elbow are experienced in the outside of the elbow joint. Unfortunately, the pain can be prolonged as a result of a person’s normal activities and habits.

Whilst many cases of tennis elbow can ease naturally over time many people seek treatment and advice from an osteopath.
Three Ways a London Osteopath can help you …

1. Low Level Laser Therapy & Acupuncture

As an experienced London osteopath, with over 20 years experience, I aim to work with my patients to address their presenting symptoms and understand causative factors to promote on-going health. I use a combination of Low Level Laser Therapy (LLLT), acupuncture and massage techniques, whilst also assessing the biomechanical relationship between the hand, shoulder and upper back region.

2. Advice & Guidance

I can offer advice that will help you, including activities and movements to avoid and specific exercises to help you. As a qualified Display Screen Equipment assessor, ergonomic advice may be included.

3. Referral

In rare cases it may be necessary to refer you for further investigations

Visit an experienced London Osteopath in W1 and N2 N10

If you are suffering pain or discomfort and you would like further information on how I may help you or to book an Osteopathy appointment at either of my osteopathy clinics in London W1 and London N2 N10 please feel free to send me a message or call me on 020 8815 0979.

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Epigenetics – what is it? A London osteopath in W1 shares this article

While most of us are aware of the significance of our genes which we inherit from our parents and how they make us who we are, scientists and researchers in recent decades have been focussing on another layer of genetic inheritance called epigenetics. Scientists have learned that epigenetics also plays a role in determining what our DNA blueprints look like.

An article in Time by Alice Park sets about explaining this health buzzword

Recent research shows how it’s possible to pass on epigenetic changes in a new study published in the journal Cell. These epigenetic changes are created by exposure to things like tobacco, environmental pollutants and diet as well as lifestyle behaviours.

Visit an experienced London Osteopath in W1 and N2 N10

If you are suffering pain or discomfort and you would like further information on how I may help you or to book an Osteopathy appointment at either of my osteopathy clinics in London W1 and London N2 N10 please feel free to send me a message or call me on 020 8815 0979.

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Can Naturopathy help you? An experienced naturopath and osteopath in London may help

Naturopathy is a complementary health profession based on the old-age philosophy that the human body has the innate ability to heal itself through nature.

From modern pollutants and poor diet to emotional and psychological issues today’s world can pose a challenge to our health and block natural influences.

Who can naturopathy help?

Patients of all ages and most states of health can be helped by naturopathy. Naturopathy not only addresses current symptoms but also aims to prevent illness before it develops.

Naturopathy treats each patient as a unique individual and is based on understanding the person as a whole.

What you can expect when you first visit me

As a Naturopath, my role is to help rid your body of the toxins and underlying issues that may harm its capacity to heal itself. I will help you to achieve wellbeing through natural methods and treatments.

I will work with you to develop an individual plan based on your needs and to achieve this I will work with you to identify any factors that may be undermining your health.

To better understand you, on your first visit, I will ask you a series of questions about your lifestyle, medical history, physical and when appropriate, emotional circumstances and diet.

I may undertake further tests depending on the answers you have provided and your specific requirements and objectives.

Based on the information I gather, I will begin to work with you to develop a plan suited to your specific circumstance. It may be appropriate to harness other treatments that I offer and you can find out more about these in the How I Help You section of the website.

For more information on Naturopathy or to book a Naturopathy consultation in one of my London Clinics in W1 and N2 N10 please feel free to send me a message or call me on 020 8815 0979.

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Can illness really be all in the head – an interesting article shared by a London osteopath in W1

It’s All in Your Head, a book by Suzanne O’Sullivan, turns the focus on to psychosomatic disorders.

In an extract from her book published in the Daily Telegraph, Suzanne, a neurologist, shares a fascinating story of a man who loses the power of his legs but all the tests undertaken suggest he is fit and well.

Suzanne traces the journey of the patient, Matthew, from his first visit to her through to his struggle in accepting the diagnosis of a psychosomatic disorder. Suzanne highlights the importance of a patient first having to accept their diagnosis to start on the path of getting better. The good news is that with the correct diagnosis and following treatment Matthew has been able to get on the road to recovery.

Visit an experienced London Osteopath in W1 and N2 N10

If you are suffering pain or discomfort and you would like further information on how I may help you or to book an Osteopathy appointment at either of my osteopathy clinics in London W1 and London N2 N10 please feel free to send me a message or call me on 020 8815 0979.

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10 top tips for your back care offered by a London Osteopath W1 & N2 N10

Back pain can be painful and sometimes can be debilitating. With reports suggesting that 8 out of 10 people will experience back pain at some stage of their life* it makes sense that we do as much as we can to take care of our backs.

Maintaining a healthy spine and joints

Keeping your spine flexible is an important factor for maintaining a healthy spine. Regular movement is the key to ensuring that discs between the vertebrae and the joint cartilage can achieve their maximum range and so increase local circulation and nutrition to surrounding fluid and tissues.

Here are 10 tips that will help you to maintain a healthy spine and joints:

1. Keep on the move and stretch
2. Exercise regularly
3. Avoid staying in one position for any length of time e.g. hunched over your computer
4. Take regular breaks when performing repetitive tasks
5. Pace your activity and don’t overdo it e.g. when exercising or lifting heavy objects
6. Avoid straining when lifting anything
7. Adjust your car seat for optimal support
8. Ensure your bed mattress provides you with sufficient support
9. Start young by making sure your children have good posture
10. Get osteopathic advice sooner rather than later

Visit an experienced London Osteopath in W1 and N2 N10

If you are suffering back pain or discomfort and you would like further information on how I may help you or to book an Osteopathy appointment at either of my osteopathy clinics in London W1 and London N2 N10 please feel free to send me a message or call me on 020 8815 0979.

* Palmer KT, Walsh K, et al. Back pain in Britain: comparison of two prevalence surveys at an interval of 10 years BMJ 2000;320:1577-1578

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An excellent TED video that explains how childhood trauma affects health shared by a London Osteopath in W1 & N2 N10

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In this excellent 15 minute TED video, paediatrician Nadine Burke Harris outlines how childhood trauma affects health across a lifetime. She starts her talk with the discovery made by the CDC and Kaiser Permanente that exposure to childhood trauma dramatically increased the risk for seven out of ten of the leading causes of death in the US.

It was found that those exposed to very high doses of childhood trauma have triple the lifetime risk of heart disease and lung cancer and a 20 year difference in life expectancy.

Nadine Burke Harris speaks passionately about her experience and the science behind these findings.
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Visit an experienced London Osteopath in W1 and N2 N10

If you are suffering pain or discomfort and you would like further information on how I may help you or to book an Osteopathy appointment at either of my osteopathy clinics in London W1 and London N2 N10 please feel free to send me a message or call me on 020 8815 0979.

 

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Back pain – more common than you think suggests a London Osteopath

Reports suggest that 8 out of 10 of people will suffer some form of back pain during their lives which would suggest that back pain is more common than most people might think (1).

It is estimated that approximate 5.6 million working days in the UK are lost each year due to back pain. This number is second only to stress. (2 & 3)

Back pain and Osteopathy

As an experienced London Osteopath I treat many patients who are suffering from back pain. These patients can vary in age considerably as back pain can affect anyone. There can be many causes of back pain from sprains or strains or damage to the discs or wear and tear or osteoarthritis.

Some of the back conditions patients visit my osteopathy clinics in London for include:
• Acute back pain
• Chronic back pain
• Some disc problems
• Mechanical back pain
• Sciatica
• Ankylosing spondylitis
• Osteoarthritis

Every patient is different and it goes without saying that I treat every patient based on understanding them as an individual thus ensuring I provide each patient with the highest standard of care.

Depending on the patient’s age, fitness and diagnosis I use a range of gentle manual treatments. Treatment may include gentle manipulation and may include gentle massage. Treatment for back pain may also involve treating other areas of the body such as the neck or hips.

In addition to manual treatment I will offer patients advice on their lifestyle, especially where their activities or habits may be contributing to their back pain. I may also offer advice on posture, diet and exercise.

Visit an experienced London Osteopath in W1 and N2 N10

If you are suffering back pain or discomfort and you would like further information on how I may help you or to book an Osteopathy appointment at either of my osteopathy clinics in London W1 and London N2 N10 please feel free to send me a message or call me on 020 8815 0979.

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Get out of the office and take a walk suggests a London Osteopath in W1

Compelling evidence has been produced by a variety of major research work that sitting for more than 4 hours each day leads to a number of physical changes in the body that can lead to increased risks of heart disease, diabetes, obesity (amongst other things). You can check out the top 10 health risks which increase for people who sit for 4 hours a day or longer on the Get Britain Standing website.

How many hours do you spend sitting on an average “working day”? Not sure?

You can use the Sitting Calculator on the Get Britain Standing website to estimate the time you spend sitting daily whilst you are eating, commuting, working and relaxing. You may be surprised by the number of hours you are sitting.

Why not get out of the office at lunchtime and take a walk …

If you are spending many hours sitting at your desk then I recommend that you at least take a break from your desk at lunchtime. Even better, get outdoors and take a brisk walk.

In Central London W1 we have access to many parks such as Hyde Park, Green Park, St James’s Park and Regent’s Park. With summer approaching now is a great time to take a break from our desk, get outdoors and take some exercise.

Visit an experienced London Osteopath in W1 and N2 N10

If you are suffering pain or discomfort and you would like further information on how I may help you or to book an Osteopathy appointment at either of my osteopathy clinics in London W1 and London N2 N10 please feel free to send me a message or call me on 020 8815 0979.

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Acupuncture research demonstrates it improves circulation shares a London Osteopath

Research in the field of acupuncture continues on a daily basis. With this research comes a growing body of evidence that helps support the efficacy of acupuncture and to quash past criticism of a lack of medical evidence to support it being an effective form of pain relief.

As a qualified practitioner of Western Acupuncture in London I keep abreast of the latest results from research studies into acupuncture. One such study * has shed light on the fact that acupuncture enhances peripheral blood flow. The study was designed to clarify the mechanisms by which acupuncture exerts its effective actions.

During the study, the researchers measured the ability of acupuncture to induce “significant elevations in peripheral blood flow over the upper and lower limbs during and after acupuncture”. Based on their findings, they concluded that “the results of this study support the theory of Chinese medicine that acupuncture at Zusanli augments systemic gastrointestinal and circulatory functions.”

You can read more about the study and the conclusion of the researchers here.

Visit an experienced London Osteopath in W1 and N2 N10 who offers Western Medical Acupuncture

If you’re considering using Western Acupuncture due to a specific issue or concern you have, I would be happy to discuss your requirements with you and to advise you on the best course of treatment. Please feel free to send me a message or call me on 020 8815 0979.

*Reference:
Yang, Cheng-Chan, Wei-You Zhuang, and Hsien-Tsai Wu. “Assessment of the impact of acupuncture on peripheral blood flow with multi-channel photoplethysmography.” In Electron Devices and Solid-State Circuits (EDSSC), 2014 IEEE International Conference on, pp. 1-2. IEEE, 2014.

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