Colne Osteopathy

14/11/2025

MAGNESIUM OIL folks put it on your aching muscles. It helps a LOT of people.

14/11/2025

Good morning,

The detail of manual therapy is often overlooked.

Partly due to the habit of Clinicians giving highly simplified labels to patients like "sciatica". Clinically this means a nerve issue - most people do NOT have a pinched nerve root.

However, if a patient/pain sufferer has a label for their pain so that they can explain their state to their friends and family and even to make sense of the disoriented "self" then it seems to help with coping and RESILIENCE.

Obviously pain/coping/sense of self is a highly complex subject that can involve many components.

Part of the reason I completed a course in Naturopathic Nutrition is that I was seeing these elements with increasing frequency.

A diet that is high in anti inflammatory foods has the potential to improve immune resilience as well as improving energy and all sorts.

I regularly add some organic PECTIN to my breakfast...:)...in other words I eat an organic apple with my breakfast.

I hope that helps.

13/11/2025

In our recent past we consumed a lot of bitter products like bitter teas. People have forgotten why....

They help digestion, the gut the liver etc.

dandelion tea, calendular tea, gentian, there are quite a few when you start to look into it.

Do your body a favour...have more than sugary beverages that promote the wrog bacteria...

07/11/2025

Very recently I completed an addition to the sound proofing of my treatment room/office.

This has emphatically illustrated the value of a quiet space. For many people noise and light has become a real challenge to well being and adrenal tone and recovery from stressors even on a daily basis.

More people are light and sound sensitive even being out in social areas with precipitous need to leave where before they were OK staying.

Sound, light air quality it all matters.

Even more for those who have had any kind of trauma like RTA's neurodivergent,

It's a fascinating area and one that I have been interested in for decades.

05/11/2025

Good morning,

"Barriers to recovery".
They are what they sound like.
If you google the term many Addictions sites or talkie therapies use this term. But barriers to recovery are also used in the MSK and nutrition fields.

Some people have used methods that in the past, even for decades, have stabilised symptoms of various kinds in various fields. But eventually these stabilising patterns become mal adaptive- this is a tough one as an emotional component often needs to be addressed, to avoid a bad flare up.

I have come across it several times when attempting to influence posture, but already seen it a few in times in may capacity as a Naturopathic Nutritionist/Osteopath.

One very conscientious person had a diet they were convinced was healthy. When we considered their diet carefully it became apparent they were in fact really highly imbalanced with their omega oils. We corrected the situation their "tendonopathy" improved in under a week.

Each person's barrier(s) are almost unique to them. So it's not really worth specifying in a post a person's individual barrier(s)

When considering the NICE guidelines to back pain I consider the "Co morbidities" in many cases to be "Barriers" to health".

Further more I think we all have them, and they are sometimes highly complex involving:

Mechanics of movement/posture
Breathing
Embodiment
Trauma
Circualtion
Immune management and response( including vascular and vital organ movement)
Habit and behaviour like tucking both legs under yourself on the sofa.
Active and passive movement
etc etc it's a long long list.

So from a HOLISTIC perspective the clinician and the patient ideally will be willing to consider the same things as a "barrier" and work as a team to address the issue.

If correctly identified and modified very good clinical outcomes tend to follow.
I hope that helps

04/11/2025

Dear Reader,

I thought I would share a recent clinical encounter.

For many years I have been treating a patient with episodic severe lower back pain.

The patient was recently assessed for surgery and had, some really good Orthopaedic recommendations about surgery for a really painful back.

I am delighted to share that the patient in question made a really challenging life style change and....has after a few months of severe and unresponsive pain made a significant improvement to their situation.

They significantly reduced a known highly inflammatory nutrient.

This is not the first time a patient has made change in food/life style but it does illustrate that sometimes reducing inflammation causing foods can be life changing.

We discussed the evidence (scientific papers) that suggest further changes MIGHT be possible now that an anti nutrient BARRIER to his recovery has been removed.

This is why I apply what might be described as a Holistic or Integrated Approach.
The patient in question has a much improved quality of life.

The methods at Colne Osteopathy are not all about joint cracking.

I hope that helps

01/11/2025

Just a quick video about English Ivy

01/11/2025

Dear Reader,

I have been reviewing the data on indoor air quality and its influence on us all.

Previously, I tried rubber plants and spider plants. My experience was of no noticeable change.

Folks I have tried English ivy this week and am convinced of its effectiveness to improve indoor air quality.

I urge anyone reading this to try a couple of English Ivy plants in the bedroom to improve many many things.

If NASA tested it and then recommended it then its good enough for me.

27/10/2025

Good Morning,

Here in East Lancashire it is famously damp. This has an impact on the environmental toxins and challenges people face day to day. Every day I see patients who assert 2 or 3 things.

1) "I have a good diet". It's balanced. Great I think to myself but dare I mention that population studies clearly indicate that the majority of people are not balancING their diet to the environmental and physiological load and I see the MSK representation every single day...

2) "I do some good stretches" and keep things going with those. Every day I see "architype" postures that (in my opinion) maintain sub optimal patterns that are often ingrained and MAL adaptive. In fact one of the most common MAL adaptations is breathing where the "exercise" of the diaphragm is a face palm of poor Nerve patterns, fluids, dynamics, and muscle patterns that lock people into those stable patterns. But those patterns in my opinion and observations have a LIMITED shelf life.
(By the way I have treated very senior Pilates, Yoga ballet folk I have seen what years of missing one or two crucial things can do and the flare up when you try to alter your pattern can be disconcerting even if done gently.)

3) "I am here because I have a Holistic approach and you have a reputation of being really Holistic".
True- I am well versed in Scientifically based University published scientific reviews and publications - always. Also a healthy respect for things like medicinal.

I will often say right lets adjust your pelvis during the treatment I will usually say tell me if it hurts as per the videos. Some people then say can you just look at my shoulder. Dear reader it is exceedingly rare that I will consider that your best option because the HOLISTIC - Classical Whole Body Adjustment means me looking for many many elements to your pattern.

This has been a long post..I hope it helps. Be welcome to enquire and I will respond may be with a video.

13/10/2025

Dear Reader,

It's not all about SARS. ...Please note CIRS. I am suspecting this in many more clinical presentations than I used to. Its rather complex and not commonly considered..

There are multiple interventions to address this highly complex syndrome. They are not necessarily mainstream.
But there are a few things that have a plausible application. It is, at times, extremely challenging to engage in trying to down-regulate some of the poorly understood processes because there are frequently several things happening at once. At least this practitioner thinks so...
For all those who have struggled to respond well to ANY MSK treatment please read this article.

Chronic inflammatory response syndrome is a multisystem illness that results from an exposure to toxins. Learn the causes, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatment of CIRS.

10/10/2025

Good morning,

During autumn and winter months people forget about hydration. I realise this can seem a pointless nag, but long term low level dehydration is a serious issue as it can influence well-being and health.

So, BEFORE your morning coffee/tea try and have a large glass of water or a fruit tea if you prefer.

06/09/2025

There are many environments that can end up putting pressure on our immune system.

Most people don't realise that muscle aches and pains are extremely common when the immune system is heavily loaded.

For example, when flying or in places like trains for long journeys despite HEPA filters being used there is a potential build up of dust mite numbers and the pathogens on the mites.
These can get in the eyes and lungs and there will be some from the seats of course. No space is completely sterile.
In the case of aeroplanes there is the added aspect of VOCS that can get in the cabin air supply.
For these reasons I strongly recommend the use of high vitamin C for long haul and charcoal ( follow the label advice).
However, if you are thinking of taking charcoal during or before a flight you ABSOLUTELY MUST ensure regular and extra hydration.
Do not make the mistake of drinking less because it may be awkward getting to the loo.
Personally I have used the method of fluid fasting on a long haul (23hrs) plenty of water. It also helps with adapting to time zone changes.
Please remember tasty orange juice requires an extra bit of water as its acidic. Tea and coffee it is wise to also have a cup of water with any cup of those too. So a cup water with tea/coffee or orange juice.