Digestive problems in all ages.
To understand how osteopathy could help with digestive problems,
it is necessary to understand how osteopaths look at treating a person.
There are two key phrases that run through the philosophy of osteopath’s approach to treatment:
“Structure governs function”
and
“The rule of the artery is supreme”
Two of the common digestive problems that osteopaths help with are acid reflux irritated by a tight diaphragm and IBS (irritable bowel syndrome).
IBS is a huge subject with many complicated causes which can cause bouts of stomach cramp, bloating, diarrhoea or constipation.
The exact cause of irritable bowel syndrome is unknown but most experts think it is affected by diet, stress, anxiety and depression.
It is thought to be helped by exercise, change of diet and relaxation.
So where does osteopathy fit in?
We can help to release the pain and stress in the colon by soft tissue techniques and treat the surrounding muscles and skeleton to give the bowel a good “space” to function in. As far as the stress is concerned we would advise exercise regimes and yoga.