Treating the Common Cold Using Osteopathy

Sore throat, aching muscles, runny nose, headaches, back pain, short of breath and fever. Yes, we are all familiar with the symptoms of the common cold, and most of us know no other way to relieve symptoms other than taking cold and flu tablets, antibiotics or trying home remedies that rarely work. Ever wanted to use drug free treatment that does work? Osteopaths use 100% natural, drug free, non-invasive methods to alleviate nasty cold symptoms.

We've all suffered at some time from the common cold. In fact adults average 2 to 3 colds per year while children average 6 to 10 colds per year. Osteopaths can reduce your cold symptoms, so you are guaranteed a good night's sleep. To understand how they do this, we must first look at what causes the symptoms of a common cold.

Cold symptoms are due to viruses imbedding in the tissues of the nose and throat. Our body responds by creating watery mucous. The viruses then cause damage and inflammation to healthy cells, resulting in the activation of surrounding sympathetic nerves.

Sympathetic nerves send messages to the neck and upper back areas of the spine, causing tight muscles and pain. Activation of the sympathetic nerves also causes the throat and nose tissues to produce thick, slow-moving mucous, resulting in a blocked nose.

The tight neck and shoulder muscles, thick mucous and irritated spinal areas cause congestion of the blood and lymphatic fluids, making you feel even more congested.

This is one of the many systemic conditions that Osteopaths often treat in conjunction with a G.P or other health professionals. Osteopaths relieve these symptoms by using traditional osteopathic techniques including soft tissue manipulation, stretching, passive mobilisation, articulation, muscle energy techniques and myofascial release to:

• Stimulate blood supply, therefore increasing the immune response
• Increase venous and lymphatic drainage which results in decreased congestion
• Decrease joint facilitation and sympathetic nerve stimulation, therefore decreasing mucous production
• Decrease muscle spasm and pain
• Increase relaxation and improve sense of well-being
• Make a speedier recovery

Osteopath Kylie Read explains, "The Body is designed to fight colds using its immune system. A key component of this is your lymphatic. Osteopaths help your lymphatics to do its job more effectively, by relieving muscle spasms, pain, and congestion. Maximizing lymphatic drainage will help to relieve the cold by allowing your immune system to function at its best."

Reprinted with permission from the Australian Osteopathic Association ( Released by IRPR on behalf of the Australian Osteopathic Association)