Osteopathy is a type of alternative medicine that works to improve the body’s overall well-being. It focuses on treating the musculoskeletal system (the bones, joints and muscles) as well as other systems in the body.
Osteopaths such as those at Arc Osteopathy believe that the body has an innate ability to heal itself if given the right conditions for recovery; they use manual therapy techniques to help repair the damage done by injury or disease so that you can live pain-free again. Osteopathic treatment can also help with chronic conditions like migraines or digestive problems by identifying what caused them in the first place and addressing those issues head-on.
In addition to improving physical health through osteopathic treatments such as spinal adjustments (realign your spine), massage therapy sessions may be used alongside traditional medical procedures like surgery or chemotherapy if necessary.
How Osteopathy Can Improve Mental Health
Osteopathy can help to reduce stress and anxiety, improve mood and increase self-awareness. These are all factors that play a role in mental health.
Osteopathic treatment can help reduce stress by improving the body’s ability to cope more effectively. It does this by increasing blood flow throughout your body, which reduces tension in muscles as well as improving the circulation of nutrients throughout your system. This helps you feel less tense when faced with stressful situations or tasks like exams or work deadlines – something that many people struggle with during their university years!
Another way osteopathy improves mental health is through its ability to increase awareness of how our bodies work together as one unit, an understanding known as “mindfulness”. By becoming more aware of what happens inside us physically (such as muscle tension), we’re better equipped to deal with any negative emotions that arise because they’re easier to identify before they become overwhelming problems later down the line!
Techniques Used in Osteopathy for Mental Health
Osteopaths use a variety of techniques to treat mental health issues. Some of the most common include:
Soft tissue massage, joint manipulation and cranial osteopathy are all used by osteopaths to treat stress-related disorders such as anxiety and depression.
Visceral Osteopathy is another technique that can help improve overall well-being by treating digestive problems such as constipation or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS).
Benefits of Osteopathy for Mental Health
Osteopathic treatment can help to reduce stress and anxiety, improve mood, increase self-awareness and even improve cognitive function. Osteopathy is a holistic approach that focuses on the body as a whole instead of just treating symptoms. This means that when you visit an osteopath, they will look at how all areas of your body are connected and work together to treat the entire person rather than just one problem area at a time.
Osteopathy works by using gentle pressure on specific points throughout your spine (called myofascial release), which helps to improve circulation throughout your body, including blood flow to the brain – this can help reduce feelings of stress or anxiety by calming down overactive nerves in certain areas such as those around our neck area which causes us to have headaches!
Common Conditions Treated with Osteopathy for Mental Health
Osteopathic treatment is a holistic approach to health care that focuses on the musculoskeletal system, as well as the nervous system and other body systems. Osteopathic physicians (DOs) use manual techniques to diagnose and treat patients who may suffer from a variety of conditions, including:
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Stress
- Trauma
- PTSD
If you’re interested in learning more about how osteopathic treatment can help with mental health issues, check out the American Osteopathic Association (AOA) website or the National Center for Complementary and Integrative Health (NCCIH) website for more information.
Tips for Getting the Most Out of Osteopathy for Mental Health
If you’re interested in osteopathy for mental health, here are some tips to help you get the most out of your treatment:
- Open Communication with Your Osteopath – It’s important, to be honest with your osteopath about what’s going on in your life. This will allow them to understand better what kind of treatment plan would work best for you and how long it might take before seeing results.
- Set Realistic Goals – Setting realistic expectations can help prevent disappointment when it comes time for an evaluation or follow-up appointment. While some people may feel better after just one session, others may need more time before noticing any difference at all!
- Make Lifestyle Changes – Changing habits such as diet and exercise routines can make a big difference when it comes down to overall health and mental health specifically!
Finding an Osteopath for Mental Health
- Check credentials.
- Ask for references.
- Read reviews, especially on sites like Yelp and Google Reviews.
Conclusion
Osteopathy can improve mental health in a number of ways. It’s important to note that osteopathic treatment does not replace traditional medicine but rather complements it. If you feel like your mental health could use some extra attention and care, consider trying out osteopathy for yourself!