ABOUT MULBERRY OSTEOPATHS

Patrick Harding formed Mulberry Osteopaths in 2000. We now have a team of three Osteopaths working at Mulberry House in the West End of Edinburgh. Clinic appointments are available six days a week including evenings and Saturdays.

We also provide Low Income Clinics with the help of Mulberry House Health Foundation to provide Osteopathic treatment for those that would not ordinarily be able to afford such treatment.

All our Osteopaths are registered with the General Osteopathic Council.

PATRICK HARDING: BSc.DO.ND.

Patrick is the Principal Osteopath at Mulberry Osteopaths as well as being one of the directors of Mulberry House and The Mulberry House Health Foundation. He studied in London at the British College of Naturopathy and Osteopathy (BCNO) and qualified in 1989. His particular field of interest is working with pre and postnatal clients. He has been practicing in Edinburgh since 1996. He previously worked as a hospital pharmacist.

AILIS BUCHANAN B.Ost.Med. BA.

Ailis is a graduate of Heriot-Watt Universtity (BA Leisure Management) and has a B.Ost Med from British College of Osteopathic Medicine (2004).  She also has qualifications in Advanced Sports and Remedial Massage therapy, Personal Training and Cranial Osteopathy.  Ailis uses a combination of these techniques in her treatments, which are suitable for all age groups. She recently completed training as a Pilates instructor and offers classes and one to one sessions at Mulberry House.

GILLIAN McINTOSH BSc (Ost)

Gillian qualified as an osteopath from the British School of Osteopathy in 1994 and moved to Glasgow. In 1996 she took over the Glasgow Osteopathic Centre as the principal osteopath where she was based till 2007 when she moved back to her family roots in Fife to bring her son up. Her osteopathic ‘adventures’ have taken her to Thailand treating crew of the yachts involved in the Kings Cup Regatta and she has also worked for 3 weeks in a Bosnian hospital with severely disabled children.

LUCY McCLELLAND BSc (Hons) Ost.Med.ND.
Lucy also graduated from the British College of Osteopathic Medicine (BCOM). She returned to her hometown of Edinburgh and joined Mulberry Osteopaths in September 2006. In October 2007 she began a four year ‘fast track’ medical degree at St.Georges University Hospital in London. She will still be helping us out at Mulberry Osteopaths as our locum cover.

Any questions?
Why not email me info@mulberryosteopath.co.uk

OSTEOPATHY - AN INTRODUCTION

Osteopathy is a safe and natural therapy that focuses on the framework of the body consisting of the bones, ligaments, muscles and connective tissues or fascia. Osteopaths assess the condition of this musculo-skeletal system looking for areas of weakness, imbalance and excessive strain. Any potential ‘weak points’ will determine how well the body functions and they will have an influence on the general health of the whole body.

Osteopaths have become well known for treating back problems because they are so good at it, however, many other conditions can be very successfully treated with osteopathy. The musculo-skeletal system forms the framework that carries the body's network of nerves, blood vessels and lymphatics. It also physically supports the internal organs. The health of the musculo-skeletal system therefore has a direct effect on the health of the rest of the body. Osteopathic treatment aimed at improving the mechanics of the body automatically influences such things as blood and nerve supply as well as activity of the internal organs. It is because of this that osteopathy, as well as treating the more obvious headaches, joint problems, sports injuries and postural strains, can also be used in the treatment of less obvious conditions such as asthma, digestive disorders, menstrual problems and chronic fatigue syndrome.

For further information:
General Osteopathic Council

OSTEOPATHY - & ARTHRITIS

Arthritis can generally be divided into two basic types:

Degenerative or OSTEOARTHRITIS is the most common form and is linked with ‘wear and tear’ of the joints resulting from excessive stress and strain put on an area through poor posture, heavy manual work and old injuries. The joints involved become worn, painful, and stiff. This type of arthritis is commonly seen and treated effectively by Osteopaths.

Inflammatory arthritis such as RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS not only produces painful, swollen, and stiff joints, but affects the whole body including a breakdown in the immune system. This type of arthritis is more difficult to treat, but again Osteopathic approaches can relieve the musculo-skeletal symptoms.

Many arthritis sufferers are told that ‘nothing can be done, you just have to live with it’ or ‘pain killers and anti-inflammatory drugs are the only treatment available’. Osteopathy does not aim to reverse the damage already done to the joints but treatment can certainly ease the pain, reduce swelling, improve the stiffness and restore some joint mobility. As a result of this there is often less reliance on medication and consequently less problems with the inevitable side effects of the drugs, such as gastritis.

Treatment aims to get the best out of the affected areas by improving the mobility of arthritic joints as far as possible. Associated joints and tissues may also require treatment to ensure that they are functioning well enough to take the extra strain and compensate for the damaged joint(s) so maintaining good overall mobility.

In chronic cases it may not be the actual arthritic joint(s) that causes most of the pain. The body often naturally tries to protect the joint by splinting it with muscle spasm and it is the muscles and soft tissues that are the source of the aches and pains. Osteopathic treatment can reduce this excessive muscle tension, ease the pain and improve movement.

OSTEOPATHY - & CHRONIC FATIGUE

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome or M.E. (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis) presents itself in many different ways with symptoms ranging from headaches to intense lethargy, muscular pains to mental confusion, and general weakness to disturbed sleep.

All sufferers of this debilitating illness appear to have upper back problems, either through previous injury or chronic postural strain. It has been suggested that the chronic stiffness leads to irritation of the Sympathetic Nervous System with which this area is closely linked. The lymphatic vessels, which form the bodys’ natural waste disposal system, eventually become involved as a result of the chronic tension and consequent breakdown in control from the sympathetic nerves. The M.E. sufferer is left with a clogged and toxic lymphatic system, chronic muscular tension patterns over the upper back and rib cage and a poor breathing mechanism.

Osteopathy alone will not ‘cure’ M.E. The treatment has to be backed up with a programme of self help measures which may include simple exercise regimes and breathing techniques, postural advice, hydrotherapy approaches, dietary advice and general health promotion ideas.

No two M.E. sufferers are the same and treatment programmes have to be tailored to the individual needs of each patient. Recovery takes time with such a chronic condition but in each case full involvement in the regime is encouraged, as this will speed the recovery process.

OSTEOPATHY - & PREGNANCY

Mulberry Osteopaths have gained a lot of experience working with pregnant women because of the close relationship we have with other teachers and therapists practising at Mulberry House.  Yoga in Pregnancy classes, Birth Preparation workshops and Pregnancy Massage are just a few of the things that bring pregnant women (and their families) in to Mulberry House.The shifting stresses and strains of pregnancy, together with the changing hormonal influences on ligaments and joints, can highlight old physical weaknesses. Finding new ways to walk, sit and sleep as a result of the changes in size and shape may introduce new aches and pains.

Despite what you might hear low back pain, sciatica, hip pain and generalised backache is not an inevitable part of the pregnancy experience. In actual fact pregnancy is a time when women are usually very responsive to Osteopathic treatment. Using massage techniques, mobilisation and stretching of joints, together with simple exercise regimes and sensible back care advice Osteopathy can ease the strain.

Pain in the groin or lower abdomen with a feeling that ‘something is about to give’ is often diagnosed as Symphysis Pubis Dysfunction (SPD). This can make walking and even moving extremely difficult.  SPD is often misdiagnosed in pregnancy and the majority of patients with these symptoms respond incredibly well to Osteopathy.

OSTEOPATHY - & ASTHMA

Statistics suggest that the asthma problem is on the increase with over 3 million sufferers in the UK. As more people are diagnosed with the condition there is an ever-increasing reliance on medication aimed at relieving or controlling asthma symptoms. It is a complex problem with many possible aggravating factors.

Osteopathic treatment will not cure asthma but it can help to improve the breathing mechanism itself. By improving the mechanics of breathing, as well as correcting postural problems commonly associated with asthma, the body becomes better able to cope with any breathing restrictions. This should improve breathing generally and also reduce the need for medication.

Asthma sufferers characteristically breathe more shallowly and at a faster rate than normal, using the upper chest rather than spreading the workload over the whole chest. Osteopathic treatment aims to provide improved movement within the rib cage and upper back as well as encouraging the diaphragm and lower chest to become more involved in the breathing process.

Rounding of the shoulders is typical in chronic asthma sufferers. It starts with attempts to make breathing easier during an attack by using additional respiratory muscles but it often becomes a habitual posture. This posture actually hinders the whole process of breathing and creates abnormal muscular tension patterns. Osteopathic treatment can encourage the shoulders to fall back and allow the chest cavity to expand more freely so improving the breathing technique.

CRANIAL OSTEOPATHY

Cranial Osteopathy is a subtle type of osteopathic treatment that uses extremely gentle techniques to release strain patterns and tensions throughout the body. It is called 'cranial' because treatment often involves gentle pressure on the head, although other parts of the body such as the spine and tailbone can also be involved in treatment.
During treatment, the Osteopath is feeling for a subtle rhythmical shape change that is present in all living body tissues called 'involuntary motion'. The involuntary motion of the brain can be felt through the bones of the skull and the Osteopath can feel for any disruption in its normal movement pattern. This disruption can occur following trauma or impact such as a difficult birth, road accidents, falls and head injuries. Usually the body is able to compensate for such events, but sometimes an accumulation of several strains and stresses can disrupt normal involuntary motion, and symptoms start to show.
Cranial Osteopathy is suitable for all ages and conditions. As it is extremely gently treatment it is even suitable for newborn babies and the very elderly. In adults it maybe used in the treatment of a variety of problems including headaches and migraines, epilepsy, sinus pain, stress, malaise, fatigue and general ill health. In newborn babies it is especially effective for treating colic, teething problems, glue ear, and disturbed sleep patterns

Back to Home Page