Amersham Osteopathic Clinic

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Recovery from some infections better using Osteopathy alongside conventional treatment

“The problem of antimicrobial resistance is here to stay because the natural adaptive response of microorganisms is to develop resistance. New approaches must be developed to enhance antimicrobial stewardship. The evidence indicates that adjunctive OMT can enhance the human immune system, shorten the duration of antibiotic therapy, and improve outcomes” 

Noll (2016) The Potential of Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment in Antimicrobial Stewardship: A Narrative Review Donald R. Noll, DO. The Journal of the American Osteopathic Association September 2016 | Vol 116 | No. 9. http://jaoa.org/ on 11/09/2017

Concerns are growing about antimicrobial resistance. There is growing understanding that we need to minimise antimicrobial resistance by avoiding antibiotic overuse and misuse.

This article reviews how Osteopathic treatment alongside conventional treatment is useful in helping patients to better recover from some infectious diseases. One of the principles of osteopathy is helping support and enhance our immune system to help the body heal itself where possible.

Interestingly, when the osteopathic profession began over 100 years ago, infectious diseases were a major cause of death. The death of 3 of his children from such a disease was a big factor for Andrew Taylor Still, the founder of Osteopathy, in developing a system of manual medicine to help improve blood supply, oxygenation, nutrition and drainage and so help the body fight infectious diseases.

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Osteopathic manipulative treatment in preterm infants: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Osteopathic manipulative treatment showed reduction of length of stay and costs in preterm infants: This systematic review and meta-analysis looked at the mean difference in length of stay and costs between osteopathy and alternative treatment group.  All studies reported no adverse events associated with OMT.  The review showed clinical effectiveness of OMT in reducing of length of stay and costs in a large population of preterm infants.

Authors:Lanaro D, Ruffini N, Manzotti A, Lista G. in: Medicine (Baltimore). 2017 Mar;96(12):e6408.

Nice to see emerging data on osteopathic care of pre-term infants – something we cover on our Paediatric Diploma in Osteopathy at the Osteopathic Centre for Children, London.

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Probiotics seen to help with newborn crying, spitting up / positing

Daily use of a probiotic early in life reduced inconsolable crying, spitting up / positing and functional constipation in newborns reports a new study in JAMA No adverse events were reported by parents and the supplements were well tolerated.

Although infantile colic is not considered a serious problem by the medical profession, 10% to 20% of all pediatrician visits in the first 4 months are related to this issue.

Colicky crying  frequently contributes to anxiety, exhaustion, and stress.

Posseting / positing / spitting up is very common (around 50% of babies do this  for at least their first 12 weeks, some for much longer).

Constipation can be a real issue for both the baby and the family – with little ones being really uncomfortable in the days leading up to a bowel movement, as well as crying considerably beforehand in some cases.

What are called “functional gastrointestinal disorders”  in newborns usually gets better of their own accord. Help from probiotics may be really useful until it does.

A newborn check by a qualified paediatric osteopath may also highlight other issues that could benefit from some gentle osteopathic support.

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More news on the importance of limiting paracetamol dosage

The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is finally asking physicians / Doctors and other healthcare professionals to stop prescribing combination prescription pain relievers that contain more than 325 mg of paracetamol (acetaminophen) per table due to the potential risk for liver damage.

Many prescription analgesics  contain both paracetamol and another ingredient (like codeine) and may have up to 750 mg of acetaminophen per dose.

In a statement, the FDA stated, “There are no available data to show that taking more than 325 mg of acetaminophen per dosage unit provides additional benefit that outweighs the added risks for liver injury.”

“Further, limiting the amount of acetaminophen per dosage unit will reduce the risk of severe liver injury from inadvertent acetaminophen overdose, which can lead to liver failure, liver transplant, and death,” they added.

Severe liver injury in patients taking paracetamol have occurred when patients  took more than the prescribed dose of an acetaminophen-containing product in a 24-hour period or took more than 1 paracetamol-containing product at the same time; or drank alcohol as well as medicine that  contained paracetamol.

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“Is infant colic really a type of migraine?” asks new research

Colic (also called paroxysmal crying) – we aren’t yet sure why babies get it

Colic refers to episodes of irritability, screaming, or inconsolable crying for 3 or more hours a day,  for 3 +days a week,  for more than 3 weeks. It is worse around 6 to 8 weeks of age and usually sorts itself out by around 16 weeks.

Studies are beginning to show links between colic and adult migraines: if mums have migraines, their babies are 2.5 times more likely to have colic.  If a baby has colic, they are 6.5 times more likely to have headaches and migraines as a child or teenager.

Colic may not be stomach / tummy related 

Current evidence suggests colic is unlikely to be caused by intestinal gas as the frequently used infacol (simethicone) was not seen to have a beneficial effect compared to placebo in a recent trial. Breast and bottle fed babies both get colic. Lactose intolerance is not colic and babies with this respond very quickly when put on a lactose free formula / breast feeding mums cut out lactose in their diet. However, babies with an allergy to cow’s milk protein often have colicky symptoms, as do babies with reflux.

Probiotics have, however, been seen to give relief for some colicky babies, but not all.

In vulnerable babies, nerve fibres in the brain (migraine) or the gut (colic) may be hypersensitive. Children are also known to have abdominal migraines (like a ‘headache’ in their tummy, sometimes with nausea and vomiting, like a migraine). The immature brains of newborns may be more sensitive to normal stimuli, triggering migraines / headachy symptoms  – this results in inconsolable crying.

It is nice to see that research is beginning to agree with what some paediatric osteopaths have been saying for a while – that some colicky symptoms may be head / neck / spine related, and babies sometimes may get a ‘headache’ or ‘neck ache’  which may be diagnosed as ‘colic’, but is not always related to wind / gas or a tummy pain.

Infant Colic May Be Early Migraine Pauline Anderson. American Headache Society (AHS) 56th Annual Scientific Meeting. Presented June 27, 2014.

Childhood Migraine Linked to Colic in Infancy. Megan Brooks JAMA. 2013;309:1607-1612,1636-1637

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As well as being principal at Amersham Osteopathic Clinic, I am also Consultant in Charge at the Osteopathic Centre for Children's London clinic (part of the Foundation for Paediatric Osteopathy) and teach theory and practical techniques on the current Diploma course. I am on the Sutherland Cranial College of Osteopathy Teaching Faculty. I teach … Read more...