Based in the West End of Glasgow, Fiona McIntosh of Essential Osteopathy is dedicated to the highest standard of patient-care for all ages (please select the Cranial Osteopathy option(s) below if you would like your baby/child treated). She offers professional, effective, safe and reliable Osteopathic treatment for a great variety of bodily aches and pains including:
- back pain (incl. associated 'sciatica')
- neck pain (incl. associated headaches & migraines)
- arthritis
- shoulder pain (incl. frozen shoulder)
- wrist and hand pain
- hip, knee and foot pain
- pregnancy pain (incl. pelvic girdle pain)
- sports injuries
- babies (see separate discipline below)

Osteopathy is a manual therapy which usually involves a combination of treatment modalities including soft or deep tissue massage, stretching, joint articulation and mobilisation, muscle energy techniques and, as appropriate, other treatments such a dry-needling (modern acupuncture) and Cranial Osteopathy (please book an Initial Consultation and Treatment if you're an adult wishing to be treated solely with Cranial Osteopathy, although please note that I often integrate it in to most treatments).

Fiona graduated with distinction from the British School of Osteopathy (BSO) having previously gained BSc (Hons) from St Andrews University. Following further postgraduate training in cranial osteopathy and modern acupuncture, Fiona combines cranial, functional, visceral and structural techniques in her holistic treatments. She has a particular osteopathic interest in treating pre and postnatal patients, babies (using Cranial Osteopathic techniques), sports injuries and those with chronic pain.

Cranial Osteopathy and the treatment of babies and young children (**PLEASE WAIT UNTIL THEY ARE 4 WEEKS OR OLDER FROM THEIR DUE DATE BEFORE ATTENDING**).

Newborn babies are subject to enormous forces when they are born, being squeezed, twisted and turned as they come into the world. This puts a lot of pressure onto the baby, particularly its head at the base of the skull where the tongue and guts may be irritated causing problems with suckling, discomfort and nausea. The immature gut and diaphragm are often also stressed and distorted which further compromises digestion and reduces the ability of the stomach to retain its contents. Tensions on the bony and membranous structures of the skull may, in turn, be keeping the baby's nervous system in a constant state of high alert. In a lot of cases there are no issues with the baby as it grows, however, quite a number of babies experience colicky symptoms as a result of these issues – or have silent or productive reflux, are windy, have problems latching, difficulty sleeping and/or be crying uncontrollably, especially in the evening.

Initially the mother will be asked about the pregnancy, the birth and the baby's health, constitution, feeding and sleeping patterns. Fiona will then assess the problem and subtly and gently release any pressure that remains from the birth using very gentle techniques and their highly developed sense of palpation.

Copy and paste either of these links into a new window to get a taster as to the how, why and what of Cranial Osteopathic treatment of babies:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0yBE4Vi4248
https://www.essentialosteopathy.co.uk/treatments/cranial-osteopathy/

Cranial Osteopathy is a subtle and gentle type of osteopathic treatment which can help to relieve tension and everyday stress patterns that have built up throughout the body. Cranial Osteopathy is an effective approach that may be used in people of all ages. The treatment itself involves the delicate manipulation of the cranial and spinal bones in order to restore the cranial rhythm.

Do email or phone me for more information about this type of treatment.

NB: Booking your baby in for the first time (**please wait till they are 4 weeks or older from due date before attending**)? Please ensure you book the 'Cranial Osteopathy Initial Consultation and treatment' option in your name in the Babies & young children section (scroll down) and NOT the 'Initial Consultation and Treatment' in the Osteopathy section. Please then complete the intake form on your baby's behalf once the booking is confirmed ignoring any messages saying to check with me.

PLEASE NOTE:
- Clinic room/Building access: There is NO LIFT to the 2nd floor at 4 Lynedoch Place. If applicable, please leave your buggy/pram to tucked in to the left of the reception area out of the thoroughfare after you've come through the front door.
- Also, please bring a made up bottle and/or be prepared to feed your baby - even if it's just for comfort (although, as mentioned above, I can reassure you that the treatment is very gentle).