Osteopathic Self-Treatment: Finding Health

Osteopathy is on everyone’s lips. In order to detect their patients’ problems, osteopaths employ comprehensive skill and knowledge regarding the structure and function of the human body. A little-known fact, however, is that the osteopathic techniques and principles are wonderfully suited for self-treatment, as only the patient himself has a direct link to his inner self.
The first part of the book explains the principles of osteopathic treatment.
The book’s main part is then the “osteopathic medicine cabinet” with 45 exercises for all areas of the body, from headaches to ankle sprains.


Contents
Prologue
Introduction
Your first osteopathic self-treatment
The three planes of movement

Part 1: Osteopathic Principles
Unlike you would think
Direct and indirect technique
Direct and indirect technique in nature
Osteopathy – supporting nature’s healing powers
“Activating Forces”
Two special techniques
Strain-Counterstrain (SCS)
Myofascial Release (MFR)
The “onion of discomfort”

Part 2: The osteopathic medicine cabinet
Head
Chronic Sinusitis (sinus infection)
Impaired vision / eye muscles / vertigo
Accommodation (accommodating near and far sight)
Tired eyes
Headaches
Sensitive points
Discomforts in the area of the forehead
Discomforts on the side of your head – parietal bone exercise
Discomforts on the side of your head – temporal bone exercise
Discomforts at the back of your head
Mandibular joint / teeth
Discomforts in the jaw-area
Discomforts in the area of your teeth
Discomforts in the throat area
Difficulties swallowing
Voice problems
Spine
Cervical spine
Discomforts in the neck radiating into the head
The area of the thoracic spine/chest/ribs – sitting down
The area of the thoracic spine/chest/ribs – standing
The counterstrain exercise for the chest area
Exercise with stronger pain
Discomforts of the lumbar spine
The “waves on the ocean” exercise
Unstable spine – “no plane”
Unstable spine – “maybe plane”
Exercise option on the “yes plane”
Pelvic area
Discomforts in the area of the pelvic floor
Discomforts in the area of the sacroiliac joint
Discomforts in the gluteal area
Hip joint problems
The area of the hip joint/pubic bone/adductors
Knee joint
Knee exercise “healing hands”
Knee exercise “turning”
Exercise for the balance of the knee muscles
Feet
Problems with the upper ankle joint
Problems with the lower ankle joint
Sprained ankle
Toes
Basic exercise when dealing with toe problems
Hallux-valgus (big toe in X-position)
Shoulders
Basic exercise for shoulder discomforts
Dysfunctions in the area of the acromioclavicular joint
Discomforts when lifting your arm to the front
Elbows
Basic exercise with discomforts of the elbows
“Tennis elbow”
Wrists
Basic exercise for problems in the wrist
Carpal tunnel syndrome
Alternative exercise “carpal tunnel syndrome”
Fingers
Basic exercise for fingers
For body, spirit and soul
Centering exercise
Exercise of the inner alchemy