There is a relationship between dysfunction and/or dis-ease and Body, Mind and Spirit. A problem in any one will compromise health and may be expressed through dysfunction in another. Many common complaints can potentially become chronic and affect all aspects of health and well-being. Pain is deemed chronic if it lasts more than 3 months or past the time of normal healing.

The Vagus nerve is part of the parasympathetic nervous system (PNS). It is one of the largest nerves in the body, considered both a cranial nerve and a peripheral nerve. It exits the cranium through the jugular foramen and travels down the neck into your chest and abdomen, innervating the entire digestive system. Osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) releases soft tissue and joint restrictions in the cranial base and the upper neck to alleviate any compression on the vagus nerve so it can function normally and facilitate good digestion.

The objective of this study was to compare the effects of osteopathic treatment and progressive muscular relaxation (PMR) exercises on patients with tension-type headache (TTH). Relaxation is generally accepted as a treatment for TTH.

Caryn Seniscal’s all-consuming hunger for knowledge is what drove the Vancouver resident to a career in osteopathy. A successful massage therapist since the late 1980s, Seniscal knew she was diving in deep by committing to a five-year osteopathic program that wouldn’t see her graduate until her late 40s. Despite the trepidation and lack of support from some friends, she forged ahead.

The word osteopathy originates from the two Greek words “osteone,” which means structure, and “pathos,” which means pain. Osteopathic treatment is based on the concept that the structure of the body affects how it will function and that it functions as a unified whole. In other words, if there is a problem or restriction in one part of the body, then all the other parts are affected in some way and often there is pain.

"The majority of pain patients recover quickly from their injuries-others, after months of persistent pain, become frustrated when medications and therapies do not result in lasting relief. The persistent discomfort of chronic pain can bring an individual to their emotional limit.