Anybody considering trying cranial osteopathy - or just plain old osteopathy - for conditions like colic, reflux or ear infections, asthma, allergies etc should consider that the General Osteopathic Council (the UK regulator) and also the National Council for Osteopathic Research do not hold any reliable evidence that would suggest this treatment is in any way effective for these conditions. These organisations are run by osteopaths .... just not the ones who are asking you to pay for regular treatments that have no basis on which they could work. If you contact either of the above via their websites they are usually very willing to respond to any enquiries of this sort from memebers of the public. Just ask them is they believe that osteopathy helps the condition and if there is any evidence they can refer to. Go to their 'contact us' page, General Osteopathic Council The General Osteopathy Council are currently reviewing their members websites and advising them to remove these sort of claims as they are potentially misleading and also breach the Advertising Standards Agency regulations. Yes you will find anecdotes from parents who say they have seen improvements .... but you will also find parents who say it was just a waste of time and money. There are also many osteopaths who do not agree with this form of treatment or the claims associated with it. This report was published by an osteopath with 20 years teaching experience at a US College of Osteopathic Medicine Cranial Osteopathy: Its Fate Seems Clear The summary says: Summary Until outcome studies show that these techniques produce a direct and positive clinical effect, they should be dropped from all academic curricula; insurance companies should stop paying for them; and patients should invest their time, money, and health elsewhere. It is very tempting to try these things when nothing else seems to be working and frustration sets in, but people should at least be aware of what it is before parting with cash week after week! Some will undoubtedly disagree with me ... that's fine. Ask the General Osteopathic Council for their view! regards Barista
