Telephone: 01342 323851. Mobile: 07743 825610.
Email: tracey@sussex-cranial.co.uk
01342 323851. http:// www.sussex-cranial.co.uk
View Larger Map
Cranial Osteopathy is a technique used by osteopaths. It is a very gentle yet extremely powerful hands-on therapy which aims to restore health and balance in the body. It is a profoundly effective treatment for a wide range of conditions and is a particularly effective way of treating babies.
Does your baby or child have any of the following?
* Inconsolable crying
* Colic
* Sucking problems
* Breathing difficulties
* Restlessness
* Irritability
* Problems sleeping
* Mis-shapen head
Did your baby experience a difficult birth?
* Ventouse
* Forceps
* Caesarean
* Premature Birth
Were there any problems during pregnancy?
* Accidents
* Illness
* Surgery
* Bereavement or loss
Then let me help you and your baby or child.
About Sussex Cranial
I have built this website to help you and your child or baby. Use the links at the top-left to find your way around.
Happy Baby
There is information here about what Cranial Osteoapthy is, how it works and what it can treat. There is also information about me and how I can help you. Look at the testimonials to see what other parents have said about me. If you have any questions at all, please use the Contact Information page to send me an email. Finally, there is a page of useful links and a glossary for those technical words.
I have over 11 years experience treating babies and children and am also a mother. I have found being a mother a beautiful and rewarding experience. It should be for every mother, and I hope it is for you too.
Tracey Cambridge
What is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a system of healing based on the theory that some disorders can be alleviated by treatment of the skeleton and musculature using manipulation and massage. It comes from the Greek words osteon meaning bone and patheia meaning feeling. It literally translates as bone-feeling.
Happy Baby
Hence an osteopath spends many years developing a very fine sense of palpation to enable them to feel and effectively listen via their hands to what is going on in the body. The osteopath is able to identify and recognise problems via touch and is able to enable the body's own healing to take place.
Osteopaths work with their hands using a wide variety of treatment techniques such as soft tissue massage, stretching, gentle joint movements, or manipulation techniques. Some osteopaths specialise in a technique called cranial osteopathy. It is a very gentle technique ideal for babies and children.
What is Cranial Osteopathy?
The Latin word cranium comes from the Greek kranion which means skull. Cranial Osteopathy is a specialised technique that osteopaths use which deals with not just the bones of the skull, but also the very small rhythmic change that exists in all the tissues of the body. This is called the Cranial Rhythm or Involuntary Motion. Any disturbance of this rhythm or motion caused by birth, accident, illness or operations can cause problems in the body. A cranial osteopath is trained to locate and alleviate the disturbance.
A great many infant problems are actually caused by imbalances in the cranium caused during the birth. Cranial Osteopathy is especially suited to treating these. Please see my next page for a fuller description of what can be treated.
[]Happy Baby stock image]
Is it like Cranio-Sacral Therapy?
Cranio refers to the cranium(skull) and sacral refers to the sacrum - a triangular bone forming the back of the pelvis. Although Cranio-Sacral Therapy may have similarities with Cranial Osteopathy, a Cranio-Sacral therapist is not an Osteopath and therefore does not have the four years of training in anatomy, physiology and pathology that an osteopath has. An Osteopath will have a Bachelor of Science degree in Osteopathy or a Diploma in Osteopathy and will be registered with the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC), and will have a certificate to prove it.
The Osteopaths Act of 1993 means that only those practitioners who can satisfy the requirements of the GOsC will be admitted to its register and will be entitled to call themselves osteopath. This is a measure of basic clinical competence and safety.
Is it like Chiropractic?
Chiropractic is the diagnosis and manipulative treatment of mechanical disorders of the joints, especially of the spine. Chiropractic comes from Greek kheir meaning hand and praktikos meaning practised, experienced. It literally translates as practised with the hands.
Chiropractic and Osteopathy share a common history. Doctor Andrew Taylor Still founded Osteopathy in America in 1874. Daniel David Palmer, a former student of Doctor Still, founded Chiropractic 21 years later. Osteopaths and Chiropracters have similar training, treat similar conditions, and can use similar manipulation techniques. However, not all Chiropractors have training in Cranial techniques; neither have all Osteopaths.
Each practioner is an individual with their own specialisms and focus. These differences can be as wide as the two schools themselves. Therefore the most importance choice for the patient (or parent of the patient) is the suitability of the practioner themselves.
Happy Baby
What is different about me?
I am an Osteopath who specialises in the treatment of newborn babies and children. I have a Diploma in Paediatric Osteopathy from the Osteopathic Centre for Children and have experience treating a broad range of infant conditions, from birth trauma to teething. My emphasis is true to the roots of Osteopathy: using my skills to "listen" to what the patient's body is telling me. Some practioners can be too hurried to do this effectively. Please read more at the about me page.
I have over 11 years of solid experience and my track record with treating babies and children is phenomenal. My testimonials show this. In the past I have had referals from other Osteopaths who could not get a result with the patient, and have treated that patient with success. Sometimes I have been able to achieve in a single treatment what another Osteopath couldn't achieve in 5 or 6.
Where can I learn more?
You can read more about what Cranial Osteopathy treat on the next page. I also highly recommend the introductory book Osteopathy for Children. There is also a page of useful links later in the website. Finally, you can directly ask me any questions you have using the contact details or enquiry form. I encourage you to do so!
What can Osteopathy treat?
"We are frequently asked what do osteopaths treat, and the proper answer is 'children'. We do not treat conditions, but work toward health."
— Foundation for Paediatric Osteopathy
Mothers, Pregnancy and Birth
Pregnant Woman
Sometimes events during the pregnancy can impact the mother and baby, such as accidents, illnesses, surgery, or even just a growing baby getting itself in the wrong position or an uncomfortable position for the mother. Cranial Osteopathy can ease the stress of these events.
The process of birth can be overwhelming for mother and baby and it is highly recommended that they come for treatment as soon as the mother feels able to after the birth. This way any condition can be dealt with quickly at their onset and more readily resolved.
Newborn Babies
In a newborn baby, the bones of the skull have not hardened yet, and are made up of cartilage and membrane. This is to allow the skull bones to overlap and mold during birth. This picture shows the sutures of the skull - the joins between the different bones which make up the skull. Newborn skull profile showing sutures
Infant problems such as colic, sucking problems, breathing difficulties, restlessness, and irritability may result from imbalances in the cranium caused during the birth process.
A Paediatric Osteopath is an Osteopath who has a Diploma in Paediatric Osteopathy (DPO) from the Foundation for Paediatric Osteopathy. The word paediatric refers to that branch of medicine which deals with the treatment of children. Ideally, every baby should be checked by a Paediatric Osteopath shortly after birth to check for and treat any restrictions or asymmetries in the baby's skull and body that may lead to problems later on.
The earlier the treatment begins the quicker problems can be resolved leading to fewer treatments and a happier baby. This may sound obvious, but a baby who is not in pain will be a happier baby.
Toddlers and Children
Sometimes problems don't become apparent until a child gets older, for example developmental delays, or a squint or lazy eye. Teething pains are often worse in a baby who was delivered by forceps. A toddler may fall many times onto his or her bottom whilst learning to walk, and the repeated shock absorbed through the pelvis may cause problems sleeping.
Happy Baby Of course Osteopathy cannot change the diagnosis of children born with a congenital condition, but it can alleviate some of the physical problems associated with that condition. For example, babies and children with Down's syndrome often have problems breathing because of narrowed sinuses.
For best results, treatment should begin before the age of 5 years as after this the bones start to harden and the stresses and asymmetries caused by birth cannot always be completely eliminated.
Teenagers
Profound changes take place in a child's body as they grow. Changes occur physically, mentally and emotionally especially from the ages of 10 to 16 years as children make the transition to adulthood. Treatment can help the central nervous system and the hormonal system to work in a more balanced way.
It is never too early and hardly ever too late to have treatment. Problems can be identified before they become obvious and more difficult to change. Early treatment will help establish the best possible outcome.
How many treatments will be needed?
On average, 2 to 6 treatments are sufficient to address the main presenting problem. This varies according to the severity of the problem and the age of the child. Once any fundamental problems have been resolved, Happy Toddler I recommend regular check ups every 3 months for babies, and every 6 months for children to help with teething and growth and to resolve the effects of any falls, injuries and illnesses which are an inevitable part of childhood.
What does the treatment feel like?
Treatment often brings a feeling of deep relaxation and babies will often fall asleep during treatment. Cranial Osteopathy is so gentle that it is safe and suitable for people of all ages, especially newborn babies and children, and also the elderly or people with fragile or acutely painful conditions.
Why haven't I heard of Cranial Osteopathy before?
Cranial Osteopathy is becoming much better known now and more widely available as more and more Osteopaths are realising how profoundly effective it is and are willing to study and use it.
Here are a few examples of the conditions I have experience in treating:
* Allergies, asthma, bronchitis
* Birth trauma (foetal distress at or around birth)
* Behavioural problems, tantrums
* Cerebral Palsy and other types of brain injury
* Club foot (talipes)
* Colic, wind, feeding difficulties, vomiting
* Constipation
* Inconsolable Crying, Irritable Babies
* Digestive problems
* Down's Syndrome
* Epilepsy
* Ear infections, glue ear, tonsillitis
* Emotional problems
* Gastric Reflux
* Headaches and visual disturbances
* Head injuries, accidents, falls, broken bones
* Hyperactivity, constant fidgeting
* Hypersensitivity
* Mis-shapen head (plagiocephaly)
* Orthodontic treatment, braces and dental pain
* Spinal curvatures, back pain, neck pain
* Sleep disturbances (insomnia)
* Sinus problems, constantly blocked or runny nose, mouth breathing
About Me
My name is Tracey Cambridge. Many of my former patients will know me by my maiden name Tracey Aird.
I qualified as an Osteopath in 1997 after a four year full-time course at the British School of Osteopathy. I became intensely passionate about what Osteopathy can do for babies and children and decided that I wanted to specialise in their treatment. Tracey Cambridge I volunteered at the Osteopathic Centre for Children and was priviledged to work there as a full-time staff member for about 3½ years. I was awarded the Diploma in Paediatric Osteopathy in 2000. To this day I consider my work to be a vocation in the original sense of the word: a calling.
I left the O.C.C. at the end of 2002 to work at the School House Osteopathic Clinic - a busy and successful children's clinic in Chelmsford, Essex.
In 2007, after the birth of my baby, my husband and I chose to settle down in East Grinstead, West Sussex.
"Thankyou, thankyou, thankyou!" - L.G.
Please take the time to read from the examples of some of the 'Thank you' letters I have received. You can find them on the testimonials page.
Appointments and Fees
Appointments
Saturday and Sunday 9 am to 6pm
New Patients
1½ hours — £45
Follow-Up Visits
45 minutes — £35
After 11 years working in other clinics, I have decided to be an independent osteopath working from home.
Photo of outside
At the first visit a case history is taken where I will ask you lots of questions about the problem, carry out an examination and then treat you or the child. Based upon the first visit, I will be able to give an idea of what can or can't be done, the length and frequency of the treatments, and will be able to answer any of your questions. When treating newborn patients, I always offer to give the mother an osteopathic check as well and this is done at the same appointment for no extra charge.
Photo of treatment room inside
If it is difficult for you to travel, I may be able to provide treatment in your home. And for this I would ask an additional charge for travel time, depending on the distance.
Please feel free to use the contact details here to ask me any further questions you have, or to arrange an appointment. I try to respond to emails and answer phone messages within 24 hours.
