Thanks to a friend who was a student Chiropractor and is now a practicing Chiropractor near Edinburgh, I have developed an increasing interest in Chiropractic. I am a patient at the Welsh Institute of Chiropractic, University of Glamorgan, am a member of the Patient Involvement Group at the School and also am a volunteer lecturer at the School! The definition, which I have lifted from the General Chiropractic Council website states, "Chiropractic is concerned with the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system and the effects of these disorders on the function of the nervous system and general health. There is an emphasis on manual treatments including spinal manipulation or adjustment (World Federation of Chiropractic, 1999)." Personally, I benefit tremendously
both from the soft tissue treatments and the manual manipulations. I am impressed by the holistic view that these highly trained clinicians have and the anatomical and physiological knowledge and expertise that they develop through their training. I frequently have clients attending for reflexology and indian head massage who appear to have skeletal misalignments or are suffering from spinal problems. I always recommend that they attend WIOC due to their thorough consultation and subsequent treatment. There is undoubtedly much still to be done to see Chiropractic accepted within the NHS, but I for one will certainly support the profession to gain wider integration and also support the NHS to undoubtedly save significant monies through a broadening perspective and adoption of the holistic or 'wholistic' Chiropractic approach.

Over the years that I have been practicing reflexology I have been delighted at the positive impact reflexology has had on clients suffering with 'backache'. The ailments have ranged from a twinge in the mid-back, to neck pain, an aching lumber region, sciatica and more. One particular client had been taking strong painkillers for some months to a maximum of 6 in a day. He had two reflexology session, two weeks apart. During the two weeks between his first and second treatment he took two painkillers in total! The relief was visible both in his posture, facial expression and even tone of voice. I have also had clients suffering sciatic pain who have responded well to reflexology. Between two and four treatments and the pain and discomfort has been significantly reduced and even disappeared in some cases. Other clients who suffer back pain and have come for reflexology have reported improved sleep, ability to walk for longer, less general stiffness and improved bowel and bladder function. I am continually impressed by reflexology's ability to improve people's back pain, often after only a few treatments