The Perrin Technique

The Perrin TechniqueTM is a manual treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome which aims to restore health to the patient's body by removing toxins which have accumulated in the brain and spinal cord and in the tissues.

Many patients suffering from CFS/ME have been told that there is no effective treatment and that they will have to learn to live with the illness. Others may have been offered physiotherapy, graded exercise therapy or cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). And many people will have tried everything from Reverse Therapy to scores of supplements. All of these treatments meet with mixed success.

What all these treatments leave out is the possibility of using manual treatment to improve the health of the patient's body. However it is possible to treat chronic fatigue syndrome using a combination of osteopathy, nutrition and advice on posture, exercise and lifestyle.  Scores of patients have been helped using the Perrin TechniqueTM, the osteopathic system developed by Manchester osteopath, Dr Raymond Perrin.

All sufferers of this debilitating illness appear to have upper back problems, either through previous injury or chronic postural strain. It has been suggested that the chronic stiffness in this part of the spine leads to irritation of the sympathetic nervous system with which this area is closely linked. The lymphatic vessels, which form the body’s natural waste disposal system, are eventually affected by the disturbed sympathetic nerves. The M.E. sufferer is left with a clogged and toxic lymphatic system, chronic muscular tension over the upper back and rib cage and poor breathing patterns.

Eventually backflow in the lymphatic system leads to accumulation of toxins in the central nervous system, which Dr Perrin believes is the cause of chronic fatigue syndrome. He has discovered definite physical signs common to all CFS/ME sufferers and these can be used to reach a definite diagnosis.

More about the causes of CFS/ME

The Perrin TechniqueTM uses osteopathic techniques to stimulate fluid motion around the brain and spinal cord. Manipulation of the spine further aids the drainage of toxins out of the cerebrospinal fluid. Massage of the soft tissues in the neck, back and chest direct the toxins out of the lymphatic system and into the blood, where they are eventually detoxified in the liver. Massage and mobilisation help to restore normal spinal function, and this is complemented by cranial osteopathy which helps to improve fluid motion around the brain and drainage of fluid from the head.

No two M.E. sufferers are the same and treatment programmes have to be tailored to the individual needs of each patient. Recovery takes time with such a chronic condition but in each case full involvement in the regime is encouraged, as this will speed the recovery process. Patients are given a home massage routine and gentle exercises to improve spinal mobility, relax the back and shoulders and begin the process of restoring body condition and coordination.

More about how the treatment works

The Perrin TechniqueTM was developed following a discovery in 1989 during the clinical practice of osteopath Raymond Perrin. This system of osteopathic treatment alleviates many of the symptoms of CFS/ME, and its effectiveness has been demonstrated in two separate clinical trials.

More about the research trials

There is a lot more information about the Perrin Technique on Dr Perrin's own website.