Bilateral Nasal Specific

Indications

Why BNS

All types of trauma – such as birth trauma, accidents and falls, sports injuries, various medical procedures or severe emotional trauma – are some of the causes of chronic damage and misalignments in the musculoskeletal system, particularly in the head and spine. This results in postural imbalances in the body, some of which are lifelong, which are mechanically restructured using this method and restored to the best possible internal balance in terms of function.

Indications

The following non-exhaustive overview highlights possible areas of application for BNS.

Over the course of their lives, most people experience repeated minor or major blows to the head. In addition to obvious head injuries resulting from accidents and falls, seemingly harmless blows often occur in everyday life—for example, during sports, while doing household chores, or during childhood. These impacts can affect the tension within the structures of the skull.

The founder of osteopathy, Andrew Taylor Still, formulated the central principle in the 19th century:
“Structure governs function.”

Even seemingly minor injuries can lead to temporary or long-lasting symptoms.
Typical symptoms that may follow include:

  • Headaches or a sensation of pressure in the head
  • Dizziness or balance problems
  • Difficulty concentrating and memory problems
  • Fatigue
  • Sensitivity to light and noise
  • Irritability or sleep disturbances

This cluster of symptoms is often referred to as post-concussion syndrome.

Delayed and overlooked connections
In addition to the direct consequences of recent injuries, events from long ago can also play a role —especially when symptoms persist without a clear trigger.
Such connections are usually no longer considered in everyday life, as past events are regarded as fully healed. In therapeutic practice, however, it has been observed that persistent or recurring symptoms are sometimes only linked to previous head trauma in retrospection.

Observations from clinical practice, as described by André Saine and others, suggest that such delayed connections should be taken into account.
Further investigation may be particularly useful if:

  • Symptoms persist for a long time or recur
  • No clear current trigger is identifiable
  • Multiple symptoms occur simultaneously
  • Daily functional capacity is limited
  • Previous treatments have not been sufficiently effective

The Bilateral Nasal Specific Technique (BNS) is a manual therapeutic approach for mobilizing cranial structures. It takes into account that the body can develop functional adaptations or tension patterns over the long term. Injuries to the head, as well as previous concussions, are among the primary indications for BNS.
The treatment aims to reduce the tension in the cranial region, improve the mobility of cranial structures, and thereby positively influence functional symptoms.

Testimonials
Dr. André Saine’s textbook, currently available only in English (https://nasal-specific.org/en/literature-more), contains numerous testimonials regarding treatment following head injuries. On Dr. George Siegfried’s website (https://www.nasalspecific.com), also only available in English, patients share their experiences in videos regarding the results of their BNS treatment for head traumas.

Sinusitis is one of the most common chronic upper respiratory tract conditions in Europe – around one in ten adults, as well as many children, suffer from chronic inflammation of the sinuses. Smoking, allergies and asthma are major risk factors that influence both susceptibility and severity. Sinusitis is accompanied by nasal congestion and increased discharge of purulent mucus from the posterior and anterior nasal passages. Pressure headaches in the forehead, cheek and eye areas, and a reduced sense of smell are the most obvious symptoms. The resulting disruption to sleep ultimately also reduces performance.

Bilateral nasal specific is particularly well suited for the treatment of sinusitis because the dilation of the airways improves ventilation of the nose and sinuses. In addition, oxygen supply improves, mucus drainage is promoted and swelling of the mucous membranes is reduced. Furthermore, the body’s own regulatory mechanisms are supported: as the nasal mucosa is richly innervated and closely linked to the autonomic nervous system, targeted stimulation via BNS can also have a positive effect on blood flow, secretion and inflammatory responses in this way.

Snoring refers to a loud breathing sound during deep sleep, caused by the flow of air through the throat as one inhales and/or exhales. It is caused by a valve-like fluttering of the uvula at the soft back of the palate, resulting from the relaxation of the soft tissues in the throat during deep sleep. Normal ‘compensated’ snoring is a normal variant of deep sleep and is not a sign of illness.

As people age, around 60% of men, 40% of women and about 10% of children snore sporadically. The more severe ‘obstructive’ snoring is problematic, as the relaxation of the lower jaw and tongue during deep sleep (usually when lying on one’s back) causes the airways in the back of the throat to narrow or become blocked, which can pose a health risk due to temporary oxygen deprivation.

The most severe form of this disorder is ‘sleep apnoea syndrome’, which always leads to serious health problems and is therefore considered by sleep medicine to require treatment.

Snoring requiring treatment is therefore not only disruptive to the person affected. However, the causes can be influenced.

You can take steps yourself to combat overeating in the evening, particularly excessive alcohol consumption, as well as snoring caused by sleeping position due to unsuitable pillows. The same applies to significant weight gain.

Medications such as certain painkillers and sleeping pills, which are sometimes even incorrectly prescribed for sleep disturbances caused by snoring, are also

If breathing pauses occur several times during the night, this is referred to as a sleep-related upper airway disorder (medically known as rhonchopathy), or in English: Upper Airway Resistance Syndrome (UARS).

These breathing pauses or interruptions reflexively wake the sleeper, causing them to gasp for air. This arousal is an alarm response in the brain triggered by a lack of oxygen. This often happens several times a night, to a greater or lesser extent noticeable to the snorer. The next day, they wake up feeling exhausted, unrested, with morning headaches, a dry mouth and reduced ability to concentrate.

In obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS; = airway-blocking oxygen deficiency or hypoxia syndrome), the associated symptoms are significantly more serious. Night-time anxiety with palpitations or marked daytime tiredness with microsleep are often clear signs of this.

Furthermore, as many international studies show, patients with untreated sleep apnoea are at increased risk of developing difficult-to-control hypertension, stroke or heart attack.

In cases of confirmed sleep apnoea syndrome, the only treatment offered by sleep medicine is therapy using a sleep mask, known as CPAP therapy – ‘continuous positive airway pressure’.

Following a confirmed diagnosis of apnoea in a sleep laboratory, breathing during sleep is supported by means of a custom-fitted sleep mask, which delivers ventilation [you do not receive oxygen, but only normal ambient air] at an adjusted pressure. A well-adjusted treatment then leads to noticeable recovery after sleep and a feeling of having had a good night’s sleep in the morning.

However, most patients find therapy with a CPAP machine and sleep mask disruptive to their sleep routine, both mechanically and acoustically.

With BNS treatment, we have a very effective treatment option without any disruptive mechanical interference.

Malocclusion and functional jaw disorders

Malocclusion – a misalignment of the teeth or jaws in which the upper and lower rows of teeth do not meet correctly – and the temporomandibular dysfunctions (TMD) that are often associated with it refer to disturbances in the interaction between the temporomandibular joint, the masticatory muscles, and other involved muscle groups, particularly those of the neck and larynx.

Temporomandibular joint dysfunction can develop as early as childhood, for example due to misaligned teeth resulting from abnormal tooth development. Chronic mouth breathing may also alter craniofacial and jaw development, thereby increasing the risk of developing TMD.

Other common contributing factors include poorly fitted dental restorations, orthodontic treatment undertaken for purely cosmetic reasons, functional disturbances of the dentition, pain in the temporomandibular joint due to inflammation or osteoarthritis, sleeping in the prone position, and emotional stress.

Craniofacial trauma can also exert mechanical effects on the temporomandibular joint, thereby impairing the function of the chewing, swallowing, and neck muscles.

The head, oral cavity, and neck region contain an exceptionally dense network of nerves. This ensures vital functions such as heartbeat and breathing, as well as taste, chewing, swallowing, and the protective gag reflex.

These complex processes typically operate unnoticed and without disruption – until mechanical or functional changes disrupt this delicate balance.

Stress can be both a cause and a consequence of TMD. Tension in the jaw and neck area affects the temporomandibular joint, while existing TMJ dysfunction may in turn exacerbate stress-related symptoms.

Especially during times of stress or anxiety, many people clench their teeth and press their tongue against the palate. In the short term, this may help to manage the tension (“grit your teeth and get through it”), but in the long term, it inevitably leads to increased tension in the larynx and vocal cords. Hoarseness, the need to clear the throat to relieve laryngeal tension, mild dysphagia, or other swallowing difficulties may result.

Nocturnal teeth grinding or clenching the teeth are considered a typical manifestation of stress-related muscle activity. Pain in the teeth, head, neck, jaw or masticatory muscles often occurs in the morning on waking, sometimes accompanied by the sensation that the teeth don’t fit together properly.

The resulting muscular force can be considerable: The masseter muscle, the large chewing muscle at the angle of the jaw, is among the strongest muscles in the human body in terms of its cross-sectional area and bite force. This is impressively illustrated by trapeze artists whose partner performs pirouettes on a rope while holding a mouthpiece that is supported solely by the chewing muscles.

Many affected individuals do not initially notice any obvious dental misalignment, but instead present with nonspecific complaints in the jaw and facial region.

Typical symptoms of TMJ dysfunctions (TMD)

  • Cracking, grinding, or clicking sounds in the temporomandibular joint.
  • Sideways deviation or “wobbling” movement of the jaw on opening.
  • Restricted or blocked mouth opening.
  • Tension in the jaw, face, or temples.
  • Teeth grinding or clenching, usually unconscious.
  • A feeling of pressure or pain when chewing.
  • Headaches, especially in the temples or forehead.
  • Neck tension or the sensation of a misaligned bite.

The holistic approach of the Bilateral Nasal Specific technique (BNS) may significantly and sustainably improve the function and interaction of these structures by reducing tension within the system. Many patients first report that jaw clicking diminishes, followed by a reduction in teeth grinding, which often resolves quickly, especially in children.

BNS may also serve as a useful complement to conventional splint therapy using occlusal splints.
Whether this method is also appropriate as an adjunct to dental or orthodontic treatments should be assessed on a case-by-case basis in consultation with the treating practitioners.

Please note that BNS cannot and should not replace any treatment that requires medical supervision. Your practitioners will be happy to provide you with comprehensive information on this matter.

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