 The suboccipital muscles at the base of the skull are far more important for the nerve reflexes they cause than for the orthopedic pain in the neck they may produce. This particular organ reflex is so important that it is given it’s own chapter (Chapter 5) in "What's’ Really Wrong With You".
Obliquus Capitis Superior (17) receives the most daily abuse, from prolonged static contraction holding the head fixed. It is triangular in shape and needs to be pulsed on all three sides. It contacts nerve B, which reflexes to the frontal sinuses.
Rectus Capitis Posterior Major (18) is irritated by direct contact with the Semispinalis Capitis (3) and 17. It (18) contacts nerve A which reflexes into the sphenoid sinus-pituitary-hypothalamus complex. An irritated sphenoid sinus adversely affects the autonomic nervous system function. The sinus drip flows across the openings of the Eustachian tubes to the middle ears, often causing blockage there. The level of stored histamine throughout the body is driven to excess.
The excess muscle tone of 17 is transmitted into Splenius Cervicis (19) and Obliquus Capitis Inferior (20), which oppose its pull. Rectus Capitis Poserior Minor (21) is in contact with 3 and 18.
Splenius Capitis (22) shares an attachment with 19 at the "crick" area at the base of the neck. The other end attaches to the mastoid bone, where it may lead to reflexes to the inner ear. This is why frontal headaches are often accompanied by light-headedness, dizziness, or nausea.
Sternocleidomastoid (23) and Digastric (24) share the mastoid attachment with 22 and must be worked as a part of the pattern. 23 affects throat circulation and nerves, so may cause repeated minor sore throats, or a constant tickle-cough.
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