Osteopathy is the original term invented by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still, MD in 1892. In Greek terms 'osteon', meaning 'bone'; and 'pathos' from the term ‘suffering’.
Back then many of the contemporary treatments, medicines, and remedies were recognized as inadequate, toxic, and addiction prone. So osteopathy was developed as an approach to treatment, involving manipulation of the soft tissues. Manipulation could then be used to correct and provided a change in the body's function and ability to clear infection, reduce inflammation and, in general, “heal”. Allowing people to heal as a whole person. This allowed treatment not only of the musculoskeletal system, but also the central nervous system, as well as the underlying organ systems involved in the patient's medical condition.
The philosophy:
1) The Body has One Unit of Function.
2) The Body is capable of Self-Healing, self-correcting, self-maintaining and self-regulating.
3) Structure and Function are inter-related.
4) The practice of osteopathic medicine utilizes Body Unity, Self-Healing, and Structural-Functional relationships in order to allow the Individual to find Health.
Osteopathy can be used to treat:
- structural and functional issues in the bones, joints, tissues and muscles of the body
- the relationship between the neuromusculoskeletal system and the rest of the body to restore functionality and/or remove barriers to motion and healing
- asthma, sinus disorders, carpal tunnel syndrome, migraines and many more conditions
Osteopathy:
- Achieves and maintains patient health as part of a whole system of evaluation and treatment
- Provides a non-invasive and medication-free treatment option for patients
- Can be performed in many different environments
- Can be administered safely in combination with other medical treatments to improve outcomes
- Encourages your body’s natural tendency toward self-healing
- Can be used to complement, or even replace, drugs or surgery
