Osteopathy is an original holistic medicine taking into account the whole body, the mind and the spirit. Osteopathic care involves the application of manual techniques to improve the functioning of the body’s structure and the movement of the fluids within the body which leads to healing. Patients often seek osteopathic care to alleviate common complaints such as, headache, neck pain, low back pain and other bodily discomforts.
An osteopathic physician, also referred to as a D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathy) is fully trained as a physician with full practice privileges like a medical doctor, often known as an M.D (Medical Doctor). An osteopathic physician may train and specialize in any medical specialty such as, psychiatry, obstetrics, family practice or surgery. Some choose to specialize in manual therapy alone.
Most people do not understand the differences between osteopathy and allopathy, or traditional medicine. The key differences between the D.O. and the M.D. can be seen by how the osteopath evaluates and treats the patient. The osteopath is trained to work with the whole physical body and the movement of fluids to facilitate healing before choosing to use medical or surgical interventions. The allopath is trained to treat the segment of the body that is his specialty and to use medicine and surgery as the first and only line of therapy.
The founder of osteopathy was Dr. Still. In the late 1800s, Dr. Still had an epiphany while praying. He realized that since man was made in God’s image and God was perfect, then man must be perfect as well. From this revelation, he developed osteopathy. The three main tenets of osteopathy are: • The body is a whole • The body is a self-healing, self-regulating mechanism • The body’s structure and function are interrelated. The practice of osteopathy removes two obstacles to healing. The first obstacle involves the body’s structure and function. If there is tension or misalignment of the structure, healing will be hindered. The second obstacle to healing can happen when the movement of fluids is impaired. When blood, lymph or spinal fluid can not flow easily throughout the tissues, healing is compromised. Osteopathy addresses both of these obstacles to healing by working on the structure and fluid movement within the body to support a natural healing process.
Three other osteopathic physicians who have made significant contributions to the field are Dr. Sutherland, Dr. Fulford and Dr. Jealous. Dr. Sutherland identified the biomechanics of the cranium which, contrary to common belief, has a small amount of motion which is palpable and precisely regulated. With this research he revolutionized the practice of osteopathy. Cranial osteopathy is one of the subtlest and most sophisticated manual techniques an osteopath may perform; it is also one of the most powerful.
Dr. Fulford developed the technique of the percussion vibrator and the direct use of energy in osteopathic treatment. He believed that energy medicine is the medicine of the future. Dr. Fulford specialized in the treatment of children and focused his work on the fascial and energetic systems of the body.
Dr. Jealous teaches the biodynamic model of osteopathy. His focus is on the embryologic potential that remains in all cells throughout life. That potential can be accessed through the fluid body. Dr. Jealous teaches the biodynamic approach to physicians and by so doing keeps alive the original thinking of the great osteopaths of the past.
Osteopathy is the original holistic medicine addressing the whole body, the mind and the spirit.
—Written by Dr. Lillian Somner
CROSSINGS
Crossings is a center for integrative health and wellness. Our services include: Acupuncture, osteopathy, physical therapy, massage, coaching & counseling, meditation, a unique bookstore and more. 8505 Fenton Street, Suite 202, Silver Spring, MD. 20910 310-565-4924 www.crossingshealing.com