Osteopathy is a branch of medicine that focuses on the whole body and the interactions of its various structures, particularly the musculoskeletal system. Osteopathic physicians are particularly interested in the bones of the body, as the word “osteo” implies. Osteopathy is a medical field that is practiced all over the world. For example, in the United States, osteopathy is known as osteopathic medicine, and osteopathic physicians are licensed physicians, whereas in other regions, they can provide varying degrees of medical treatment but do not have the prescribing rights associated with a medical degree.
Andrew Taylor Still, a doctor who worked during the Civil War, is credited with inventing this discipline in the late 1800s. Still was dissatisfied with the state of medicine during his time as a military doctor and surgeon, searching for some missing piece of the puzzle that could help his charges recover more quickly. He eventually became an osteopath, believing that problems with the skeletal system’s alignment and health, as well as its supporting muscle tissue, could lead to a variety of health issues.
The body, according to osteopathy principles, is a unit that should be evaluated and treated as a whole when diagnosing and treating health problems. Because of centuries of evolution, osteopathic physicians believe that the body has an innate ability to repair and defend itself, but that when the body is disrupted, it may not be able to do so. The idea that all of the structures in the body have specific and clear functions that should be addressed in medical treatment is also an important aspect of osteopathy, as is the movement of body fluids.
Osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM), also known as osteopathic manipulative therapy, is a technique used osteopathic physicians (OMT). Osteopathic physicians, like chiropractors, use subtle adjustments to the bones and body to try to free the flow of energy in the body and solve the patient’s problem. Osteopathic physicians also discuss their patients’ lifestyles and goals with them, collaborating with them to keep their bodies healthy and in shape so that they do not become ill.
Although some people consider osteopathy to be an alternative medicine, it is more accurately classified as complementary medicine. For example, osteopaths will not attempt to cure gangrene manipulating the bones in the affected area, but they may use OMM as part of an allergy treatment plan. Osteopathy is very similar to allopathic medicine in the United States, where osteopathic physicians are treated as medical doctors. Osteopathic physicians simply take a more holistic approach to medical treatment. When it comes to manipulations and collaborating with other complementary medicine providers, osteopathic physicians in areas where they are still separate from the traditional medical community may be more active.