To the exclusion of practitioners of complementary medicine, there are two types of medicine in the field of medicine: allopathic and osteopathic medicine. Doctors of Medicine (M.D.) are used to refer to doctors of allopathic medicine, while Doctors of Osteopathic Medicine are used to refer to doctors of osteopathic medicine (D.O.). Despite the fact that both types of doctors treat patients with drugs, obtain medical specialties, and perform surgical procedures, their philosophy, approach to medical practice, and education differ.
When it comes to the focus of treatment and the practice of medicine in general, allopathic and osteopathic medicine have minor philosophical differences. In general, allopathic medicine focuses on disease and treating it with drugs or surgery, whereas osteopathic medicine focuses on holistic treatment that considers the whole person. Osteopathic physicians believe that working with the human body’s natural healing power is important, and that the musculoskeletal system is vital to good health. Both types of medicine place a strong emphasis on prevention, but osteopathic physicians are more likely to use it in their practice.
Allopathic and osteopathic medicine are typically prepared in the same way. Completion of a four-year undergraduate degree, four years of medical school, and several years of residency training are all part of the requirements for medical school. The only difference between medical school curriculums is that osteopathic medicine requires additional training in osteopathic manipulative medicine (OMM). OMM is a treatment method in which an osteopathic physician uses his or her hands to treat patients with circulatory issues, limited range of motion, and joint and muscle pain. OMM entails deep tissue manipulation of organs, blood vessels, and supporting structures such as bones and ligaments, and is frequently confused with alternative therapies such as massage and chiropractic care.
As of 2011, allopathic and osteopathic medicine are not equal in terms of practice prevalence due to differences in practice rights. Although osteopathic medicine is practiced in many countries around the world, including Canada, Europe, and the United States, full licensing rights are not granted in a number of them. DOs are allowed to practice medicine in the United States to the same extent as MDs in all of the country’s regions. The same is true for Canada and most of South America, but osteopathic practice is restricted to OMM or outright prohibited in places like France, Jamaica, and New Zealand. As of 2011, no osteopathic physician trained outside of the United States has been granted a license to practice due to training equivalency issues.