What Is Osteopathy

 In 1874, Dr Still “flung the Osteopathic banner to the breeze”  The name Osteopathy he devised from the formation of two words; osteon – bone, and pathos – to suffer.  “I reasoned that the bone (osteon) was the starting point from which I was to ascertain the cause of pathological conditions”  He was also wanted to position Osteopathic medicine alongside other notable medical practices of the day including Homeopathy and Allopathic medicine.

The principles of Osteopathy developed out of Dr Still’s in-depth knowledge of human anatomy and his reverence for the perfect design of our body’s architecture.  He believed that disease was a distortion of the normal function of the body and that the function was interfered with when the structural integrity of the body was restricted or disturbed in some way.  And that the state of disease was composed of two elements.  The abnormal state into which the body has been forced, and the reaction of the body to that state.  The first state is the mechanical, chemical or nervous cause of the disease and the second is the disease process itself

He further elucidated that removing disturbances to the structural integrity of the body would allow the body’s self-regulatory mechanisms to restore health.  Dr Still did not limit his thinking to just the physical nature of the human being. He also considered the spirit as an integral part of the human being and maintenance of health.

Dr Still had a three fold view of the body; Matter (Physical), Motion (Life), and Mind (Spirit):

• Matter is the physical form we are comprised of.  It represents all the systems of the body and the substances that they produce
• Motion is the life giving force that comes forward from the material interaction of the physical body “Life is that calm force sent forth by Deity to vivify all nature”
• Mind is the spirit which overseas the action of the physical body and directs the motion which brings life.  “First , there is the material body; second, the spiritual being; third, a being of mind which is far superior to all vital motions and material forms, whose duty is to wisely manage this great engine of life”

The combination of these three tenets is what gives Osteopathy its philosophical basis and forms the foundation of the osteopathic philosophy of health.  The contemporary interpretation of the osteopathic philosophy as stated by Dr Still has gone through some changes.  The Internationally accepted modern day tenants are;

• The body is a unit
• Structure and function are interrelated
• The body is self regulating
• Treatment is based on the first three tenants

Dr Still based his philosophy and method of practice on the fundamentals of medical science that being anatomy and physiology.  When asked rhetorically what is osteopathy Dr Still said “It is Anatomy first, last and always” To this he added that theory needed to have a pragmatic emphasis.  “A knowledge of anatomy is only dead weight if we do not know how to apply that knowledge with successful skill”  In practical terms Dr Still applied his medical approach using hands-on techniques and became known as “The Lightning Bone Setter”.  By applying his knowledge of anatomy and physiology Dr Still developed a treatment modality that used the musculoskeletal system as a vehicle to access the functional components of the body.  It was this keen knowledge coupled with skilful hands that defined an osteopath.  Dr Still was recognised as a medical practitioner who found a link between anatomical structures and physiologic activity and used this relationship through skilful manual techniques to promote a physiological response in the body.  Therefore expanding the standard accepted practices of drug therapy and surgery to include manual technique as a way of treatment.