Osteopathy
What is Osteopathy?
Osteopathy is a natural holistic therapy based on the following fundamental principles.
The body is interconnected: The entire body is interconnected by a system of ligaments, fascias, nerves, blood, lymph, tendons and muscles.
All the body elements work in unison: If there is an issue with one part of the body, it will have repercussions elsewhere.
Structure/Function: The structure of the body, is perfect for its function.
If the structure is impaired, the body can't function properly. If the body is not functioning as it should, the structure will be impacted.
The blood is essential: The blood cleans the body, it brings nutrients, cleans wastes and carries the immune cells.
For example, Where there is a lack of blood flow due to impairment of movement, waste can accumulate and immune cells and nutrients will be depleted in that area.
Homeostasis: Homeostasis is a state of balance and stability within the body. In this state the body is functioning optimally.
This state can be disrupted by tension and lack of movement. The resulting imbalance means the body will not be as efficient in protecting itself from illnesses and healing injuries.
The manual therapist works with all this key principles in mind.
Origin of Osteopathy
Osteopathy was created by Andrew Taylor Still (born in 1828). He was a physician, surgeon and mechanic. He felt that the traditional medicine failed him when he lost three of his children and his wife to meningitis. Following this, he spent many years observing anatomy and the techniques of the body to trying and find a new way of treatment. This became what we now know as osteopathy.
Andrew Taylor Still is the founder of Osteopathy but many other Osteopaths improved on his therapy. John Martin Littlejohn brought many other areas of physiology to this discipline. William Sutherland developed the practice of cranial osteopathy.