In this holiday season we see the theme of rebirth, resurrection and new growth. This symbolism applies to countless things, and we we see it referenced in many contexts. Like a phoenix from the ashes, sometimes things need to crumble so that they can grow better again.

So what is the philosophy of Osteopathy, anyway? One simple way to summarize it is in the four tenets of Osteopathic Medicine. What you will notice in the four tenets, are how agreeable and common sense they seem to be.

Osteopathy is a form of manual medicine that has its roots in the United States with the D.O. (Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine) degree. D.O.’s are fully licensed physicians, and practice medicine in all of the same medical specialties as M.D.’s. Unfortunately, today, very few D.O.’s still practice Osteopathy.

Many things in nature, including the human body, undergo fluctuations. Similar to the waves in the ocean, we can perceive the ebb and flow of these rhythmic patterns. One obvious example is your breath. Some fluctuations are much more subtle however…

I am often asked what the difference is between an osteopath and a chiropractor or physical therapist. This only happens in the United States, curiously, despite the fact that Osteopathic medicine was founded in this country. This picture is from our recent family trip to Paris. In Europe I need spend no time explaining what I do or drawing the comparison, since they are already familiar with osteopaths. In fact, they haven’t a clue what a chiropractor even is.

So how is it then, if the practice of Osteopathy was founded in the United States, that nobody knows about it here?