The Philosophy of Osteopathy

The Philosophy of Osteopathy really just rolls off the tongue, doesn’t it? I could always imagine those words being in an Eminem song.

This philosophy is sometimes considered a bit esoteric by the wrote medical academics. But the farther along we progress in the evolution of our species, the more we see that the principles have widespread acceptance and by no means are exclusive to Osteopathic Medicine. Bear in mind that this profession was founded in the 19th century, by an M.D. who saw a standard of care that was disconnected from nature, and which caused more harm than good for its patients. He also lived among Native Americans for a time of his life and this may also have influenced his way of looking at the world.  

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: 

1.     The person is a unit of mind, body and spirit. This is now one of the most widely accepted perspectives about the totality of human health. Although, the statement almost contradicts itself, as it implies that the three are separate but connected. We accept it as a limitation of the categorical nature of language. But must reinforce the emphasis on wholeness.

2.     The body is capable of self-regulation, self-healing and health maintenance. This should also be agreeable for the most part, but applying it in practice means a shift in perspective. The approach would prioritize working in harmony with this healing mechanism (in mind, body and spirit), as opposed to fighting an external threat with the tools of medicine (this is about reframing how we use those tools, not a rejection of them).

3.     Structure and Function are reciprocally interrelated. This should also be intuitively relatable. If something is bent out of shape, it won’t work as well. The body is the same but we often look at it as a black box that we put medication into to fix things. This understanding is the foundation for Osteopathic Manipulative Medicine (OMM), which is a very diverse set of techniques in manual medicine that optimizes the function of the healing mechanisms mentioned above.

4.     Rational treatment is based upon an understanding of the basic principles of body unity, self-regulation, and interrelation of structure and function. Not sure the reason for this one as it just summarizes the first three.

As you may have noticed, the simplicity in these tenets is mirrored in many holistic approaches to patient care. This philosophy represents a paradigm from which the behavior of clinicians is influenced. As we progress through the modern age of medical technology, it is imperative that we remain grounded to our nature and not lose this perspective. As esoteric as it may seem to some, the philosophy of osteopathy is actually incredibly important, not only for preserving the identity of the Osteopathic profession, but also for leading the way forward in an era where we are growing more and more disconnected from our nature and health.

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