A.T. Still was born in Lee County, Virginia in 1828. He became a physician and surgeon, trained in the conventional medical education. After becoming dissatisfied with the practices of medicine at that time (giving arsenic, mercury and other dangerous drugs) and poor outcomes in patients (to include the death of his own family members,) he decided to think differently. He started the first Osteopathic medical school in 1892. Today, Doctors of Osteopathy undergo the same medical training as and M.D., with the addition of approximately 200-250 hours of training in musculoskeletal manipulations.
Below, I have outlined some key questions about Osteopathy and shared with you some quotes from Dr. Still himself.
What is it?
“The Osteopath seeks first physiological perfection of form, by normally adjusting the [bony] framework, so that all arteries may deliver blood to nourish...that the veins may carry away all impurities.. Also that the nerves of all classes may be free and unobstructed while applying the powers of life and motion to all divisions, and the whole system of nature’s laboratory.”
Simply, the body is a container. If you step in a hole, fall of a horse, or have some teeth pulled there can be a bone that gets put out of place or becomes restricted. The body will naturally compensate, but over time something has to give. Pain and other bodily dysfunction can be attributed to downstream issues and can be easily corrected with physical manipulation. It is the job of the Osteopath to get things "unstuck."
What does this mean?
“How to find causes of disease or where a hindrance is located that stops blood is a great and mental worry to the Osteopath when he is called to treat a patient.”
Today in medicine, there are ALOT of treatments and procedures. Osteopathy is one approach. It is one way to look at a set of symptoms. It is one modality of treatment when other things aren't working. The old saying goes "when all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail." Osteopathically, we strive to look at things from a different perspective before committing to more dangerous and expensive therapies--to treat the whole person.
What are they going to do to me?
“You as osteopathic machinists can go no further than to adjust the abnormal condition, in which you find the afflicted. Nature will do the rest.”
First, we are going to listen to your story. Then, we are going to feel your skeleton for restriction; he believe in the healing power of HANDS-ON.) When we find the thing that won't move, we will make it move again. You may feel relief immediately, in a couple hours, or in a couple days. You may feel sore as things start to move again. The body will work on the rest--sometimes it just needs a little jumpstart.
Does this work?
“To find health should be the object of a doctor. Anyone can find disease.”
“As this field is divided into five parts and the hunter has carefully searched four divisions, he will find the cause or causer in the fifth and none other.”
Healthcare is hard. Pain is hard. Disease is hard. Finding wellness and peace is harder. "Alternative" therapies such as Osteopathic Manipulation are commonly considered fringe therapies and too often they are peoples last ditch efforts. We think this is a safe, effective, and inexpensive remedy for disease in people of all ages.
Ask your friends and family if they have had a positive experience. If you still have questions, call our office today at 276-477-4183.