A Summary of the Principles of Osteopathy:
1. The body is
a unit - every part of the body is interrelated.
2. The body has the ability to heal itself. The body has its own mechanisms
for healing. Osteopaths can help the patient with this process.
3. Structure and function are related. This means that the structure of the
body effects the way the body functions.
4. The body has an ability to defend itself.
5. The freedom of body fluids and nerve impulses to move unimpeded is essential
for health.
6. The vital force controls the working of the body and expresses itself as
health when all its parts are in order.
7. Nature heals while osteopathy assists. Osteopaths are committed to doing
no harm.
8. Osteopaths treat patients who have a condition of health. They do not treat
conditions in isolation.
9. Osteopathy builds health - by treating within the vital health of the patient.
Commonly, if we have a pain, we take a pain-killer; if we have an infection,
we take an antibiotic. That’s fine. But if we need to keep taking them,
it surely begs the next question – what are we missing or ignoring?
What does the body want to return to a state of good health?
Manipulation
Manipulation
is frequently seen as what osteopaths do; it is the apparent common factor
of osteopathy, chiropractic, bone-setters and spinologists, to name a few.
The mechanics of manipulation stays the same, no matter who does it. The difference
is why it is done; after all, you could crack your knuckles 20 times a day
– but to what effect?
The purpose of osteopathic manipulation is to assist and re-establish
the normal functioning of a joint.
