WHAT IS OSTEOPATHY?

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Osteopathy was founded in 1874 by physician and surgeon Andrew Taylor Still in Kirksville, Missouri. Arriving back home after the Civil War, he discovered that his children had passed away in a meningitis epidemic. As Still sought to derive meaning from his personal tragedy, and discovered that in order to achieve the highest possible form of health, all parts of the body should work together harmoniously. His goal was to restore the body to optimum health with minimal surgery and medicine, influenced in part by the realisation that medical treatments of that time were largely ineffective and in some cases, harmful. 

Through thorough research into body's anatomical structure and physiology, Dr. Still was able to find a deeper understanding of functional treatment. Using this knowledge, he found he could facilitate the innate self-healing and self-regulating function of his patients through manual therapy and adjustment.

Over time, during which he treated patients with a wide range of conditions, from dysentery to sciatica and arthritis, he gained a reputation as an effective practitioner. Patients from all over America flocked to Kirksville for treatment. Soon demand was so high, boarding houses were built and train routes were altered to cater for the amount of people seeking treatment.

Dr. Still went on to found the first school of osteopathy, which still exists today in Missouri.

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Osteopathy is a profession which uses extensive knowledge of human anatomy, human mechanics, physiology and the interrelations of the structure and function of the body to help determine root cause of the symptoms.