Osteopathy
The science and philosophy of Osteopathy make it a unique healing art. Osteopathic physicians are fully licensed physicians and surgeons who practice in all specialties and subspecialties in the United States. Osteopathic philosophy holds that each person is a unit of body, mind and spirit; structure and function are interrelated; and the body has self-healing properties.

Structure and Function are Interrelated
As an example, in health, the muscles of the pelvic floor move up and down during respiration like a bellows helping to create pressure gradients within the abdominal cavity that assists in moving venous and lymphatic fluids from the pelvic basin. If these muscles are tight and do not move effectively the result is stasis (a slowing or stoppage of the normal flow of a bodily fluid) of toxins and deoxygenated blood in the pelvis. Venous and lymphatic stasis may lead to many illnesses.

Each Person is a Dynamic Unit of Body, Mind and Spirit
Rather than focusing on a specific disease process, Osteopathic physicians treat the whole person: body, mind and spirit. Physical, mental and emotional stressors weaken the entire body, especially the immune system. Conventional medical treatments tend to focus on the physical aspects of disease, however, the Osteopathic approach seeks to promote health and overall well-being in all three of these areas. By taking the time to develop a personal relationship with each patient, the Osteopathic physician seeks to understand each patient’s unique health goals and is well-equipped to help the patient address the less tangible aspects of their medical care.

The Body has the Ability to Heal Itself
Osteopathic physicians believe that the body’s natural tendency is towards health and healing. While conventional medicine focuses almost entirely on the diseased part, the Osteopath acknowledges this part while also noticing the vast health within the body. By creating treatment plans that remove hindrances to the body’s natural healing mechanisms, Osteopathic physicians support the self healing process.

Andrew Taylor Still, M.D., D.O., founder of the Osteopathic profession, believed “it is the object of a physician to find health, anyone can find disease.” Osteopathy focuses on promoting health. Conventional medicine strives to find a cure. Cure implies complete recovery from the disease. Healing, as defined by Merriam-Webster, means to make sound or whole, to restore to original purity. At Origins Of Health, our focus is on promoting health and supporting the self-healing process.