Osteopathic medicine was started by a civil war physician, Andrew Taylor Still, M.D., D.O., who was seeking a better way after losing many family members to meningitis. At that time, standard practice included bleeding people and giving them mercury. Through years of searching, he found his answers and successes in nature. He realized the body was capable of healing if all the different parts of the body were working correctly. He noticed that a malfunctioning part could have lingering effects throughout the rest of the body. He concluded:
“Osteopathy is based on the perfection of Nature’s work. When all parts of the human body are in line we have health. When they are not the effect is disease.” Andrew Taylor Still, M.D., D.O.
Dr. Still was so successful that in the 1800’s, trains full of people traveled from all over the country seeking relief. Ardent supporters of osteopathy included Samuel Clemens (aka – Mark Twain), Buffalo Bill, Hellen Keller, and Teddy Roosevelt. Ultimately, osteopathy gave rise to the chiropractic profession, craniosacral therapy, and influenced much of what is done by massage and physical therapists.
Today, osteopathic medicine is full medical training with training in osteopathy in the U.S. Osteopathic physicians have full practice rights to practice any specialty. Osteopathic manipulative medicine is the speciality unique to osteopathic physicians.
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