Osteopathic medicine is a combination of science, philosophy and art that was established by the American physician A.T. Still (1828-1917) about 130 years ago. In 1892 he founded the »American School of Osteopathy« in Kirksville, Missouri, where his theories were further developed by his sons and others.

Osteopathy sees the human body as a unit whose functions and structures as well as health and illness are directly interconnected to each other. Everyone has the power to heal themselves, for example via their immune system.

Internal or external influences in a person´s everyday life can lead to an imbalance in bodily functions. This does not necessarily result in symptoms because our bodies adapt to different situations in life and are able to compensate for many imbalances. However, if the primary imbalance in bodily function is not treated and the body´s compensatory forces are exhausted, health problems will result.

Osteopaths seek out the cause of health disorders using manual diagnostic techniques that are adapted to the different areas of the body:

> locomotor = parietal ostopathy
> intestines = viscerale osteopathy
> system between head and pelvis = craniosacral osteopathy

It is important to take into account that a loss of mobility in one of these systems automatically influences the other systems. Harmonizing the three systems is essential in order to reestablish the self-regulation mechanism in the body as a whole.

The affected areas are also treated manually, treatment being based on the (healthy) physiological function that is established during embryological development and that remains throughout life. Osteopathy is thus oriented towards health rather than illness, reactivating the flow of the body´s self-healing power and its ability to compensate. In a healthy body, all bodily functions are in tune with each other. Similar to a gear system, these functions are closely interrelated with the surrounding tissues (the muscles, bones, vasculature, nervous system, internal organs, soft tissue etc.). Consequently, it is important to diagnose and treat not only the affected parts of the body but to regard the entire body as a whole (holistic approach).

OSTEOPATHY TODAY
Since 22nd November 2008, thanks to the continuous commitment of the »Verband der Osteopathen Deutschland e. V.« (German Osteopathy Association), Hessen is the first German Lander to introduce a training regulation (WPO Osteo) leading to the professional title »registered osteopath«.

Osteopathy is based on three pillars:
Craniosacral Osteopathy | Parietal Osteopathy | Visceral Osteopathy

IMPORTANT
In the treatment of acute bone fractures, inflammatory diseases and tumours, osteopathy only plays a secondary role. The same applies for mental disorders. These cases should primarily be treated by means of conventional medicine!

Due to legal implications, it is not possible for us to expand on either application examples, or symptoms and treatments. We will be glad to answer your questions on the phone.