Osteopathic Medicine

The field of Osteopathic Medicine was developed by Andrew Taylor Still, M.D. After the Civil War and following the death of three of his children from spinal meningitis in 1864, Dr. Still concluded that the orthodox medical practices of his day were frequently ineffective, and sometimes harmful. Becoming disenchanted with traditional medicine, he vowed to create a more holistic model of practice. Osteopathic medicine is a complete system of medical care in which physicians are trained to treat the whole person, not just the symptoms. Osteopathic physicians emphasize the relationships between the structure and function of ones body, and recognizes the body’s ability to heal itself.

Osteopathic philosophy observes that the body, as a unit, was designed to make all substances necessary to insure its health. We realize that no medical substance can exceed the body’s own natural defense system. An individual’s body, in perfect balance, structurally, nutritionally, energetically and spiritually is one that will achieve optimal health.