How Osteopathy Heals

“Irrigate the Withering Fields”

A.T. Stills said that continuous free flowing nutrient and oxygen laden arterial blood must arrive to each and every cell 24/7/365/lifespan. If greatly impeded, gangrene occurs. If slightly impeded, the affected cells starve to some degree. Once corrected, color improves immediately, frequently warmth is noticed, relaxation is sensed. The properly nourished tissue now functions optimally and delivers its full contribution to the physiology. This is foundational to healing.

Restore Normal Motion

Normal complete unimpeded motion of a joint allows for the normal circulation as described above. It also maximizes movement options. Imagine your day if you could not move any joint whatsoever. No capacity to do anything at all except move your lips. Complete frustration of desires! Even slightly impaired joint function erodes fulfillment.

Find and Resolve the Cause

Resolving the cause of a malady disassembles the mechanisms driving the symptoms and relief and resolution are assured. For physical traumas, Osteopathy thinks in terms of how did the traumatic force wend its way through the body, and how can that lingering strain be accurately and completely seen and met and released? For metabolic dysfunction, the step by step deviations from normal physiology also need to be seen accurately, and be supportively met so they can be released. In contrast, most pharmaceutical drugs only suppress symptoms for a period of time.

Anatomy and Embryology and Physiology bare the Foundation of Osteopathic Interventions

Without a physical part, there is nothing to function. This concept can never be ignored in Osteopathy. Anatomy is the hardware. Osteopaths study anatomy in great detail. Some anatomical structure has to be met and encouraged to remember normal. Understanding the little nooks and crannies of the anatomy and the physiology details relating to a medical problem and how to work with it can be the key to restoration of function. This requires years of study and sets Osteopaths apart from other bodywork.

Embryology goes hand in hand with this. Not only do embryological forces act upon a developing fetus, embryology imparts a blueprint of structure and function active throughout the entire lifespan. This blueprint is constitutionally unique to each individual. The operating instructions vary in different stages of life, but there is always such a set of instructions in charge while life is present. These instructions can be blocked or corrupted by illness, but they are waiting to be made operational again. A simple example, a cut finger typically heals and becomes almost like the pre-injury finger, that is the embryological blueprint in action. The healthy blueprint wants to operate! An Osteopath helps it reemerge.

Anatomy is the hardware, Embryology is the software and Physiologic metabolism is the functional output.