A brief history of Osteopathy - By: Gareth Hoyle1

Osteopathy is a drug free manual therapy that was invented by an American, Dr Andrew Taylor Still in 1874. Like many people of the time Dr Still had several strings to his bow also being a mechanic and Lay-Preacher. While serving with the Union army in the American Civil war he noticed how many of the wounded soldiers that received the conventional treatments of surgery without pain relief, blood-letting and/or Mercury and Antimony dosing became worse or died. This planted the seed of doubt in his mind about the effectiveness of the medicine of the day.

On returning from the Civil war he found that two of his children had died of viral meningitis. This spurred him on to find an alternative method of treatment. After studying bones of dead animals and seeing how they worked together he came up with the philosophies of his new treatment which he christened ‘Osteopathy’. There was much hostility towards his theories from the existing medical fraternity so he established osteopathy as an independent system of medicine. This was designed to treat all the ailments of the day such as Influenza, Smallpox and musculoskeletal injuries.

Dr Still’s reputation soon spread and he eventually founded the American School of Osteopathy to teach his new therapy.

Using his various occupations Dr Still came up with the basic theories of Osteopathy:

* Structure governs function
* The body has its own healing and repair mechanisms
* The importance of fluid flow in the body

One of the early students was a Scottish doctor called J Martin Littlejohn who brought Osteopathy to the UK and formed the British School of Osteopathy in 1915. This is the oldest and most highly regarded Osteopathic College in the UK.

Unlike American Osteopaths who have largely forsaken manual therapy for drug therapy, UK trained Osteopaths only use manual treatment techniques.

Although Osteopathy was designed to treat all manner of ailments, it was largely marginalized and perceived by the general public as a treatment for back and joint pain. However Osteopathy received statutory recognition via the Osteopaths Act 1993. Osteopathy is still largely regarded as a treatment for back pain, however Cranial and Visceral Osteopathy are becoming more recognized.

Osteopathy is Regulated by the General Osteopathic Council (GOsC) and it is illegal to practice as an Osteopath unless you are registered with the GOsC and have a recognized qualification.

About the Author

Simon Narramore is the owner of the Croydon Osteopathic Practice and is registered with the General Osteopathic Council. He has over 15 years experience as an Osteopath in Croydon and also offers Bowen Therapy.

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