Osteopathy has existed in its modern form since the late nineteenth century, when American doctor and engineer Andrew Taylor Still grew disenchanted with the orthodox approach to medicine. He believed that structural misalignments of the Body could lead to illness and injury. By treating the joints, muscles, ligaments, and bones, and improving the client’s range of motion, he felt the body could be brought back into a state of balance—in other words, a state of health.

Osteopaths use soft tissue manipulation, massage, and gentle movements of specific joints to help realign the body. Th is therapy has proven eff ective for arthritis, asthma, back pain or injuries, bronchitis, bursitis, carpal tunnel syndrome, constipation, earaches, headaches, fl u, endometriosis, hearing problems, heartburn, hemorrhoids, menstrual problems, muscle cramps, pain (acute or chronic), prostate problems, sinusitis, sports or traumatic injuries, and varicose veins. Benefi ts are frequently experienced after a single session but long-term conditions may require multiple visits to the osteopath.


While it may appear from this description that osteopathy is best suited for injuries or postural problems, keep in mind that many of these imbalances are exacerbated by toxicity or are the result of toxic conditions.