Just found thisexplanation on a different site:=0A=0AOSTEOPATHIC MEDICINE=
:=0A=0ATHE TOTAL APPROACH TO HEALTH =0A=0ABy Wesley Beth Reiss, D.O.=0A=
=0A=0AMore and more people are seeking alternatives to conventional medic=
al =0Apractices, yet few are aware of the science of Osteopathy. Osteopat=
hic =0AMedicine is a truly wholistic approach to healing, unique in its a=
bility =0Ato bridge conventional medicine with alternative modalities.=0A=
=0ADoctors of Osteopathic Medicine (Dos) are fully trained, fully license=
d =0Aphysicians. They look at the whole person, focusing on health, rathe=
r =0Athan disease. They stress that the human body has a tremendous capac=
ity =0Ato maintain and heal itself, but sometimes needs help to achieve =
=0Aharmony. Dos are able to integrate manual treatments into a overall =
=0Apractice of medicine which only a fully trained physician is qualified=
 =0Ato provide.=0A=0ALong before the term =93wholistic medicine=94 became=
 fashionable, =0Aosteopathic physicians were practicing a philosophy of m=
edicine based on =0Aa view of the body as an interrelated whole, with eac=
h system and organ =0Ain constant contact.=0A=0AOsteopathic medicine is a=
 unique form of American medical care that was =0Adeveloped in the 19th C=
entury by Andrew Taylor Still, M.D. Dr. Still, a =0Afrontiersman, was the=
 son of Methodist minister who was also a country =0Adoctor. From an earl=
y age, Dr. Still was exposed to illness and aware of =0Athe lack of knowl=
edge of the cause and treatment of diseases which were =0Aoften devastati=
ng. He recognizes the tragic toll of such ignorance, =0Aculminating in th=
e death of three of his own children during the =0Aepidemic in 1864 of wh=
at is now identified as viral meningitis. Dr. =0AStill=92s loss, in conju=
nction with his lifelong study of nature and =0Adissatisfaction with the =
effectiveness of the medicine of his day, sent =0Ahim on a personal and p=
rofessional search for better way. In 1874, Dr. =0AStill, in his words, =
=93flung to the breeze the banner of Osteopathy.=94=0A=0AHe called his ne=
w system of medicine =93Osteopathy=94 because it was based =0Aon anatomy.=
 Osteopathic medicine focuses on the patient as a whole, =0Aunique indivi=
dual, considering all aspects of life including diet, =0Aexercise, physic=
al and emotional stresses, genetic, environmental and =0Aoccupational fac=
tors.=0A=0AIn diagnosing and treating their patients, Osteopathic physici=
ans are =0Aguided by generally accepted principles. The first is that the=
 human =0Abody is a unit, it is integrated organism in which no part func=
tions =0Aindependently. The second principle states that the body, throug=
h a =0Acomplex system of checks and balances, tends to be self-regulating=
 and =0Aself-healing in the face of stress and disease. The third princip=
le =0Astates that adequate function of all body organs and systems depend=
s on =0Athe integrating forces of the nervous and circulatory systems.=0A=
=0AThe fundamental contribution of the osteopathic profession is the =0Ar=
ecognition that the body=92s musculoskeletal system (bones, tendons, =0Al=
igaments and connective tissue), which makes up about two-thirds of the =
=0Abody=92s mass, plays an important role in the body=92s continuous effo=
rt to =0Aresist and overcome illness and disease. Osteopathic physicians,=
 in =0Aaddition to using all standard methods of diagnosis and therapy, u=
se a =0Asystem of manual techniques to diagnose areas of structural dysfu=
nction =0Aand to assist the body in receiving normal motion and balance i=
n all its =0Atissues and fluids. Rather than merely treating specific sym=
ptoms, DOs =0Aare more concerned with determining what is causing an imba=
lance and =0Awhy. It is their belief that once the underlying causes have=
 beendia=0Agnosed and treated, the body is then free to repair itself or =
to respond =0Ato other appropriate therapies. =0A=0AIn summary, the scien=
ce of osteopathy states that the body, if =0Aadequately nourished, can fu=
nction to maintain, repair and heal itself =0Aif the various parts of the=
 body are in correct relationship to one =0Aanother and are free to move =
within the normal range. It must be =0Aemphasized that Doctors of Osteopa=
thic medicine are physicians, licensed =0Ato practice all phases of medic=
ine in all 50 states. Osteopaths have the =0Asame training as MDs and mus=
t pass the same licensing examination. Like =0AMDs, osteopaths diagnose d=
iseases, prescribe drugs, refer patients to =0Ahospitals and perform surg=
ery. DOs are also represented in all of the =0Apractice specialities. The=
 difference between MDs and DOs rests in the =0Afocus of their medical tr=
aining and treatment. In addition to the =0Astandard medical school curri=
culum, osteopathic medicine emphasizes the =0Arelationship between the mu=
sculoskeletal system and the maintenance of =0Ahealth. Consequently, DOs =
receive 600 - 1,000 hours of extensive =0Atraining in the manipulation of=
 spine, joints, fascia and muscles. The =0Ainclusion of osteopathic manip=
ulation within a modern medical setting =0Aenables osteopathic medicine t=
o be truly =93wholastic=94.=0A=0A=93To find health should be the object o=
f the doctor. Anyone can find =0Adisease,=94 Dr. A.T. Still declared. Tho=
se privileged to follow in Dr. =0AStill=92s footsteps appreciate the cent=
ral experience of osteopathy as he =0Aknew and practiced it: The direct i=
ntimate experience by the physician =0Aof the force of life and its manif=
estations in the patient. Approaching =0Agently and quietly, poised not t=
o control, but to assist, the =0Aosteopathic physician seeks to help the =
patient to manifest his or her =0Afullest potential for health. =0A=0ADr.=
 Wesley Reiss, D.O. is a Board Certified Family Physician and former =0AE=
mergency Department Medical Director. She now practices family medicine =
=0Ain Plainview, Long Island, specializing in the Osteopathic approach to=
 =0Ahealing.=0A=0AFor more information, or if your organization would lik=
e to schedule a =0Apresentation on Osteopathic Medicine, please contact D=
r. Reiss at =0A516-681-5458 or write to 1171 old Country Road, Plainview,=
 New York =0A11803.=0A=0AFor what it's worth...=0ABarb Brock=0Acg Art 56 =
1 year=0A=0A=0A=0A