Beginnings of osteopathy
In the mid-19th century, the American physician Andrew Taylor Still developed his concept of osteopathy, which he first introduced in 1874.
Still had a special combination of abilities and interests that still affect osteopathy and osteopaths: he was skilled and creative. In his work as a physician, he was interested in the anatomy of the bones, the musculoskeletal system, the vascular and nervous system, and so forth. and the possibilities to influence it by manual grips.
He studied the body in his processes (physiology) and developed ways of supporting them.
In addition to these qualities, Still was interested in many of the intellectual and scientific ideas and insights of his time and tried to integrate them into his work. His powers of observation and his intuition enabled him to develop osteopathy:
His thought:
The powers of healing are in our body. Only the conditions have to be created for them to work. So he also explained the name Osteopathy - the touch of the bones, healing powers are opened and these influence the suffering.