What is Osteopathy?

Osteopathy is a manual, hands-on treatment method, focused on treating the cause of the complaint. Osteopathy focuses on the inter-relation between the muscles, joints, spine, organs and skull of the human body. For healthy functioning, the human body needs to move according to its natural balance. Disturbance of this balance can result in mobility changes and blockages, which causes an increase in tension between the fibers of the human body. This can cause physical complaints.

4 Principles of Osteopathy

• The relationship between structure and function
• The human body is capable of  self-regulation and self-healing
• The human being is an indivisible unit
• The importance of arteries and veins

As an Osteopath I examine and treat three anatomical aspects of the human body, namely;

• The parietal aspect ( muscles, joints, bones)
• The visceral aspect (interior organs, arteries, veins and lymphatic system)
• The cranio-sacral aspect (skull and spine with the nerve system, membranes of the brain and cerebrospinal fluid within).

The inter-relationship of these systems can be mechanical, neurological and / or circulatory.

Osteopathy is based on the known understanding of anatomy, physiology, embryology, neurology, pathology and human behaviour.

Integration of these fields, is where the power of Osteopathy lies.

Osteopathy is complementary to regular medicine, it is no substitute for it. It is adviced, in case of medical complaints, to first consullt your primary doctor or specialist to exclude possible underlaying illnesses.