"Osteopaths are quacks!" We've all heard that said by non-believers in osteopathy. Why? The biggest reason is a lack of understanding of what osteopaths do and do not do. Osteopathic physicians have a level of training equivalent of medical doctors. But many people unfamiliar with the work of doctors of osteopathy are skeptical of their qualifications and their competency.
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Media does nothing to allay those fears. Because of scrutiny of this branch of medicine it appears that osteopathy has more than its fair share of osteopaths who use dubious practices. Thus, people who could benefits from the services of a doctor of osteopathy often avoid seeking an osteopath.
What are the solutions? First, knowledge is power. Understanding the history of osteopathy can be a definite help in dispelling the myths Osteopathie München surrounding this branch of medicine.
Osteopathy: a Brief History
Andrew Taylor Still, MD expressed the principles of osteopathy in 1874. Osteopathy was then in its infancy. As a medical doctor, Andrew Still believed that many diseases were rooted inthe simple interference or disruption of nerve and blood supply. Because they were caused by an interference, disruption or block, Dr. Still believed that these same conditions could be eased or cured by manipulation of whatever had been disrupted, deranged, interfered with or displaced. That included: bones, nerves, and muscles. A study of Dr. Still's somewhat unorthodox methods describes handshaking a child to stop such conditions as: scarlet fever, croup, diphtheria, and cure whooping cough.
Dr. Still was not a proponent of the drug practices he saw being used in the late 1800's. He also saw surgery as a last ditch attempt to save a patient.
Like many of his colleagues today, Dr. Still was regarded as a bit of a quack and so the reputation that has plagued competent osteopaths for two centuries began.
Despite the public skepticism of his theories, Dr. Still founded the first osteopathic medical school in 1892 in the city of Kirksville, Missouri.
Osteopathy Today
As osteopathy developed as a branch of medicine it was gradually incorporated into healthcare techniques. Today, except for its added emphasis on diagnosis through the musculoskeletal framework, osteopathy's scope is identical to any other medicine.
Both the number of medical practitioners who use some form of osteopathic manipulative treatment and the degree to which they use osteopathy has unfortunately been steadily decreasing. Some studies have indicated that the reason for decline may lie in the fact that osteopaths have ironically become more like medical doctors-the group whose treatments caused them to split from them in the first place.
Osteopathic Qualifications
In order to qualify as an osteopath, you need four to five years of undergraduate study- the same as pre-med. The difference between this study and a typical medical degree is that osteopathy requires more emphasis on anatomy and the musculoskeletal area. The course includes over a thousand hours of training in osteopathic techniques.
Osteopaths must be registered members in good standing of the General Osteopathic Council states that doctors can safely refer patients to registered osteopaths.
This article marks the fourth entry in a series I've written on musculoskeletal disorders and how homeopathy can help people experiencing them. Recently, I've written articles on Homeopathy and Rheumatoid Arthritis, Degenerative Arthritis, and Gout. This article will cover the topics of tendinitis and bursitis. In it, I will define these conditions, discuss their etiology, describe basic signs and symptoms of them, and then suggest homeopathic remedies that may help people experiencing these two conditions.
Bursitis is defined as inflammation of the bursae, which are fluid-filled sacs found between muscles and tendons. A bursa sac's function is to reduce friction between surfaces of the body, and aid in facilitating movement.
Bursa sacs are typically found in areas of the body where large joints are located, such as the shoulders, elbows, hips, and knees. These sacs of fluid can become inflamed, infected, or traumatized from overuse of the joint, continued or excessive friction of the joint, and from having systemic diseases such as gout and rheumatoid arthritis, which can lead to an infection of the bursa sac.
Tendinitis is simply defined as an inflammation of a tendon. Tendons are connective tissues between muscles and bones in the body. Tendons, muscles, and bones all work together to create movement in your body.
Tendinitis usually occurs after prolonged use of using the tendon inappropriately. Usually, tendinitis is accompanied by bursitis in the joint. The joints typically affected by tendinitis are the shoulder, elbow ("tennis elbow"), wrist, and knee ("housemaid's knee"), but can happen in any tendon in the body.
Tendinitis and Bursitis have similar signs and symptoms:
Homeopathic treatment for people experiencing bursitis and tendinitis usually needs to be accompanied by changes in the exciting cause of the pain itself: incorrect training for sports movements, improper use or form during weight lifting, excessive use beyond comfort, etc. Otherwise, homeopathic treatment will do little to relieve the pain. In addition to proper mechanics in the body, adjunct therapies such as osteopathy, rolfing, and/or chiropractic can help aid in recovery for more chronic cases.
Homeopathy is very effective for people experiencing acute (short-term, sudden onset) tendinitis and bursitis, as well as chronic (long-standing). There are several homeopathic remedies that may be useful for these situations. They are listed below:
Bryonia: Pain accompanying the inflammation that is sharp or stitching, in nature. Every slight motion causes pain. Feels better from applying pressure to the joint and from heat.
Phytolacca: Pain and inflammation that exists at the site of attachment for the tendon to the bone. This pain feels worse from heat, and better from cold applications.
Rhus Toxicodendron: Pain and stiffness that arises from overuse. The pain is better from continued motion, from hot bathing, or from heat. When the person gets moving, they feel compelled to keep moving and desire stretching the joint. Affects the left sided joints of the body more than the right.
Please note this list is not comprehensive. For specific and individualized care, please consult a qualified homeopath.
In this article I described the nature of bursitis and tendinitis, their etiology, their signs and symptoms, and homeopathic remedies that can help people experiencing these conditions.
Thanks for reading! Please contact me for further information.
Sincerely,
Noel Peterson