European Osteopathic Natural Medicine Institute

An International Centre of Osteopathic Natural Medicine Practitioner Training

Osteopathic Natural Medicine brings together the Holistic Perspective  of Classical Osteopathic Manual Practice and Natural Medicine which includes Herbal, Classical and Spaygric Homeopathic Medicine and other Naturotherapies.

History and Philosophy of Osteopathy

Andrew Taylor Still

Andrew Taylor Still (1828-1917) was the founder of osteopathy. He was a surgeon practicing on the border of Kansas and Missouri. Besides his medical practice he was a farmer, participated in the Civil War on the side of federal forces, for a short time he was a member of Legislative Assembly of the Free Kansas State.

After loss of several members of his family from epidemic meningitis his discontent by "heroic" methods of conventional medicine being stored up for many years received an additional stimulus to search for better ways of treatment.

In 1874 after ten years of researching , Dr. Still "raised up the banner of osteopathy".  At that time, he did not define exactly what it actually meant; however, he then made attempts to present his findings in the Baker University - an educational institution he helped to create. They refused even to listen to him.

The term "osteopathy" itself was proposed by Still in about 1889. There exists a story that when he was charged with the absence of such a word in the dictionary, Still spoke back: "So what? We shall bring it in!" This term became both for Still and his followers a symbol of reform in medicine. Osteopathy dealt with natural body structure, was directed towards its normal functioning and caused no damage; the contrary was observed at that time about widely accepted emetic laxatives, phlebotomy and drugs stimulating a dependence effect.

The first school which received public recognition - American School of Osteopathy - was founded by A.T. Still in May, 1892 and soon it received its first class of students - 21 persons.

When the Council of Missouri began to function in 1903, the first certificate was issued to A.T. Still.

However, in 1937 only 26 states had regulations to issue unlimited licenses to certified osteopaths.

In 1939 W.G. Sutherland who was the disciple of A.T.Still, presented to the Neurosurgeons Society meeting his concept of cranial osteopathy based on teaching of Primary Respiratory Mechanism (PRM) being an inherent intrinsic tissue rhythm. He published a book called "The Cranial Bowl".

From 1950-s the course of cranial osteopathy was introduced in the training program.

Actually each fact of public recognition of osteopathy in the USA was preceded by long and difficult struggle.

1951. The USA Health Service for the first time allocated revolving grants for education to each of the six osteopathic colleges.

1957. The American Osteopathic Association (AOA) was recognized by US Department of Education and by Department of Health, Education and Welfare (MHEW) as certification agency in the field of osteopathic training.

By the end of the 20th century osteopathy became separate but equally respected profession in many countries and for many reasons.

A revival of interest towards manual medicine and other osteopathic methods took place. In the majority of osteopathic schools and institutes of post graduate training the attention is drawn to philosophical principles and clinical skills. In the USA a mechanism of certification by professional skills degree of both medical doctors (MD) and doctors of osteopathy (DO) by Osteopathic Council was developed. This process assumes additional education for usual physicians who never attended osteopathic schools before.

Osteopathic medicine came to Europe in 1927, when disciple of A.T. Still, Dr. Littlejohn opened first British Osteopathic School. In 60-s osteopathic schools appeared in France, Belgium, Austria, Spain, Netherlands, Germany and other countries.

Appearance of new osteopathic schools in Europe was preceded by formation in 1960-s of Association on Research in the field of cranial osteopathy in France. This research resulted in introducing of cranial osteopathy in educational program of European osteopathic Schools.

Osteopathic Natural Medicine has become consolidated as independent method of treatment. The focus of both the training of ONM Practitioners and ONM Treatment follows the Holistic Model presented by Dr. Sill.