The History of Cranial Osteopathy

Patients often understand the unique benefits of cranial osteopathy through personal experience (as if they are remembering a long forgotten truth about themselves), yet they may still have difficulty rationalising how significant changes are possible with such gentle and minimal intervention. The depths of osteopathy can be explained by the body’s role in the healing process. Where possible the osteopath will allow the body’s own healing mechanisms to create the complex changes necessary to achieve health.

Osteopathy in the Cranial Field (OCF) was originally used to treat the head (hence the name), whereas today it is used to contact and treat all parts of the body. OCF was discovered by Dr. William Garner Sutherland a student of Dr. A.T.Still (The founder of osteopathy).

In 1899 Dr Sutherland observed a mounted disarticulated skull (a skull where all the individual bones have been separated and suspended in anatomical orientation) and noted that the joints of the temporal bones were bevelled like the gills of a fish.

Given his knowledge of osteopathy, he knew that all ‘structure of the body must have a related function (and visa versa)’. It was his assertion that the bones of the skull must have formed to accomodate some type of breathing or movement: without movement, such articulating joints of the skull would not exist: the skull would become solid bone. It is reported that he approached Dr Still with this observation: Dr Still's reply was that the articulations of the skull were intended to accomodate for fluid fluctuations within the cranium. As research and practice in the cranial field of osteopathy has developed over the past 100 years, a great deal of knowledge has accumulated about such tidal forces.

Dr Sutherland spent 30 years researching the mechanical properties of all the joints and individual bones of the skull (attempting to disprove the theory that the bones had developed to accommodate such movement): often experimenting upon himself by forcefully restricting the movement of various bones and their articulations, so as to observe the (often unpleasant) results. In 1929 he began to teach the osteopathic profession those perceptual skills required to observe and treat the mechanical effects of trauma to the head (and body) using OCF. Cranial osteopathy involves harnessing the internal forces generated by the body's self-healing and self-regulating mechanisms.

Often people hold onto things longer than they have to. In the case of trauma, this can amount to an entire life-time. Changes associated with accumulated trauma create an accelerated process of aging. We begin to experience a decline in the functions of biomechanics, fluid drainage, nutrient and oxygen supply, breathing, digestion, elimination, reproduction, rest and repair, immunity and cognition. Eventually we can succumb to the experiences of pain and disease.

In time, we adapt to reduced function. Our experiences of youthful vibrant health become long forgotten memories of the past. Osteopathy in the Cranial Field assists in the process of remembering.

It is in moments of stillness when the mind is quiet and suspended, that we are filled with inspiration. This is the experience of Biodynamic Osteopathy. Biodynamic Osteopathy is a name coined by Dr James Jealous DO, an American osteopath that continues Dr Sutherland's (and other notable osteopath's) developing work in the cranial field. Biodynamics documents a shift away from a structual/anatomical perception of the body, towards that of an embryological functional perception of health and the expression of nature (the divine) within each patient.

"Be Still and Know"”
~ Dr. William Garner Sutherland DO

From within stillness, a person's vibrant health and potential emerges.

An individual has self healing mechanisms which are able to resolve the effects of past trauma, and so naturally restore integrated and harmonious balance to the whole self.

Please click on www.osteohome.com for further information on cranial osteopathy.

What is Osteopathy?

Osteopathy is a holistic natural medicine founded by Dr Andrew Taylor Still, a medical physician and surgeon during the period of the American civil war. Dr Still first proposed his philosophy and practice of osteopathy in 1874.

Along with a detailed knowledge of anatomy and bio-mechanics, Dr Still possessed a keen spiritual faith. He believed that the human body's intended structure was perfect by design, and functioned in health as an integrated whole. “

"Osteopathy is based upon the perfection of Nature's work".”
~ AT Still

Dr Still’s philosophy of diagnosis and treatment arose from a belief in the intelligent self-healing and self-regulating mechanisms present within the body. Osteopathy therefore strives to understand and assist the healing processes already inherent within life and each individual. It offers no intervention. It adds nothing to what is already naturally present, even if it is only present in potential. “

"Man cannot add anything to this perfect work,
nor improve the functioning of the normal body.”
~ AT Still

Osteopathy provides support, encouragement and assistance to the natural intelligence, wisdom and health presently working within each patient. “

"It is the objective of the doctor to find health, anyone can find disease".”
~ AT Still

Osteopathy utilizes a wide variety of manual techniques, ranging from the use of moderate physical force to techniques so subtle that they virtually cease to be categorised as techniques per se. The osteopathic approach acknowledges all aspects of the individual including physical/anatomical, neurological, circulatory, energetic, emotional, mental and spiritual.

Osteopathy: Philosophy and Practice

The three founding principles of osteopathy

1. “The body is a unit”

Osteopaths view the body as a whole; we see the body as ‘a single unit of function’ rather than as many individual and unrelated parts. Osteopathic diagnosis and treatment considers many of the elements that allow the body to function as a whole. These include:

A. Body mechanics
(of gravity and dynamic movement)

Osteopathic treatment assists in the restoration of biomechanical energy efficiency; this includes improving function of joints (of the spine and periphery), ligaments, muscle, fascias and the correct orientation of the bones of the body in both their weight and load bearing capacity. A lack of energy efficiency within the musculoskeletal system as a whole can influence an individual’s general state of wellbeing.

B. Nervous system

• proprioception (body sensation/movement control)
• sympathetic (fright/flight/fight)
• parasympathetic (rest/digestion/repair)

Osteopathic treatment assists the body’s nervous system by addressing mechanical and circulatory restriction or congestion that may be adversely affecting normal nerve function. Treatment can also influence proprioception (or body awareness and balance), in particular the distortion of body awareness as a result of trauma. The nervous system has far reaching affects throughout the body, influencing such things as body movement, instinctual reflexes, blood vessel and organ function.

C. Circulation

• arterial (oxygen and nutrition)
• venous (drainage)
• lymphatic (drainage/immunity)
• cerebrospinal fluid/CSF (drainage/hormonal/nutrition)

Osteopathic treatment assists in maximising health by ensuring tissues of the body receive adequate nutrition, and experience the effective removal of damaged tissue, toxins or waste products of metabolism. A lack of nutrition and/or chronic congestion within tissues (including organs) can lead to the poor functioning or death of those cells charged with the responsibility of action, repair and renewal.

Neurological disturbance (as mentioned in section B above) can affect the functioning of arterial and lymphatic vessels. Similarly bone orientation, facial, ligamentous or dural tension, muscular spasm or fibrosis can affect the normal function of easily compressible venous and lymphatic vessels.

Aside from affecting the function of distant tissues by influencing blood vessels (and CSF circulation), osteopathy also influences global circulation through maximising the efficiency of thoracic cage function and diaphragmatic breathing (and so maximise the return of both venous blood and lymph to the heart through the negative pressure of inspiration). This is the body’s own natural anti-inflammatory. This fluid return is also an integral part of natural immunity, or the body’s ability to defend against infection.

D. Energetic, Mind/Emotions and Spirit

In private practice, osteopathic treatment of the whole person unearths mechanisms that run deeper than purely the physical form. Osteopathy was founded upon a belief that there exists within us, an intelligence far greater than our own. It stands to reason that there are mechanisms at work that exceed our current knowledge to explain. Given osteopathy’s founding principles, osteopaths in practice keep digging to unearth the truth; confident in the knowledge that what they find is an intended part of Nature’s work.  

2. “Structure and function and reciprocally inter-related”

Given a specific structure, every single body part has a corresponding function. Abnormal structure likewise within the body will govern dysfunction. Osteopaths are trained to perceive through palpation the difference between normal and abnormal structure, and thereby assist through treatment and individual’s return to normal function.

In a reciprocal fashion, body structure is influenced by its function. By way of example: in the case of the skeletal structures of the body, if a part of bone does not experience enough distractive or compressive force, specialised bone cells will dissolve and remove that part of the bone. Likewise, if a part of the body (a bony prominence for example) at any time during life experiences undue repetitive external pressure, the body will create a fluid filled cushioned sac (burser) to provide it with protection.

The body is a dynamic organism that maintains a structural form based upon functional use. The threshold between function (health) and dysfunction is crossed when the body structure starts to impede upon the body’s normal intended function. This altered function will be accompanied by palpable tissue changes that alert the osteopath to an individual’s departure from a natural state of health.
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3. “The body has self-healing and self-regulating mechanisms ”

The healing power of nature: Osteopathy considers that the body has within itself all those things necessary for the maintenance of health and recovery from disease.

Trauma

Most people carry the effects of accumulated trauma throughout their lives, and as such do not function at optimal health.

There are 2 types of trauma:

1. Force: traumas such as motor vehicle accidents, lifting injuries, falls or sprains generally occur in a split second of time. Kinetic energy is transferred into the tissues of the body. This energy is stored within the tissues of the body (as physical change) for years and often decades.

2. Fatigue: traumas of a longstanding and repetitive nature such as poor posture, work and sporting activities can result in the compression or stretching of tissues over time. Fatigue occurs over a period of months and years, and will also remain (if untreated) for years and decades.

Trauma can be physical, emotional or spiritual. Each will either be the result of ‘force’ or ‘fatigue’ as described above. Each will either directly or indirectly affect the functioning of the physical body, and as such can be treated with osteopathy.

How many treatments are generally needed?

Osteopathic treatment aims to provide both effective short-term relief and a long-term solution to a patient’s problem. Generally, an improvement or change in symptoms will begin within 1-4 treatments. Osteopathy is based upon the principle that pain or disability is the result of accumulated and unresolved traumas within the body. A long-term resolution of symptoms depends upon a series of considerations;

• Number/severity of past trauma (simple problems resolve more quickly)
• Age of trauma (recent traumas resolve more quickly)
• Diet and exercise (healthy bodies respond more rapidly)
• Aging (cells in a younger body produce more energy for change)
• Tissue integrity (the body can resolve trauma embedded within tissues, however it cannot heal tissues which are destroyed or degenerated)
• Gravity (good postural habits aid resolution)
• Activities (sensible movements avoid strain to healing tissues)
• Stress (a healthy mind means an energised immune system)

Osteopathic qualifications

Currently osteopathy in Australia is a five-year double university degree. Training is aimed at the medical sciences and the practical aspects of physical diagnosis and treatment. All practicing osteopaths are registered with a statutory osteopathic registration board; this ensures the highest standard in academic qualification and professional code of conduct. Osteopaths in Australia, the U.K. and New Zealand (unlike the U.S.) do not prescribe drugs or perform surgery.

Health funds

All health funds provide rebates for osteopathic treatment.
* Rebates are between $10 and $35 per treatment.