Are Osteopaths Real Doctors?
Osteopaths are fully licensed physicians who are authorized to prescribe medication and perform surgical procedures. While attending medical school, D.O.s are responsible for the same academic discipline as their M.D. colleagues and receive an additional 300 to 500 hours in the study of the body’s musculoskeletal system. Physicians who wish to specialize in cranial osteopathy must do additional post-graduate training. How Does Osteopathy Work? Osteopaths believe that a patient’s history of illness and physical trauma are stored in the body’s structure. Their highly developed sense of touch allows them to palpate, or feel, a patient’s flow of life fluids, motion and texture of tissues, and structural make-up. Osteopaths often detect physical problems that fail to appear on x-rays. Osteopaths can detect slight imbalances in the body’s structure. By correcting these imbalances, they support the body in healing itself. The osteopath’s touch promotes movement of the bodily fluids, eliminate