Osteopathy sees itself as a science, philosophy and art. It should be mentioned here that osteopathy has not reinvented the wheel, but rather, based on existing anatomy, physiology and embryology (the development of humans in the womb), it often simply takes a different view when looking at humans.
Still likes to refer to the ‘triune man’: man as a unity of body, mind and soul. These three cannot be separated. Mind and soul influence the body (psychosomatics), and on a physical level, the entire musculoskeletal system, the hormonal system, the nervous system and the organ system are closely and inseparably linked, which in turn affect the mind and soul.
Just as everything in nature is perfect, humans are also beings of perfect creation and thus an expression of a higher authority, which possesses self-regulating and self-healing powers. Examples of this include wound healing and the (intact) immune system in the case of illnesses or infections.
Function and structure are mutually dependent and form a single entity. If the function changes, the structure of the function will follow suit.
A simple example of this is the training effect. Increased muscle strain (function) causes the muscle to adapt its structure in terms of strength and tension. The now larger muscle will also receive increased blood flow. The blood will carry all the necessary nutrients to the affected tissue.
This example is, of course, greatly simplified and occurs in the body in many different ways, but also in ‘reverse’: Excessive tension in the body, whether caused by injuries, accidents, scars, or psychological stress and emotional distress, can naturally restrict the diverse communication of the hormonal and nervous systems and, in particular, blood circulation. This can result in a lack of movement accompanied by pain, loss of mobility, injuries, or stagnation of bodily fluids and illness.
