Osteopathic Medicine: Philosophy, Principles and Practice

"In my work as a Senior Clinical Tutor at the British School of Osteopathy, and as an Examiner of Clinical Competence of practicing UK Osteopaths for The General Osteopathic Council, I am sometimes asked, 'what are your views on continuing professional development for osteopaths?' I can now answer this question. I can not think of a single UK osteopath who would not enjoy and benefit from reading this book. Many of the experiences I have had in practice, that I have been unable to verbalise to my students are clearly explained in this book. In my opinion this text should be compulsory reading for all UK Osteopathic undergraduates.
The range of concepts covered is broad (as it would have to be, to explain osteopathic practice). The following gives just a few examples from the contents. It includes chapters on philosophy and form and function (in which a phenomenological model of health is compared with science), principles (a brief chapter that may help to unite the profession), an excellent section on the nervous system (which, unlike many texts, explains how the nervous system functions as a whole, with good use of diagrams), psychology (in which the concept of 'bond' is made explicit), health and disease (germ theory is critiqued), pathology (the osteopathic lesion is discussed) and finally all are brought to life in a section on practice.

Readers should appreciate that like the founder of Osteopathy, the author does not describe osteopathic technique, but provides a conceptual guide for the practicing osteopath.

The book is well written, and well thought out. Clearly representing a life time of research and practice in to what makes Osteopathy a unique and valuable health care practice. (Which saves the rest of us the effort!) The ideas are extraodinarily well referenced, drawing on a multitude of sources and do not prioritise any one 'school' of thought. Many quotes bring colour (and gore) to the reader. This book stimulates interest, horror, compassion and enthusiasm, in the reader."
~ Written on 2001-12-17