#The body is a unit, and the person represents a combination of body, mind and spirit.
#The body is capable of self-regulation, self-healing, and health maintenance.
#Structure and function are reciprocally interrelated.
#Rational treatment is based on an understanding of these principles: body unity, self-regulation, and the interrelationship of structure and function.
Significance
There are different opinions on the significance of these principles. Some note that the osteopathic philosophy is akin to the tenets of holistic medicine. They suggest that osteopathic philosophy is a kind of social movement within the field of medicine, one that promotes a more patient-centered, holistic approach to medicine, and emphasizes the role of the primary care physician within the health care system. Others liken the American Osteopathic Association's emphasis of the core principles to professional indoctrination, a process which glorifies osteopathic practices and beliefs while misrepresenting those of the MD community. Still others point out that there is nothing in the principles that would distinguish DO from MD training in any fundamental way. One study, published in the Journal of the American Osteopathic Association found a majority of MD medical school administrators and faculty saw nothing objectionable in the core principles, and some would even endorse them generally as sound medical principles.Adapted from the Wikipedia article Osteopathic medicine in the United States, under the G. N. U. Free Documentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki
