Neurological Synapses and Their Role in Pain and Health By Eleanor Andrews Last week we considered synapses and why they are important in osteopathy. This week we are looking at synapses in relation to their role in pain and health. The body is a complex system, and understanding how it works is a never-ending process….

Synapses: Why are they important in Animal Osteopathy? By Eleanor Andrews Animals, constantly experience the world around them through their senses. From seeing their surroundings to feeling us as we touch them, these experiences are made possible by the communication between neurons in their brains. This communication occurs through structures called synapses. A synapse is…

Nature Vs Nurture By Eleanor Andrews As practitioners and pet owners, we often wonder whether our animal’s health and orthopaedic conditions are a result of their genes or their environment. This is a classic debate of nature vs nurture, which is also relevant for animals. Nature refers to the genetic makeup of an animal, while…

The Importance of Case History Taking By Eleanor Andrews & Angela Lemanis Osteopaths or those training with AOI will regularly hear about the importance of Case History Taking, but what is its significance? Case history taking is such an important component of your consultation. It is the first part of your osteopathic consultation sieve and will help…

The 5 Freedoms in Osteopathic Medicine By Eleanor Andrews The welfare of animals is a crucial consideration for those of us who care about the treatment of creatures, both domestic and wild. It is important to ensure that animals are being treated with the respect and care that they deserve and that they are not…

The Rule of the Artery is Supreme By Eleanor Andrews “The Rule of the Artery is Supreme” has its place in the foundations of osteopathy. This concept, commonly referred to as the silent principle, has been understood to relate not only to the arterial flow but to all fluid flow within the body, whether that…

“Rational treatment is based upon the first three principles” By Eleanor Andrews The foundation of osteopathic practice is built on four key principles. The three principles we have discussed previously: The Body is a Unit Structure and function and reciprocally interrelated The body contains self-healing and self-regulatory systems The fourth principle is rational treatment based…

“Why is osteopathy considered a system of medicine and not a treatment?” Many students are unable initially to answer this question; however, fast forward to the end of their diploma, and AOI students who have embraced their learning will be ready to fight the corner for why this statement is correct, and they no longer deem…

The Body is a Unit By Eleanor Andrews In osteopathy, we often hear the term “the body is a unit”. In fact, it forms one of the cornerstones of osteopathic philosophy. But many do not wholly embrace this principle for when we consider the body as a unit, we must remember to look at the…

The Animal Contains Its Own Medicine Chest By Eleanor Andrews As we observe the horse or dog, we come to realise that its body contains a wide spectrum of drugs and a medicine chest, which allows it to maintain homeostasis and self-healing abilities. The body, in fact, has all the necessary remedies to ensure excellent…