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Tenets of Osteopathic Medicine

Body, mind & spirit

Explore the philosophy behind the practice of osteopathic medicine

DOs are trained to promote the body's natural tendency toward self-healing and health.

The Tenets of Osteopathic Medicine express the underlying philosophy of osteopathic medicine and were approved by the AOA House of Delegates as policy.

  1. The body is a unit; the person is a unit of body, mind, and spirit.

  2. The body is capable of self-regulation, self-healing, and health maintenance.

  3. Structure and function are reciprocally interrelated.

  4. Rational treatment is based upon an understanding of the basic principles of body unity, self-regulation, and the interrelationship of structure and function.


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