Osteopathic medicine as a profession came into being in the mid-19th century United States through the revelatory teachings of Dr. Andrew Taylor Still. Dr. Still was one of the first in his time to promote habits leading to good health (i.e. postural alignment, hygiene, adequate nutrition), and insisted that the lack of those may lead to disease.

Osteopathy is drug-free, gentle manual therapy that focuses on the body's health by treating and strengthening the musculoskeletal framework, which includes the joints, muscles, and spine. Specifically, osteopaths use manual techniques to access and treat movement restrictions in the body. Osteopaths focus on the cause of pain and dysfunction rather than concentrating solely on the symptoms.