Introduction

Cranial osteopathy, also known as osteopathy in the cranial field, was developed as a natural extension of Dr. Andrew Taylor Still's - the founder of the osteopathic profession - philosophical and therapeutic approaches to health through manipulation. William Gardner Sutherland D.O. was the founder of cranial osteopathy, utilizing the body's inherent forces to overcome membranous articular restrictions principally in the head and spine with secondary effects throughout the rest of the body.

A cranial osteopath is an osteopathic physician and surgeon in the United States. In other countries, the osteopathic physician has a limited license. He or she diagnoses the patient wholistically, body, mind and spirit with particular detail to the musculoskeletal system and the cranial sacral mechanism in particular. The cranial sacral mechanism is a dynamic force within the living human body. It is the Qi or energy of the central nervous system and is reflected throughout the rest of the body.

Cranial osteopathy is a sub-specialty within osteopathic manipulative medicine. It has a unique defined body of knowledge, educational requirements and specific diagnostic treatment procedures that are part and parcel of a complete osteopathic manipulative medicine specialist practice. Diligent study of anatomy, physiology and pathology is required to become a cranial osteopath.rue system of preventive medicine, treating the whole person, not just the disease.

Osteopathic medical schools teach courses in all branches of medicine and surgery in the United States and various manipulative techniques. It takes four years of training in osteopathic medical schools in the United States. Most D.O.'s seek additional training in cranial osteopathy after graduation. Most osteopathic medical schools in the United States involve two hundred to three hundred hours of osteopathic manipulative diagnostic and treatment education