Chinese medicine and Osteopathy are more similar in philosophy than they are different.  How they go about treatment is different, but generally, the philosophy is the same.

In Osteopathy, the principals are as follows:

1.  The rule of the artery is absolute

2.  Structure governs function

3.  The unity of function

4.  The body heals itself

Now if we take this from a TCM perspective:

1.  The rule of the artery is absolute really talks about qi and blood.  There is a famous Chinese medical saying: ”Bu tong ze tong, tong ze bu tong.” This is roughly translated as, “If there is not free flow, there is pain. If there is free flow, there is no pain.” So if an artery is pinched anywhere it can cause ischemia, and with time malnutrition to a region of a the body.

2.  Structure governs function is taught as the theory of Yin and Yang.  Structure is the Yin of the body (or organ), and Yang is its function and ability (the intangible Qi).  The theory also applies when palpation of the viscera.  In osteopathy, an organ can be expanded or retracted, and empty and full.  This to me is an the same as excess and deficiency of heat and cold.

3.  The Unity of function translates as the 5 phases theory.  The body itself has several systems interlaced on top of each other.  Each system is NOT independent of each other.  Each system needs to “get along” otherwise there will be an imbalance is the system or “there is a disturbance in the force.”

4.  The body can heal itself.  In TCM, it is said that with proper nourishment, i will help build blood, and Qi which will help support your constitutional Qi.  When things are well balanced, the “Wei Qi” can help defend against external pathologies.

In Chinese Medicine, we have many theories about the body.  The most basic would be the identifications of patterns according to the eight principals.

Interior or Exterior

Hot or Cold

Full or Empty

Yin or Yang

1.  Interior or exterior referes to where the problem exists.  Is it, somato-visceral?  or viscero-somato?   another way to look at it is, “container affecting the contents?” or vice versa?  is the disharmony coming from the inside or outside?.

2, 3.  Hot or Cold  and Full and Empty.  Traditionally used together.  Metaphorically speaking, there is fire and ice in the system.  True hot is when we increase the heat, while true cold is when we increase the cold.  False heat exists when the ice in the system is diminished, while the heat is “relatively the same.”  this is also referred to as ” deficient heat” or “empty heat.”  or “deficient cold or empty cold.”

Another way to look at this is:  In a car, you have your gas an brake.  Sometimes your gas / brake peddle can be stuck up or down.  The car can accelerate if the gas is stuck down and the brake is stuck up, whereas the car might slow down if the gas is stuck up and the brake is stuck down.

Clinically speaking, I have seen osteopathy use these terms for the way organs feel.  For instance, a liver can feel full or empty; Expanded or retracted.

4.  Yin and Yang exists everywhere in the system as opposites.  A great example of this is sympathetic and parasympathetics.  Things are constantly changing, there are no absolutes.