Osteopathy was developed in the late 1800's by Dr. Andrew Taylor Still. Dr. Still was a traditional doctor of the time who had become disillusioned with the medical practices of the day and set about developing a diagnostic and treatment system that could stimulate the body to heal itself. Over the years, medical research has proven the immense value and benefits osteopathic treatments can provide. Osteopathy is a drugless, manual system of health care that recognizes the body's self-healing, self-regulating ability is rooted in a number of factors, including favourable environmental conditions both internal and external, adequate nutrition, good sleep patterns and normal structural integrity. It utilizes generally accepted methods of diagnosis combined with osteopathic structural exams to facilitate accurate structural assessments that will guide the treatment process. It places special emphasis upon the importance of biomechanics, uses manipulative techniques to detect and correct, faulty structure thereby enhancing function.

works of Dr. Still's protege, Dr. John Martin Littlejohn, along with Dr. Littlejohn's long-time student John Wernham, have kept classical osteopathy alive and as close to Dr. Still's original methods as possible. These efforts are now being carried on by two schools which are the John Wernham College of Classical Osteopathy in England and the Canadian Academy of Osteopathy and Holistic Health Sciences in Hamilton, Canada.