Osteopathy is a manual therapy, which is highly regulated by medical boards around the World. This fact alone will help dispel many of the common myths. Below is an examination of five of the more popular myths about osteopathy.

Myth 1: Osteopaths Only Focus on Your Bones

This is false, but it is an assumption that is understandable. After all the word ‘osteo’ does come from the Greek word ‘osteon’ which means bone. Adding weight to this myth is the mere name of the conditions osteoarthritis and osteoporosis, which are degenerative bone diseases. When first founded, osteopaths did solely focus on bones, however this approach quickly shifted to encompass all joints, muscles and body systems. However the name was never changed.

Osteopathy is one of the most complete manual medical disciplines. It treats all your bones, muscles, joints and body systems.

Myth 2: Osteopaths, Physiotherapists and Chiropractors are all the Same

False. Osteopaths, physiotherapists and chiropractors were all founded on different philosophies and treatment methods. Although very simplistic, osteopaths focus on treating the entire body, physiotherapists focus on local area rehabilitation and chiropractors focus on the spine and the surrounding nerve pathways.

Myth 3: Osteopathy is an Unproven ‘Witch Doctor’ Remedy

False. As indicated above, osteopathy is firmly recognised by the medical community and has its roots based on sound evidence. This is supported by the following facts:

* Australian osteopaths must complete an intensive five year degree, including two years of performing supervised treatments on paying patients
* The practice of osteopathy is strictly regulated by government bodies. In order to practice, osteopaths must be officially registered
* All osteopaths are classified as primary health care providers. This means that you do not need to organise a referral from your GP prior to a treatment

Myth 4: Osteopathy is a Simple 5 Week Course

False. As previously indicated, becoming an osteopath is hard work. All osteopaths must complete an intensive five years of university study. In addition to the physical elements of treatments, osteopaths also learn the intricacies of anatomy, physiology, pathology, radiology and clinical medicine.

The hyperuricemia known as Gout develops as a debilitating condition assembling arthritis with accumulation of uric acid crystals in the body’s joints. Gout is an inflammatory disease occurring especially in men over the age of 50 in countries with an unhealthy diet like Western Europe and the USA. A starches based diet seems to prevent the appearance of Gout in many countries.

The accumulation of uric acid crystals occurs because the kidneys cannot eliminate it successfully or because the body produces uric acid in excess. The most common cause is a high intake of the precursors found in food and called purines. Purinic bases are mainly contained in fish, meat, animal muscles, poultry and seafood. Vegetables containing purines do not contribute to the apparition of gout and also moderate consume of the mentioned food cannot trigger hyperuricemia. Alcohol products are also known to stimulate the accumulation of uric acid in the joints.

Gout can be triggered by high amounts of released body fats during diets as the uric acid is stimulated to crystallize and deposit into the joints. Although the risk of developing Gout in these cases is relatively small, physicians recommend the administration of an anti-gout medication with 0.5 mg Colchicines daily for about six months during the weight loss diet.

More cases of hyperuricemia have developed after a low-carbohydrates diet was recommended, that is known to contain high amounts of purines. Like the foods rich in proteins, these kinds of food determine a rapid loss of weight and trigger an increase of the uric acid levels in the blood. The caused stress will raise the seric uric acid as well.

An early treatment of Gout increases the chances of a rapid recovery. The primer Gout medication is based on Colchicines and also the less preferred NSAIDs due to their side-effects. Patients with high levels of uric acid in their blood can be treated with Allopurinol, but persons with normal uric acid can also suffer acute attacks of Gout. High levels of seric uric acid without a chronic arthritis will not require permanent medication but a good food diet would be helpful.

In addition, you and your patients now have a new option. ULORIC is a new treatment for lowering blood uric acid levels in patients with gout. Do not take ULORIC if you are taking Azathioprine (Imuran®, Azasan®), Mercaptopurine (Purinethol®), or Theophylline (Theo-24®, Elixophyllin®, Theochron®, Theolair®, Uniphyl®). For some people, gout may flare up when starting certain gout medicines, including ULORIC. If you have a flare while taking ULORIC, do not stop taking your medicine. Your healthcare provider may give you other medicines to help prevent your gout flares. Sign up for future updates about ULORIC, plus details about patient resources on the new ULORIC.com.

Gout diets recommend avoiding muscle food and high protein vegetables like beans, peas and lentils. Persons with high accumulated amounts of uric acid in their tissues require a longer period of treatment.