Osteopathic Manipulation Study - An Interview with Dr. Miriam V. Mills by Lady Camelot

Osteopathic Manipulation Study - An Interview with Dr. Miriam V. Mills

by Lady Camelot

Recently, I had the unique privilege to interview Miriam V. Mills, (M.D., FAAP) from the Young People's Clinic in Tulsa, OK. Dr. Mills is credited for directing the landmark research project (at the Oklahoma State University College of Osteopathic Medicine) on the study of Osteopathic manipulative treatment for ear infections in children. The study was first publicized in the MD (allopathic) literature and more recently in the Sept 2003 issue of the Archives of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine.

Dr. Mills remarked: "Osteopathic manipulative treatment was developed by Andrew Taylor Still (who was himself an MD, but who established osteopathy) over 100 years ago. One of his students, William Garner Sutherland, expanded the manipulative treatments to include the head and related structures, which is called osteopathy in the cranial field. There is not one "technique" that is used, but a variety of approaches, depending on the problem encountered. This has been taught for over 50 years. The experience of most practitioners of these methods find remarkable benefit from them, though there has been little in the literature to document these experiences.

I am a pediatrician in private practice (Young People's Clinic, PC, in Tulsa, OK (www.youngpeoplesclinic.yourmd.com/miriammills), and I find that in my general pediatric practice, having used these manipulative techniques for the last 10 years (as am MD, I learned these techniques after being in practice already awhile), I have less problems with colic and feeding problems, headaches, ear infections, and complications of upper and lower respiratory infections. I admit fewer children to the hospital and have to refer fewer children for sub-specialist care than my pediatric colleagues.

Since the development of osteopathy in the cranial field, other practitioners (including chiropractors, massage therapists, and physical therapists) have utilized some of the same methods, going by the name of `cranio-sacral therapy.' I cannot vouch for exactly what these methods are, or their effectiveness, as they are not what was studied in my research."

According to Dr. Mills, the study was performed under controlled, blinded groups of children across four (4) sites in the nation. Of these groups, 32 children were in the control group and 25 were in the treatment group. The study produced phenomenal findings. The culmination of a six-month observation period demonstrated that there was a statistically significant difference in (within treatment group) episodic ear infections.

Of the control group, 8 children reverted to tube installation as opposed to 1 in the treatment group. Dr. Mills explained, "...There was a trend, though not quite statistically significant, to having fewer antibiotics prescribed to children in the treatment group."

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BIO:

Lady Camelot currently serves as the Public Relations' Director for HolisticJunction.com - Your Pathway to Discovery.
To contact her or to use this article, please email her at mailto:ladycamelot@holisticjunction.com

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