An osteopath is a licensed physician who practices medicine using both conventional treatments and osteopathic manipulative medicine, which focuses on relieving pain, increasing physical mobility, and improving the circulation of blood and lymphatic fluids. Osteopaths aim to improve peoples overall health and wellness by treating the whole person, not just a condition or disease they may have. They are licensed to prescribe medications, perform surgery, and use technological imaging to diagnose and treat illness and injury. Osteopathic manipulative medicine involves stretching, massaging, and moving the musculoskeletal system. Osteopaths believe that many diseases result from, or cause, problems within the bodys musculoskeletal system, which includes nerves, muscles, and bones. They pay extra attention to how all your body parts work together in order to prevent or treat health issues. Osteopathic manipulations were once used to treat all forms of disease, but now they are considered useful mostly for musculoskeletal conditions such as back pain. Osteopathic doctors believe touch can be healing, and all DOs are trained in osteopathic manipulative treatment, sometimes called manual manipulation or OMT. The best scientific evidence shows that OMTs are most effective for back and neck pain. Osteopathic medicine is about your whole body, not just specific parts or symptoms. DOs serve a one-year internship, gaining hands-on experience in family medicine, internal medicine, obstetrics-gynecology, pediatrics, and surgery.