Since the dawn of time, men have tried to relieve each other’s physical pain and suffering. of his fellow men.  Over time, they realized that they could relieve and cure through the use of their hands.  The manual therapies of Osteopathy have been practiced by numerous traditions throughout humanity under diverse forms.

The origin of manual medicine goes back to the formation of the first human gathering.  The techniques were necessary to relieve as much pain as possible.

Manual medicine was not only known by the Egyptians.  The Chinese also practiced alternative medicine some 3500 years before J-C, which is attested in text.  These writings say that by rubbing the painful area with the hands, the suffering attenuates and can even disappear.  Eventually, certain Chinese doctors made experiments and discovered that by using a simple glare of rock, they obtained positive results.  Chinese medical care has existed for centuries.  Over ten thousand years ago the Chinese started using needles to relieve pain.  Acupuncture, acupressure and massage come from this ancient time.

Later on, Hippocrate, Galien, Avicienne and many others handled many articulations and described them in what we know now as famous works.

The first complete and precise texts describing manipulation with the hands as a form of healing date from the first centuries before J-C.

During the 18th century, doctors and surgeons trained to quit difficult cases.  The doctors scorned the surgeons.  A few year later, the surgeons disappeared and the barbers took their place.  Only barbers practiced operations and handling at this time and this lasted for centuries.

In time, the manual medicine practiced by barbers lost its effectiveness because of the simple application practiced by Hipporate in the earlier days.  Shortly, the majority of the barbers were not practising anymore.

Bonesetters continued to transmit their knowledge to their successors.  Bonesetters thus became the link between ancestral manipulative medicine and other various manual medicines which have developed with time, such as osteopathy.
Even if these bonesetters handled without really including or fully understanding the final outcome of their efforts, their work was still successful at that time as they consistently relieved their patients of numerous problems.

In the 18th century, when body handling lost its effectiveness in the eyes of official medicine, popular manual medicine remained and was transmitted consequently by tradition, giving birth to parallel healthcare, simple but effective and seen extremely well by : Algebraists (Spain), Bonesetters (England).