In most osteopathic training programs, the endocrine glands and hormonal system receive insufficient attention. Consequently, many osteopaths are not sufficiently familiar with the endocrine system, various hormones, and functional hormonal disorders. On the other hand, the incidence of functional hormonal disorders has significantly increased in recent years (stress-associated thyroid disorders, functional immunodeficiency, chronic adrenal fatigue, cyclic mastopathy, chronic insulin resistance, and much more).

Hormonal Osteopathy (Integration) focuses on the higher-level control of the endocrine system (pituitary gland, hypothalamus, and pineal gland). The endocrine glands and their most important hormones are discussed, as are the classically described hormonal axes (HPA axis – hypothalamus, pituitary, adrenal axis; HPG axis – hypothalamus, pituitary, gonadal axis) and functional secondary axes (e.g., thyroid-breast-ovary; thymus-liver-spleen; posterior pituitary-breast-uterus, and many more).

An important component of the course is the integration of the endocrine system, i.e., the discussion of the functional interactions between the various endocrine glands and hormonal control.
Furthermore, important endocrine glands that are usually discussed in detail during basic training will be reviewed and examined from new functional perspectives.

Course Content

• Fundamentals of endocrinology
• Autocrine, paracrine, endocrine, and neurocrine communication
• Overview of the most important types of hormones
• The principle of simple and complex control loops
• Description of classical conventional medical hormone axes
• Review of the basics of endocrine exocrine glands, part 1
• Review and elaboration of the other endocrine and exocrine glands
• Complementary hormone axes according to Frühwein
• Examination and treatment of selected glands
• Examination and treatment of the classical and complementary hormone axes
• Treatment of hormonal control organs