Osteopathy and osteopathic medicine are terms often used interchangeably for the philosophy and system of alternative medical practice first proposed by A. T. Still MD in 1874. Its practitioners are known as osteopaths. The principles of osteopathic medicine emphasize the interrelationship between structure and function of the body and recognizes the body's ability to heal itself; it is the role of the osteopathic practitioner to facilitate that process. The American Osteopathic Association recommends using osteopathic physician and osteopathic medicine to distinguish individuals trained in "American Osteopathy" who have attained the degree of Doctor of Osteopathic Medicine, a degree equivalent to that of Doctor of Medicine, who practice the full scope of medicine and receive additional training in osteopathic manipulative medicine from individuals described as osteopaths who use osteopathy, the restricted-scope form of practice outside of North America. Despite this, many osteopathic physicians in the United States still use the term osteopath.