What Is Holistic Healing and Therapies?

Holistic comes from the Greek word holos, which means “all, entire, or total”. A holistic approach to healing emphasizes on the emotional, mental, spiritual, and physical elements of the patient. These forms of alternative healing strive to heal the whole person in context. The theory of this dates back to Aristotle and is philosophy that “the whole is more than the sum of its parts.”

The idea is that all properties of a given system cannot be determined or explained by its parts alone but instead the whole system explains in an important way how the parts behave. There are different types of holistic healing and a few examples of these include:

• Chiropractic Medicine – The focus may be on the musculoskeletal system, but curing that will then allow the positive energy to flow through the body, healing it as a whole

• Homoeopathy – Channeling the body’s natural ability to heal itself and releasing this power

• Naturopathy – The state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not just focusing on the absence of disease or infirmity

• Traditional Chinese Medicine – This includes Chinese herbal medicine, Chinese food therapy, breathing and meditation

Some people feel that most of these schools of thought do not originate from the scientific-medical tradition and lack sufficient evidence to back up their claims. However, others who have an open mind will reap the benefits that these forms of alternative medicine claim. Some people use these forms of medicine in conjunction with their mainstream medicine to round out their well-being possibilities.

Meditation

This form of alternative healing has been practiced for over 5000 years. It is a recognized component of different religions throughout the world, but is also used in nonreligious practices. Meditation is a discipline in which someone tries to get beyond their conditioned or “thinking” mind and into a deeper state of relaxation or awareness. Often one will use a certain single reference point to achieve such awareness. There are different disciplines of meditation that encompass a wide range of spiritual and or psychophysical practices which may emphasize different goals. Some of these may include an achievement of a higher state of consciousness, creativity, self-awareness, a greater focus, or simply a more relaxed and peaceful mind.

Other Alternative Holistic Healing

There are other forms of alternative healing that stem from holistic healing. Some of these include vibrational or energy medicine, electro-crystal rebalancing, acupressure, Reiki, and massage.

• Reiki – A spiritual form of holistic healing that involves the power of touch and the healing capabilities it can perform. A Reiki master has the ability to lay hands on the infirm releasing their own positive energy so the receiver can block their negative energy which will relieve pain.

• Massage Therapy – This has many physical, physiological and mental benefits. Many patients seek out this form of alternative medicine to relieve pain and stress. Types of stress that are induced everyday can build and cause such maladies as headaches, nausea, and irritability.

Massage therapy can also relieve chronic stress that may be caused by illness or injury. If chronic stress goes untreated then it may lead to heart attack, stroke, or other illnesses. Patients that have been diagnosed with ADD or ADHD have received the benefits of massage to avoid the long term affects of widely prescribed drugs. Cancer patients are seeking massage therapy to aid in the extreme stress their body encounters with the variety of treatments they must undergo to fight their disease.

There are a variety of alternative healing options available and each does carry their own claim. Some people do not believe in such options and decide to stick to the scientific-based medicine, others choose to only believe in the power of the mind and body to heal itself, and others may choose aspects of alternative healing to aid in their fight against everyday maladies and those that rule their life. Whatever the decision, the choice is yours.

Holistic Medicine For Seniors – Are You Considering Alternative Medicines

Holistic medicine  or alternative medicine, complementary medicine, or natural healing, is an increasingly popular health care choice among seniors. This type of health care pays attention to all aspects of the person’s life and health, not just traditional medical issues. Before you decide if holistic medicine is right for you, let’s take a closer look at the important principles that guide practitioners of this discipline.

The Definition of Holistic Medicine

There are any number of definitions offered to help pinpoint what holistic medicine really is, and in most cases they have a few elements in common. These include, but are not limited to, the following:

• An approach to healing that takes into consideration the patient’s mind, spirit, and body
• Integration of both traditional medical treatments and alternative therapies
• Focuses both on prevention and treatment of disease
• May involve a range of diagnostic and treatment strategies
• High quality holistic care is a partnership between patient and provider with each responsible for active participation in the process
• Takes into account physical, social, emotional, spiritual, nutritional, environmental, and lifestyle issues and influences

As you can see, holistic medicine emphasizes an all-encompassing approach to health care and illness prevention. The full range of holistic approaches may emphasize a variety of techniques and philosophies that cover the entire spectrum from very traditional to extremely new age.

A Word About Certification and Training

What should you look for in terms of certification and training? How do you know if a holistic practitioner is qualified and trained to practice this type of medicine?

This is where many people are unsure of the qualifications of practitioners involved in holistic medicine compared to traditional medicine. There are several holistic medicine associations that offer various certifications and accreditation’s, but these also cover a wide range of requirements. Certified holistic practitioners may be licensed physicians, nurse practitioners, physicians assistants, or any other of the familiar and traditional medical occupations. Certified holistic practitioners may also be people whose expertise developed via non-traditional treatment approaches such as acupuncture, naturopathy, homeopathy, herbal medicine, psychotherapy, massage, and nutritional therapy just to name a few.

So let’s go back to the original question above, what certification and training should you look for in a holistic medicine practitioner? The answer depends on how traditional versus non-traditional you are when it comes to medical treatment.

For instance, if you prefer someone who uses traditional medical treatments but also incorporates holistic principles of treating the whole person then look for a licensed medical doctor, physician’s assistant, or nurse practitioner who has additional training in the holistic approach. On the other hand, if you prefer to step away from traditional medical treatments and focus instead on non-traditional and alternative medicine (homeopathy, herbal medicine, acupuncture, etc.) then look for a practitioner who has certification from one of the reputable holistic medicine professional associations.

These two examples represent the full spectrum of holistic medicine, from traditional medicine adding in holistic principles to alternative medicine using holistic principles. Before you make the switch from your current medical provider to a holistic medicine practitioner be sure to thoroughly research the people in your area who use the holistic approach and determine very specifically what kind of certification and training they possess.

Who Should Consider Holistic Medicine?

This is another tricky question to answer because it depends a great deal on your own philosophy and approach to health and wellness. Some people dismiss holistic principles, while others take the same very negative view of traditional medicine with its emphasis on science, medication, and diagnostic procedures. If your own perspective fits with one or the other of these two extremes then it should be fairly obvious whether or not holistic medicine is something you should consider for yourself.

If, however, your own perspective falls somewhere between these two extremes then the choice to consider holistic medicine could be considered. You must balance your own health needs and medical conditions against your willingness to consider a range of traditional and non-traditional approaches. Part of your decision making process should be to research holistic medicine in more details, give careful consideration to the advantages and disadvantages of making changes, and find a practitioner whose approach and perspective is a good fit with your own.

Holistic medicine may not be for everyone, but it is an approach to health and treatment that is rapidly becoming more main stream in the medical world. It is certainly worth learning more about as it is a wonderful method of healing, but that is just my opinion too!

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