HOLISTIC MEDICINE
An Introduction to Holistic Medicine
For many people, Holistic Medicine can transform the physical,
emotional, and spiritual dimensions of their lives – thus having a
dramatic effect on their overall health. Whether it is chronic or
life-threatening illnesses, acute disorders, or just a lack of
optimal health, Holistic Medicine is of great value. For those who
are not ill but wish to increase self-awareness, enhance well-being,
and help prevent health-related problems, Holistic Medicine offers a
wide variety of very effective Modalities.
What is Holistic Medicine?
Holistic Medicine is a term used to describe a diverse group of
healing systems that are not presently considered to be part of
mainstream medicine. What Holistic Medicine really is – is a
particular approach to health, healing and disease – a framework
to work within. This “holistic” approach takes into
consideration the “whole” being - the entire individual along
with all the many different aspects affecting the individual and
his/her health - hence the name “Holistic Medicine” (sometimes
spelled “Wholistic” to emphasize “Whole Being”). In
addition, Holistic Medicine often combines the advances of modern
science with the wisdom of ancient healing.
The Foundation
of Holistic Medicine
The foundation of Holistic Medicine is the principal that health,
healing and disease involve complex interactions of physical,
mental, emotional, spiritual, genetic, bioenergetic, environmental,
and social aspects/factors. By addressing or taking into
consideration all these factors, a more accurate picture of
health/balance and disease/imbalance is seen and a comprehensive
underlying cause is more easily identified. This allows for the
development of a treatment protocol that better addresses the
“whole person” – usually proving to be much more effective
than the more conventional medicine treatments.
A basic premise in holistic medicine is that health is not just the
absence of disease. Health – true health - is often described as
“Radiant Health”. Radiant Health is having an abundance of
physical, mental, emotional and spiritual balance, and where health,
energy, stamina, joy, creativity, and flexibility are the norm
rather than the exception.
The Basic Principles of
Holistic Medicine
Although “Holistic” therapies vary widely, several themes can be
traced throughout them all:
• The focus is on the whole person -- physical, emotional,
bioenergetic, environmental, social, and spiritual.
• Prevention of illness is a primary focus and goal.
• Treatments are highly individualized, integrated and flexible.
• Treatments are aimed at the underlying causes of illness rather
than at the symptoms.
• Treatments are designed to stimulate, strengthen and support the
natural healing, restorative, and rejuvenative processes of the
body.
Comparing Conventional Medicine to “Holistic Medicine”
The goal of conventional medicine is to locate the physical source
of a particular disease and then remove it. The source is often
equated with the symptom. Conventional systems of medicine
frequently focus on symptoms as the disease rather than the symptoms
being the result of underlying imbalances. In Conventional Medicine,
symptoms are often considered unrelated and treated as such, even
though they are occurring within the same individual. If an
individual suffers from high blood pressure, knee pain, skin rash
and heartburn, a conventional medicine treatment more than likely
would include medication to lower the blood pressure, another
medication to address the knee pain, another medication to suppress
the rash and finally a fourth medication to help with heartburn. In
comparison - A “Holistic Medicine” approach for the same
individual – regardless of the type of alternative health care
practitioner - would include a thorough intake/exam which takes into
consideration not only the physical aspects of the symptoms, but
also the mental, emotional, spiritual, genetic, bioenergetic,
environmental, and social aspects/factors also affecting the
individual. From this, more thorough and accurate patterns of
imbalance are discovered and the underlying CAUSE(S) of the high
blood pressure, the knee pain, the rash and the heartburn are better
able to be determined. The treatment protocol – whether it be
herbs and acupuncture from a Chinese Medicine Practitioner, Western
herbs from a Naturopath, or a Homeopathic remedy from a Homeopath,
etc,- will address the “whole person” and attempt to initiate
healthy change by dealing with the underlying imbalance(s).
Who Practices Holistic Medicine?
Any Alternative Health Care Practitioner (Chinese Medicine
Practitioner, Chiropractor, Naturopath, Herbalist, Homeopath,
Bioenergetic Practitioner, or other type of alternative medicine
health care practitioner) can use a holistic approach in their
practice. A holistic approach is naturally embedded within most
types of alternative medicines. Some practitioners may be more
“holistic” in their approach than others – it is a matter of
preference, style, system of knowledge used and experience. The
longer an individual is a health care practitioner, the more one
realizes how truly integrated, interrelated and complex the human
being is.
Holistic Medicine Comes in Various Forms – Too numerous to list
them all, but a categorizing may lend some clarity.
• Alternative Medical Systems: built upon complete systems of
theory and practice. Examples include Chinese medicine, Homeopathy,
Naturopathy, and Ayurveda.
• Biological Medicine: use of substances found in nature, such as
herbs, foods, and vitamins to promote health.
• Bioenergetic Medicine: modalities and devices used to influence
the Bioenergetic networks that make up and surround the body.
Examples are Bioenergetic Imprinters, Microcurrent, Low Level
Lasers, Ionic Foot devices, Electroacupuncture, etc…
o Subdivision of Bioenergetic Medicine is Energy Medicine. Energy
Medicine involves the use of energy fields to promote health.
Examples include Qi Gong, Reiki, Therapeutic Touch, Rapid Eye
Technique, Applied Kinesiology, Cranial Sacral, Bowen, Reflexology,
etc…
• Physical Medicine: based on manipulation and/or movement of one
or more parts of the body. Examples include osteopathy, physical
therapy, massage, chiropractic, Feldeinkrais,etc….
• Mind-Body Medicine: uses a range of techniques that help
stimulate and support the mind's ability to influence bodily
functions, symptoms and health. Examples include biofeedback, deep
relaxation, guided imagery, hypnotherapy, meditation, prayer,
support groups, Qi Gong, and yoga.
Why “Holistic/Alternative” and Not “Mainstream”?
Despite the long history of effectiveness associated with various
holistic systems of medicine (some are more than 5,000 years old)
there is continued resistance towards “holistic” systems of
medicine in the conventional medical communities of the United
States. Thus, this holistic approach to health has been labeled
"alternative" for a variety of scientific, cultural, and
political reasons. In many cases it is very difficult to
scientifically test alternative practices, such as acupuncture, in
the same way that certain conventional practices, such as
medications, are tested. Although alternative therapies are often
based on hundreds -- in some cases thousands -- of years of
experience, the conventional medical community relies heavily on
scientific evidence (rather than clinical experience) when
evaluating the safety and effectiveness of a particular therapy. For
this reason, many alternative practices that have not been
thoroughly tested in the same manner as drugs (or cannot be
thoroughly tested in the same manner as drugs) are considered
"unscientific" by modern conventional Western medicine
standards, and thereby discounted and discredited. In addition, many
non-Western, non-conventional healing practices are not taught in
United States conventional medical schools, are not available to
patients in U.S. hospitals, and are not covered by most health
insurance companies in the U.S..
A Side Note: Complimentary Medicine versus Alternative Medicine
The two terms are often used interchangeably, but really do have
quite different meanings. Complimentary Medicine refers to holistic
types of medicine used together with conventional medicine.
Alternative Medicine refers to holistic types of medicine used
instead of conventional medicine. An example of a Complimentary
Medicine approach would be to use acupuncture together with
conventional pain medications to reduce pain and inflammation. Using
acupuncture, Chinese herbs and Qi Gong exercises rather than taking
conventional pain medications is an example of an Alternative
Medicine approach. Growing Interest and Use of Holistic Alternative
Medicine: (for source of statistics, see references)
The barriers to Alternative Medicine are beginning to decrease --
or, at least are becoming less difficult to overcome. Alternative
healing practices are increasingly being tested for effectiveness
and safety in well-designed research studies. The intermixing of
diverse cultures in the West are bringing what were once distant
healing practices to the forefront and more Americans are turning to
holistic alternative medical care than ever before.
The movement toward holistic alternative medicine in the United
States has been prompted by a growing consumer demand for
alternative medical services. A landmark study published in 1993
found that more than one-third of Americans had sought holistic
alternative therapies, that in 1990 they had made more visits to
Holistic Alternative health care providers than to their primary
care physicians, and that consumers had spent more than 13 billion
dollars out-of-pocket for these Holistic Alternative health care
visits. Studies suggest that demand for Holistic Alternative health
care services continues to grow at a very rapid rate. A 2001 survey
found that nearly 70% of Americans have used at least one form of
Holistic Alternative therapy in their lifetime, making this
"unconventional" medical approach one of the fastest
growing sectors of American healthcare. Although herbs and
supplements are not regulated by the U.S. Food and Drug
Administration (FDA), pharmacies across the country are experiencing
a tremendous surge in the demand for these alternative remedies.
From 1991 to 1996 alone, the demand for over-the-counter natural
remedies (including herbs and supplements) doubled. In a 1996 survey
by Landmark Healthcare, more than 70% of HMOs reported an increase
in requests for Holistic Alternative Medicine services by their
members. Most patients (56%) requested acupuncture, followed by
chiropractic (45%), massage (25%), acupressure and biofeedback (21%
each), hypnotherapy (8%), and reflexology (4%).
A Slow but
Steady Stream of change: Incorporation of Holistic Alternative
Medicine into Mainstream Medicine
Studies also suggest that U.S. medical schools may be warming up to
alternative medicine. As of 1998, 75 out of 117 (64%) U.S. medical
schools offer at least one course in alternative medicine. In a 1994
survey, 60 percent of doctors reported recommending alternative
medicine to their patients. Nearly half of the doctors who responded
to the survey acknowledged that they used alternative medicine
themselves – on their patients or on themselves and family or
both. More and more health insurance plans are also covering
Holistic Alternative Medicine, particularly treatments such as
acupuncture and chiropractic, whose safety and effectiveness in the
treatment of certain health problems has been fairly well
researched. These changes in American healthcare indicate a slow but
steady stream of change —often with a healthy dose of
skepticism—toward an integrative medicine system that incorporates
the most useful therapies from the world's many healing traditions.
The Future for Holistic Alternative Medicine
There are many encouraging signs that Holistic Alternative Medicine
is slowly becoming accepted into mainstream medicine. For example,
breakthroughs in Alternative Medicine research are frequently
published in prestigious Western peer-reviewed journals such as the
Journal of the American Medical Association and the Annals of
Internal Medicine. Still, there are real obstacles to the
achievement of truly integrated medicine. Some of these obstacles
include cultural conflicts, lack of scientific studies,
administrative issues, conflicting interests of the FDA, and
lobbying power and money of the Pharmaceutical companies. The hope
and saving grace of Alternative Medicine emerging as a mainstream
medicine is twofold. First - The American consumer is demanding
more and more Alternative Medicine – this is clear by the rapid
increase in consumer dollars spent (often out of pocket) on
Alternative Health Care. Second - Alternative health care
practitioners and most conventional doctors alike truly seek to
create safe, effective, and affordable medical treatment for all
patients, thus eventually increasing the need and use of Alternative
Medicine.
For many people living with chronic or life-threatening illness,
Holistic Alternative Medicine can transform the physical, emotional,
and spiritual dimensions of their lives. Holistic Alternative
Medicine is also valuable to those who are not ill but wish to
increase self-awareness, enhance well-being, and help prevent
health-related problems. Health Naturals offers various products and
services that all fall under the category of “Holistic
Medicine”. Here at Health Naturals – The Spirit of Health and
Healing is holistic as well as honored.
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