Dr.
K. What is Holistic Medicine?
Holistic Medicine is defined by the Canadian Holistic Medical
Association as follows.
Holistic medicine is a system of a health
care which fosters a cooperative relationship among all
those involved, leading towards optimal attainment of the
physical, mental emotional, social and spiritual aspects
of health.
It emphasizes the need to look at the whole
person, including analysis of physical, nutritional, environmental,
emotional, social, spiritual and lifestyle values. It encompasses
all stated modalities of diagnosis and treatment including
drugs and surgery if no safe alternative exists. Holistic
medicine focuses on education and responsibility for personal
efforts to achieve balance and well being.
Other Terms Associated with Holistic
Medicine
Alternative Medicine is often used by the
general public and some healthcare practitioners to refer
to medical techniques which are not known or accepted by
the majority "conventional" or "allopathic"
medical practitioners. Such techniques could include non-invasive,
non-pharmaceutical techniques such as Medical Herbalism,
Acupuncture, Homeopathy, Reiki, and many others. However,
the term Alternative Medicine can also refer to any experimental
drug or non-drug technique that is not currently accepted
by "conventional" medical practitioners. As non-invasive,
non-pharmaceutical techniques become popular and accepted
by large number of "conventional" practitioners,
these techniques will no longer be considered Alternative
Medicine.
Alternative Medicine refers to techniques
that are not currently accepted by "conventional"
practitioners, but what is currently accepted is quickly
changing. Even the definition of "conventional practitioners"
is quickly changing. Therefore, techniques that are now
considered part of Alternative Medicine will soon be considered
part of "conventional" medicine. The terms Holistic
Healing and Holistic Medicine are slightly more stable than
Alternative Medicine and are therefore preferable.
Complementary Medicine
Complementary medicine broadly describes
any health approach that is not a part of conventional medicine
and clinical practice of the primary health system of a
particular society or culture. What is considered complementary
in one culture may be traditional in another. For example,
acupuncture is a traditional treatment in China but is complementary
in the United States. Complementary therapies are generally
used to maintain or improve wellness, to prevent disease,
or to treat health problems.
Complementary medicine's blending of science
and nature, mind and body, and wholeness and individually
are appealing to many. However, you may be concerned about
the lack of evidence based research to support the safety
and effectiveness of many complementary therapies. Some
treatments, such as humor therapy, prayer, or massage, are
clearly low or no risk for almost anyone. Other treatments
carry greater risks. These include acupuncture, the consumption
of herbs or supplements that have not been proven safe and
effective, or following nontraditional nutritional programs
that can put some people, especially those with other health
problems, in nutritional danger.
Most complementary therapies fall somewhere
in between these extremes. Making a decision about using
a complementary therapy provides you the opportunities for
self-education, the development of a partnership with your
primary care physician, and the use of common sense in choosing
appropriate complementary treatments for health and wellness.
One of the core concepts of complementary
medicine to give thought and care to the whole person (holistic)
rather than just to provide treatment of a certain disease
or symptom. This may be appealing if you have a chronic
illness, or if you are focused on wellness and disease prevention
to want to make lifestyle changes.
Many complementary treatments have their
historical roots in eastern cultures where the emphasis
is on maintaining good health, not merely treating disease.
Many complementary therapies, if practiced regularly, can
optimize health and improve a person's ability to handle
stress.
The combination of conventional medicine
and complementary medicine is sometimes called integrative
medicine, in which conventional and complementary therapies
work together for the best outcome. Some people use complementary
therapies to maintain or optimize health and turn to traditional,
proven treatments when a specific symptom or disease arises.
Alternative medicine often implies a therapy used in place
of conventional treatment.
Complementary medicine is often used by
"conventional" medical practitioners to refer
to non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical techniques used as a
complement to "conventional" medical treatments
such as drugs and surgery. The term implies that "conventional"
medicine is used as a primary tool and the non-invasive,
non-pharmaceutical techniques are used as a supplement when
needed.
In many cases, properly chosen non-invasive
and non-pharmaceutical healing techniques plus properly
chosen lifestyle changes can completely and safely heal
both acute chronic illness. In other cases, "conventional"
medicine is only needed in emergencies or when the safer
non-invasive, non-pharmaceutical methods fail. In some cases
"conventional" medicine will be a major of a Holistic
Healing Plan, but in some cases it is not needed at all.
Natural Healing usually refers to the use
of non-invasive and non-pharmaceutical techniques to help
heal the patient. When most people use the term Natural
Healing, they are usually referring to physical healing
techniques only.
The American Holistic Health Association
(AHHA) promotes holistic health as an approach to creating
wellness which encourages you to
Ancient healing traditions, as far back
as 5,000 years ago in India and China, stressed living a
healthy way of life in harmony with nature. Socrates warned
against treating only one part of the body "for the
part can never be well unless the whole is well". Although
the term holism was introduced by Jan Christiaan Smuts in
1926 as a way of viewing living things as "entities
greater than and different from the sum of their parts,"
it wasn't until the 1970s that holistic became a common
adjective in our modern vocabulary.
Holistic concepts fell temporarily out of
favor in Western societies during the 20th century. Scientific
medical advances had created a dramatic shift in the concept
of health. Germs were identified as outside sources causing
disease. Gaining health became a process of killing microscopic
invaders with synthesized drugs. People believed that they
could get away with unhealthy lifestyle choices, and modern
medicine would "fix" them as problems developed.
However, for some conditions medical cures
have proven more harmful that the disease. In addition,
many chronic conditions do not respond to scientific medical
treatment. In looking for other options, people are turning
back to the holistic approach to health and healing. The
Holistic Health lifestyle is regaining popularity each year,
as the holistic principles offer practical options to meet
the growing desire for enjoying a high level of vitality
and well-being.
The Basic Principles of Holistic Health
Holistic health is based on the law of nature
that a whole is made up interdependent parts. The earth
is made up of systems, such as air, land, water, plants
and animals. If life is to be sustained, they cannot be
separated, for what is happening to one is also felt by
all of the other systems. In the same way, an individual
is a whole made up of interdependent parts, which are the
physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual. When one part
is not working as its best, it impacts all of the others
parts of that person. Furthermore, this whole person, including
all of the parts, is constantly interacting with everything
in the surrounding environment. For example, when an individual
is anxious about a history exam or a job interview, his
or her nervousness may result in a physical reaction - such
as a headache or a stomach ache. When people suppress anger
at a parent or a boss over a long period of time, they often
develop a serious illness - such as migraine headaches,
emphysema, or even arthritis.
The principles of Holistic Health state
that health is more than just not being sick. A common explanation
is to view wellness as a continuum along a line. The line
represents all possible degrees of health. The far left
end of the line represents premature death. On the fat right
end is the highest possible level of wellness or maximum
well-being. The center point of the line represents a lack
of appearance disease. This places all levels of illness
on the left half of the wellness continuum. The right half
shows that even when no illness seems to be present, there
is still a lot of room for improvement.
Holistic Health is an ongoing process. As
a lifestyle, it includes a personal commitment to be moving
toward the right end of the wellness continuum. No matter
what their current status of health, people can improve
their level of well-being. Even when there are temporary
setbacks, movement is always headed toward wellness.
The U.S Centres for Diseases Control and
Prevention report that the key factors influencing an individual's
state of health have not changed significantly over the
past 20 years. Quality of medical care is only 10% Heredity
accounts for 18% and environment is 19%. Everyday lifestyle
choices are 53%. The decisions people make about their life
and habits are, therefore, by far the largest factor in
determining their state of wellness.
The most obvious choices people make each
day is what they "consume" - both physically and
mentally. The cells in a person's body are constantly being
replaced. New cells are built from what is available. Harmful
substances or lack of needed building blocks in the body
can result in imperfect cells, unable to do what is required
to keep that person healthy. Similarly, on the non-physical
level, a person's mental attitudes are ñbuiltî
from what they see and hear.
The majority of illnesses and premature
death can be traced back to lifestyle choices. There are
the well-known dangers connected with drugs, alcohol, nicotine,
and unprotected sexual activity. Less recognized is the
impact of excesses in things like sugar, caffeine, and negative
attitudes. Combined with deficiencies in exercise, nutritious
foods, and self-esteem, these gradually accumulate harmful
effects. With time they diminish the quality of the "environment"
within that human being, and can set the stage for illness
to take hold. Quality of life, now and in the future is
actually being determined by a multitude of seemingly unimportant
choices made everyday.
How Holistic Health Is Practiced
While preventing illness is important, Holistic
Health focuses on reaching higher levels of wellness. The
right half of the wellness continuum invites people to constantly
explore which everyday actions work for them and discovering
what is appropriate to move them toward maximum well-being.
People are motivated by how good it feels to have lots of
energy and enthusiasm for life, knowing that what they are
doing that day will allow them to continue to feel this
great for years to come.
When disease and chronic conditions do occur,
the Holistic Health principles can also be applied. The
term is usually changed to holistic medicine, and additional
factors are added. The healthcare professionals using the
holistic approach work in partnership with their patients.
They recommend treatments that support the body's natural
healing system and consider the whole person and the whole
situation.
A holistic approach to healing goes beyond
just eliminating symptoms. For example, taking an aspirin
for a headache would be like disconnecting the oil light
on the dash of a car when it flashes. The irritation is
eliminated, but the real problem still exists. In holistic
medicine, a symptom is considered a message that something
needs attention. So, the symptom is used as a guide to look
below the surface for the root cause. Then what really needs
attention can be addressed.
The Benefits of Holistic Health
Holistic Health supports reaching higher
levels of wellness as well as preventing illness. People
enjoy the vitality and well-being that results from their
positive lifestyle changes, and are motivated to continue
this process throughout their lives.
Holistic Health is an empowering to living
LIFE. It starts with holistic philosophy that recognizes
the interrelationship between all aspects of who we are
and the world we live in. This is combined with an understanding
that achieving health is an ongoing personal journey toward
a goal of functioning at our very best level possible.
The cornerstone of holism is the concept
that the whole is made up of interdependent parts. As human
beings we may think of ourselves as made up of separate
parts or aspects, such as physical, mental, emotional and
spiritual. Yet, our parts do not function alone, but are
constantly interacting. What happens to one will impact
all of the other aspects of who we are as individuals. In
the same way, we are of the world around us, and constantly
responding to our surrounding environment.
Holistic health involves our everyday choices
and actions as we strive to reach a higher level of personal
wellness. Picture the various levels of wellness as a continuum.
Where are you? On the left half, dealing with an illness
or a chronic condition? IN the center, not sick, yet not
feeling very peppy? On the right half, in good shape, but
striving for the highest possible level of vitality and
well-being? A holistic approach to creating wellness includes
taking charge of your own health by exploring a variety
of life enhancing activities until you discover which ones
work for you.
While we think of holistic health in terms
of our personal actions for self-improvement, the same holistic
health principles can be applied to dealing with any disease
or chronic condition. When these holistic principles are
applied by a health care practitioner, it is usually called
holistic medicine. In addition to the concepts already mentioned,
other factors are added. The healthcare professional and
the patient work as partners. Rather than just eliminating
or masking symptoms, the symptom is used as a guide to look
below the surface for the root cause. Whenever possible
treatment are selected that support the body's natural healing
system.
In holistic health and holistic medicine
notice that holistic is always an adjective. Holistic is
an approach or philosophy that is applied to something.
Keeping this in mind, you can understand that the holistic
approach can be applied to any healthcare healing tradition
- both the conventional medical model taught in most Western
medical schools and the complementary healing traditions,
such as acupuncture, chiropractic, homeopathy, massage therapy,
and naturopathy. Therefore, it is possible for some medical
doctors to be holistic in how they deal with their patients,
and it is true that not all practitioners using alternative
therapies are holistic. If you want a holistic healthcare
professional, you as the patient should check out both technical
expertise and licensing and whether the practitioner uses
holistic principles.
If you are interested in a career as a holistic
practitioner, you must first become qualified in one or
more methods of delivering healthcare, such as chiropractic,
massage therapy, medicine, naturopathy, or psychology. Then
you add on the holistic qualities and philosophy.
Apply the mind/body/spirit principles of
holistic health is facilitated by a balancing of personal
responsibility and self-empowerment.
Holistic medicine is the art and science
of healing that addresses the whole person - body, mind,
and spirit. The practice of holistic medicine integrates
conventional and alternative therapies to prevent and treat
disease, and most importantly, to promote optimal health.
This condition of holistic health is defined as the unlimited
and unimpeded free flow of life force energy through body,
mind, and spirit.
Holistic medicine encompasses all safe and
appropriate modalities of diagnosis and treatment. It includes
analysis of physical, nutritional, environmental, emotional,
spiritual and lifestyle elements. Holistic medicine focuses
upon patient education and participation in the healing
process.
The principles of Holistic Medical Practice
Holistic physicians embrace a variety of
safe, effective options in the diagnosis and treatment,
including:
a. education for lifestyle changes and self-care
b. complementary alternatives; and
c. conventional drugs and surgery
Searching for the underlying causes of disease
is preferable to treating symptoms alone.
Holistic physicians expend as much effort in establishing
what kind of patient has a disease as they do in establishing
what kind of disease a patient has.
Holistic Medicine Conventional Medicine
Philosophy Based on the integration of allopathic,
osteopathi, naturopathic, energy, and ethno-medicine. Based
on allopathic medicine
Primary Objective of care To promote optimal health and
as a by-product, to prevent and treat disease. To cure or
mitigate disease
Primary Method of Care Empower patients to heal themselves
by addressing the causes of their disease and facilitating
lifestyle changes through health promotion Focus on the
elimination of physical symptoms
Diagnosis Evaluate the whole person through holistic medical
history, holistic health score sheet, physical exam, lab
data Evaluate the body with history, physical exam, lab
data.
Primary Care Treatment Options Love applied to body, mind,
and spirit with: diet, exercise, environmental measures,
attitudinal and behavioral modifications, relationship and
spiritual counseling, bioenergy enhancement. Drugs and surgery
Primary Method of Care Empower patients to heal themselves
by addressing the causes of their disease and facilitating
lifestyle changes through health promotion Focus on the
elimination of physical symptoms
Diagnosis Evaluate the whole person through holistic medical
history, holistic health score sheet, physical exam, lab
data Evaluate the body with history, physical exam, lab
data.
Primary Care Treatment Options Love applied to body, mind,
and spirit with: diet, exercise, environmental measures,
attitudinal and behavioral modifications, relationship and
spiritual counseling, bioenergy enhancement. Drugs and surgery
Secondary Care Treatment Options Botanical medicine, homeopathy,
acupuncture, manual medicine biomolecular therapies, physical
therapy, drugs, and surgery. Diet exercise, physical therapy,
and stress management.
Weakness Shortage of holistic physicians and training programs;
time-intensive requiring a commitment to a healing process,
not a quick-fix. Ineffective in preventing and curing chronic
disease; expensive.
Strengths Teachers patients to take responsibility for their
own health, and in so doing is: cost-effective in treating
both acute and chronic illness; therapeutic in preventing
and treating chronic disease; essential in creating optimal
health. Highly therapeutic in treating both acute and life-threatening
illness and injuries.
Holistic Medicine has been used by millions
people around the world to :
