Holistic medicine is a form of alternative medicine that has shown to be extremely effective in treating a broad range of health conditions and disorders.
The term “holistic” refers to the act of dealing with the whole of something. Holistic medicine, therefore, treats the entire body, rather than individual parts of it.
In addition to treating the body physically through alternative medicine and therapies, holistic treatment also involves treating a person spiritually and emotionally.
If you want to learn more about holistic treatment, including how it can heal your body and mind, then you’re in the right place. Here’s how it can help you:
What Does Holistic Medicine Treat?
The conditions that holistic medicine can be used to treat are myriad.
It has been shown that a holistic program can be effective in treating recovering addicts, people with immune disorders, and even cancer patients.
The broad range of conditions that holistic medicine can be used to treat makes it unlike any other form of healthcare treatment or therapy.
Part of the reason that holistic medicine is so effective is that it addresses the entire body, rather than individual parts of it.
Proponents of holistic medicine believe that by treating the entire body, it’s easier to totally eliminate diseases and illnesses.
Types of Holistic Treatments
There are many different types of holistic treatments. Because they are used to treat the entire body, patients usually undergo a range of different therapies.
Most holistic treatments are performed while under supervision, although it’s possible for a patient to practice certain treatments at home.
The main types of holistic treatments utilized are:
- Acupuncture
- Ayurveda
- Homeopathy
- Naturopathy
- Chinese medicine
- Chiropractic and osteopathic medicine
- Massage
- Body movement therapies
- Yoga
- Tai chi
- Electromagnetic therapy
- Qigong
- Reiki
- Meditation
- Biofeedback
- Hypnosis
- Art
- Music and dance
- Visualization and guided imagery
Principles of Holistic Medicine
Peak Performance
The primary goal of holistic medicine is to achieve optimal health and peak performance, which can only be done through self-care.
The human body is a machine. Like all machines, it needs to be taken care of properly. Many people treat their bodies awfully.
Holistic medicine seeks to teach people the importance of improving self-care.
Total Transformation
When you work with a holistic practitioner, they will teach you the importance of addressing all of your bodily, mental, and spiritual issues.
Only by addressing all of these things will you be able to totally transform your health. If your body isn’t in harmony, then it won’t be able to function at peak performance.
Love and Care
In order for holistic medicine to work, it’s important that you love yourself (and your body).
The practitioner that you work with will teach you about the importance of love and care.
For holistic therapies to work, you must approach them with an open heart and compassion; you must be willing to change the way that you perceive yourself and the world.
Bodily Harmony
As already mentioned, in order for holistic medicine to work, the body must achieve total harmony.
This can only be done by uniting one’s body, physically, mentally, and spiritually. If the body isn’t in perfect unison, then it can’t achieve peak performance.
Prevention
As the old adage goes, prevention is better than cure. This is especially true in the eyes of proponents of holistic medicine.
While it can be used to treat health conditions, it’s often better to embark upon a pathway of holistic treatment before diseases arise, in order to prevent them.
Healing Power
Another principle of holistic medicine is that the body has a natural healing power that can be harnessed and used to prevent and fight disease.
The body will heal on its own if it is allowed to do so. Much in the same way that muscles recover after an intense workout, so too will the body recover from anything, as long as it is given the ability to do so.
Unique Individuality
Every person is different. Holistic practitioners understand this, which is why while using traditional and trusted techniques, they still adapt treatment to every person and their nuances.
Lifetime Learning
Holistic medicine isn’t something that you can master in a day. It’s a craft that you (and the practitioner that you work with), learn over an entire lifetime.
If you want to reap the benefits of holistic medicine, then you need to remain persistent and do your best to learn as much as you can, which you can do by working closely with a holistic practitioner.
Benefits of Holistic Medicine
Improved lifestyle changes
This is one of the main benefits that you can expect to receive when you begin practicing holistic medicine.
The reason for this is that there is a heavy focus on eliminating toxins and unhealthy habits from your diet.
This is partly why holistic medicine is so effective at treating people suffering from drug addictions.
Eating organic food, drinking lots of water, and practicing meditation can significantly improve your lifestyle and help you to deal with your emotions, health, and daily life in a much better way.
Prevention of diseases is better than cure
As already mentioned, when you are practicing holistic medicine, your body is a lot stronger. The reason for this is that you eliminate unhealthy habits and practices from your life.
By focusing on improving your health, it is better equipped to deal with any diseases or illnesses that come your way.
Reduced stress and anxiety
It is something that you can expect when participating in holistic therapy.
Stress and anxiety are some of the world’s most prolific killers because it leads to high blood pressure, heart disease, and sometimes suicide. It is also extremely common in our modern world.
Communal assistance
This can be expected when practicing holistic medicine.
The reason for this is that there is a very large network of proponents for holistic medicine that can be found online and offline.
You won’t be short of friends, advocates, and people to talk to.
Final Thoughts
Holistic medicine can transform your life if you let it. As this article shows, there are many different styles and types of holistic medicine.
The style of treatment that you incorporate into your life depends largely upon the conditions that you are suffering from or what you want to achieve.