A person practicing holistic health care takes into account not just their bodily but also their psychological, social, and spiritual well-being. When it comes to healing individuals, communities, and the planet as a whole, holistic medicine takes a multidisciplinary approach, including elements from many faiths and civilizations.
Integrated, not separated
“Holism” is the view that there is a close relationship between each component of a whole. Holism (meaning “whole” in Greek) posits that studying components alone is meaningless if our goal is to comprehend their interdependence. In the context of health, holistic refers to an approach that considers the whole individual, not only their physical symptoms.
Possible treatments
Surgical procedures, medications, nutritional adjustments, exercise regimens, and psychological and spiritual counseling are all part of holistic care professionals’ toolboxes when it comes to addressing a broad range of health conditions. These experts focus on professional development in holistic therapies (in Spanish – desarrollo profesional en terapias holísticas), including massage and acupuncture, to help you deal with any issues you may be facing and suggest complementary treatments based on scientific data. If you’re dealing with chronic pain, for instance, a holistic doctor may give medicine or suggest surgery to fix the damage, but they may also advise you to exercise more to boost endorphins naturally. They will also ask about your eating habits and the ways in which certain foods might cause inflammation. Also, you need to tell them everything about your experience with stress, anxiety, and depression, all of which may contribute to or be exacerbated by pain. After that, they may suggest acupuncture for nerve discomfort, massage for muscular relaxation, or mindful meditation for stress and pain reduction.
Types of holistic doctors
A number of practitioners who specialize in holistic medicine also possess medical degrees. You may be wondering what the difference is between them. As an example, if you have an exacerbating migraine, a holistic doctor will investigate all possible causes of it rather than just prescribing you medications. This integrative medicine could include your spiritual practices, nutrition, sleep patterns, stress levels, and other health issues. Drugs to alleviate symptoms may be part of a holistic treatment strategy, but adjustments to one’s way of life may be necessary to prevent headaches from coming back. Examples of holistic doctors include naturopathic doctors, osteopaths, chiropractors, and integrative physicians.
Benefits of holistic medicine
Tailored medical assistance
When treating a patient, holistic practitioners look at the whole person, not only their symptoms. Doctors may use this information to tailor their suggestions to each patient.
Building a trusting relationship
When caring for their patients, holistic practitioners put the patient’s needs first and see them as more than just a collection of symptoms. Building trust between patient and doctor is an important goal of this concept.
Emancipation of patients
Patients are given the tools they need to become active participants in their own healthcare when a holistic perspective is taken. Although everyone is aware that they should improve their diet and increase their physical activity, few truly do what is necessary to achieve their wellness goals.
The term holistic medicine refers to a kind of medical treatment that focuses on well-being of the whole individual. From conventional medicine to complementary and alternative therapies (herbs, massage, etc.), it encompasses a wide range of unique techniques. Holistic medicine wants to get to the root of the problem, not just the symptoms, and this is sometimes the difference between health and issues.