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The Holistic Approach

The Holistic approach to health encompasses both the physical aspect of life as well as its spiritual aspects. It analyzes the body as a complete whole instead of by its individual parts. In order for the body to experience health the body and soul must attain a state of perfect harmony. This is accomplished by establishing a cooperative and balanced relationship between all the individual components of the human mechanism: physical, emotional, social, mental and spiritual elements.

Instead of focusing on a specific illness or the part of the body which is ill, the Holistic approach is to examine the entire individual and to evaluate how the person interacts with his/her environment in relation to that which is out of balance, or ill. By taking the perspective that the body is naturally oriented toward equilibrium it makes sense that the manner in which good health is sustained by maintaining the body in this state of homeostasis. Therefore, holistic healing attempts to arrive at the pinnacle of physical function by assisting all body parts to be at their ultimate level of individual function. And this is achieved more effectively by the personal input of the patient than by that of the physician.

Holistic healing and concepts started in India and China over 5,000 years ago. The practitioners of this art promoted healthy lifestyles that worked in tandem with the world (nature) around us. It is apparent that Socrates himself shared in these beliefs, four hundred years before Christ, as he suggested that the body should be taken as a whole organism and not by its individual components. But it wasn’t until 1926 when Jan Christiaan Smuts introduced the term “holistic” when referring to this perspective of viewing the body as more than just a sum of parts. Finally, by the 1970s holistic medicine began to be accepted as an acceptable method of alternative medicine.

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Herbal Remedies for Anxiety and Depression

Anxiety and depression are ongoing disorders in the United States that continue to be treated by psychologists and psychiatrists alike in a variety of ways. There is some debate as to whether counseling therapy or drugs are the most effective manner for treating or curing these problems. For the most part drugs are seen as means of treating the symptoms but not curing the root cause.
In the world of alternative medicine herbal remedies are generally preferred over drugs. First of all they offer a solution that does not grow out of pharmaceutically based drugs which quite often have side effects that hurt rather than ameliorate the symptoms people are suffering with. Though the herbal remedies like their pharmaceutical cousins don’t claim to cure anxiety or depression, they do assist in alleviating the symptoms which can so drastically affect those afflicted with these disorders.
In place of the medications like the selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) such as flouxetine (commonly known as Prozac) and sertraline (Zoloft), herbal alternative are available. There are over the counter herbs like Valerian Root or Winter Cherry and Passionflower that help lessen the effects of anxiety and depression.
A very popular alternative for years now continues to be St. John’s Wort for those suffering from mild forms of anxiety and depression. Passionflower has a calming effect which in concentrations of 200 mg is quite effective in treating anxiety. Finally Valerian Root, a supplement taken to help prevent insomnia also has possible beneficial effects for those dealing with anxiety, though there is little scientific study to completely support this.
Though these herbal remedies have little to no side effects common with many of the stronger pharmaceutical options, they still offer significant benefits. Some herbs, however, can interact adversely with prescription drugs, so consulting with a doctor before taking them is always advisable.

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Alternative vs. Conventional Medicine

Alternative Medicine is generally accepted as health practices that replace and are yet incompatible with conventional medical knowledge based on Western thought and science. There is however room for what is referred to as “complementary” medicine. In this case, complementary medicine is the use of nontraditional approaches mixed with traditional methods of healing. Alternative medicine is the term used to express only the use of nontraditional techniques.
Alternative medicine is generally an outgrowth of practices from ancient societies like China and acupuncture, or Ayurvedic diet adjustments or the Hindu belief in yoga: connecting the mind, body and spirit.
Holistic medicine also embraces this concept of mind, body and spirit when it comes to healing. In this case it can be either alternative or complementary. Those like Dr. Deepak Chopra practice medicine of this fashion, preferring alternative methods but not completely severing ties to conventional medicine. Nevertheless, Dr. Chopra’s teachings have remained controversial within the medical community.
Massage is another example of alternative medical practices, as are chiropractic and meditation techniques. There is also Tai Chi a form of spiritual healing and aromatherapy which holds similar ideas. There are many other forms of alternative medicine. Even regular everyday people practice a form of it when they take vitamins each day without consulting a physician first. There are many nutritional supplements people turn to when they catch a cold. When they do this instead of seeing a doctor they are practicing their own form of alternative medicine.
One approach used in some of these alternative approaches to medicine is to label vitamins and herbal supplements as “nutritional supplements.” No being classified as medications these supplements are not placed under the same scrutiny as those which are. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) does not have to meet clinical trial standards and though they may have some positive effects, they are not of the same caliber as their conventional medical counterparts.

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A Few Ayurvedic Food Classifications

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Ayurvedic principles are based primarily on nutritional balance and the unique needs of the individual in acquiring this balance. Diet is the key component to achieving this balance and those who practice Ayurvedic principles design diets based on several factors including: gender, age, body tissue strength, digestive fires, the level of toxins, or “ama” in the system and what they refer to as “doshic” tendencies.
Despite the individual approach, there are some universal principles that are generally followed in the Ayurvedic method.
There are six basic tastes that are applied to all foods. These classifications are: sweet, bitter, sour, pungent, salty and astringent. It is recommended that all six of these types are consumed in each meal. These tastes each have their own balancing components which help minimize food cravings and keep digestion and appetite in check. In North America we have a tendency to consume too much of the salty, sweet and sour foods while avoiding those which are pungent, bitter and astringent.
Ideally foods from each category are eaten. Using vegetables as an example, carrots would provide sweet, lemons sour, endive the bitter, radish or ginger root provide the pungent and broccoli or cabbage the astringent.
Other diet principles include the classification of food by heavy or light, liquid or dry and warm or cool. Different combinations of these categories provide the differing balances in the doshas. Using the overall principles discussed at this point, some of each physical property should be eaten at major meals. However, these can be varied to accommodate for individual needs of balance.
Another category of food is how they affect the mind, heart, spirit and senses- the non-physical components of the physiology. There are sattvic foods which uplift and stabilize; there are the rajasic foods which stimulate the mind, senses and the heart; and finally the tamasic foods which cause lethargy and deter spiritual growth. Sattvic foods are generally considered useful in producing mental clarity and emotional and sensual balance. They also help the coordinated functions of the body, heart, senses, spirit and mind. Sattvic foods are items such as honey, mung beans, rice and almonds, and fresh leafy green vegetables.

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The Chiropractic Approach to Good Health

Chiropractic Medicine is seen as an alternative medical practice. It actually attempts to focus on preventing, diagnosing and treating mechanical disorders of the muscle and skeletal systems of the body. In addition it also treats the functions of the nervous system which are affected by the mechanical disorders of the musculoskeletal system.
Chiropractic treatment is usually accomplished through manual therapy which is accomplished by adjusting the spine and joints as well as the manipulation of soft tissues adjacent to these areas. The results, particularly those that affect the nervous system, are based on the concept that they are directly affected by spinal dysfunctions and Vertebral Subluxation. Adjustments in these areas positively affect the nervous system as well as positively affecting other physical ailments. The basis of this treatment is in the concept that there is a direct connection between the body’s structure and its ability to function properly, as well as the overall impact that the body’s neurology has on good health.
Having started in the U.S. in 1895, the chiropractic practice has now spread to over 100 countries around the world. And though its practice is so wide-spread, it continues to be controversial in both the scientific and medical communities. This has been particularly problematic since many founding concepts of chiropractic medicine employed a metaphysical as well as a neuromusculoskeletal approach to the treatment.
Chiropractors typically implement a dual treatment plan that is designed around the patient’s needs. They integrate both a treatment schedule with a management plan that attempts to bring together the health of the patient and his lifestyle so that he experiences optimum physical function. Though today joint and spinal manipulations are the primary treatments of Chiropractors this type of practice actually dates back to ancient China. Now the manipulative technique is used in conjunction with osteopathic medicine to produce superior chiropractic results.

Filed Under: Alternative Medicine, Herbal Treatment Tagged With: Alternative medicine, Chiropractic, Health, Vertebral Subluxation

The Early History of Acupuncture

The earliest records of acupuncture date back to a text written in the second century BC. It’s exact origins within China are not known, though it believed it was discovered by soldiers who were hit by arrows that helped cure chronic pain.
The practice can be traced back to as far as the Stone Age where sharpened stones called Bian shi were used as the first instruments of acupuncture. But it wasn’t until the second century BC that metal needles replaced those of stone and bone. The earliest text in China that actually described acupuncture was the Yellow Emperor’s Classic of Internal Medicine compiled between 305 and 204 BC.
The text doesn’t distinguish between acupuncture and another medicinal practice called moxibustion. (This treatment involved dried mugwort rolled into cigar shapes and burned onto a patient’s skin). Both treatments are described in the text, the sharp stones being used to open abscesses moxibustion used like acupuncture. By the second century BC the moxibustion was replaced by traditional forms of acupuncture for systemic conditions.
Though its roots are in China it is possible that an understanding of acupuncture concepts existed elsewhere in Eurasia during the Bronze Age. The mummified body of Otzi the Iceman in discovered in Europe has been found to have tattoos on his body. Many of these tattoos are located in acupuncture points used today. This seems to indicate that this practice may have been used outside of China during his time.
By 1023 Emperor Renzong of the Song Dynasty had bronze statuettes produced which depict the meridian and acupuncture sites used in that day. However, following the Song Dynasty acupuncture began to fade as medications began to take its place as the most important form of healing. It was soon thought of as a practice similar to shamanism and moxibustion which had fallen in medical prestige

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Ancient Holistic Medicine Treatments

Holistic medicine primarily focuses on a person as a whole, and not just one specific area of the body. Holistic practitioners believe that healing the body from the inside is just as important as treating the outside. There were many ancient methods that were used in holistic medicine that continue to be used today.

Ear coning, also known as ear candling, was a technique used to heal a person. A hollow candle that is tapered at one end is placed into an ear. The opposite end is lit with a flame and works to vacuum or suction ear wax residue out of the ear. While there is no medical evidence to report the effectiveness of this method, there are many people that use this technique regularly to clean out their ears.

Huna is a technique that originated in Hawaii and involves a person connecting with his or her highest power within themselves. There are seven principles of Huna (IKE, KALA, MAKIA, MANAWA, ALOHA, MANA and PONO) that must be learned in order to bring about healing and harmony within the body. These principles become the key to happiness and health for many when they are learned and accepted by a person.

Speleotherapy is a treatment for respiratory diseases that utilizes the air found in caves. The air in caves is usually quite low in dust, which sometimes causes allergic reactions or asthma in people. The elimination of dust in these areas causes people’s bodies to heal naturally.

Trepanation was an ancient form of healing that involved drilling holes into a person’s head in order to improve or fix problems with the cranium. This technique was mainly used to treat people that had major head trauma. The edges around the hole would become smooth and a spongy kind of bone would grow in between the holes.

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Types of Holistic Medicine

Holistic medicine focuses on treating a person as a whole. This means that holistic medicine works to heal a person on the outside as well as the inside, including their energy and mind. There are many different types of holistic medicine that is widely practiced today.

Ayurveda is a form of treatment that focuses on the five elements: air, fire, water, earth and ether. The Ayurveda method believes that if any of these five systems are off in one’s body, that the body is then imbalanced. It is said that this system works to prevent illness and preserve one’s life.

Reiki is another holistic medicinal approach used widely. This Japanese method practices relieving stress and improving relaxation in order to heal the body. A Reiki healer practices “laying on hands” which says that the flow of energy can pass from one person to another. It also says that if a person’s energy is low, that is when they will suffer stress or illness. If the energy is high, then a person experiences happiness and relaxation.

Osteopathy is another form of holistic medicine that treats a person’s whole body. People practicing osteopathy believe that the body has its own healing devices, and that the healer must work to activate this healing process in a person. Osteopathy uses the musculoskeletal system and works to manipulate it so that the body can start its healing process.

While there are many different treatments used in holistic medicine, you must work with others in order to find out the right method you can use. Try experimenting with different techniques and observe those that currently go through treatment. Get recommendations from people on what type of holistic healers they prefer, and you may find the perfect doctor for you.

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Types of Alternative Medicine

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According to The National Center for Complemetary and Alternative Medicne (NCCAM), there are five types of alternative medicine: Energy Therapies, Alternative Medical Systems, Mind-Body Interventions, Manipulative and Body-Based Methods and Biologically-Based Therapies.

Energy therapies work to produce energy fields in two different way. Biofield therapies work to use energy fields surrounding the body. Examples of this type of alternative medicine include practices like Reiki and Qi gong. The second type of energy therapy used is Bioelectromagnetic-based therapy which involves the use of electromagnetic fields such as pulsed fields or magnetic fields.

Alternative medical systems are based on theory and practice. Acupuncture, Homeopathy, Naturopathic Medicine and traditional Chinese medicine. These methods work to heal a person of a particular ailment by mainly activating another part of the body so that the healing process may begin.

Mind-Body interventions are techniques that focus on the belief that one’s mind has the power to affect the body and the symptoms it is experiencing. Examples of this type of alternative medicine include support groups, art therapy, herbal medicine and energy healing.

Manipulative and body-based methods are forms of alternative medicine that involve manipulating and/or moving one’s body parts in order to heal. Acupressure, chiropractics, massage therapy, osteopathy, reflexology and therapeutic touch (which involves using the hands over the body without making contact) are some of the techniques used in this type of alternative medicine.

Biologically-Based alternative therapies use natural substances such as food, herbs and vitamins. By focusing on diet, diet supplements, herbs and vitamins, the body can then work to heal itself naturally, without any of the artificial ingredients found in traditional medicinal drugs.

The best way to heal yourself through alternative medicine is to find a method that works best for you.

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Finding the Right Holistic Healer

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Holistic medicine focuses on the body as a whole. There are many types of holistic healers out there, each practicing something different. But what can you expect from holistic healers? What should you look for? In order to get the correct treatment, you need to find that perfect person out there that can treat you effectively.

With any type of holistic healer, you need to feel comfortable and safe around them. If you are not relaxed, they can not properly perform their duties of administering their holistic medicine techniques. First, you want to make sure that their voice is soothing and comfortable to you. If they seem to judge you or your symptoms, they may not be the right healer for you. Did the healer take their time talking to you or try to rush you? You want someone that can comfort you and listen to what your ailments are. Holistic medicine focuses the mind and spirit as well as the body.

When visiting your healer in person, take note as to whether they really listen to you. Do they genuinely seem to care about your problems? Do they seem relaxed themselves? If you feel comfortable telling them everything about you, then they may be the right person for you.

Holistic medicine comes in many forms, and there are a lot of different treatment methods to try. If you are using a hands-on approach such as Reiki, make sure the healer you choose is not rough or does not hurt you. Holistic medicine is about natural healing methods, and reducing or eliminating stress. If you feel that your healer is stressing you out or causing more problems, it is okay to go and find another healer that you mesh better with.

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