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Holistic Medicine
By peace | November 26, 2007
According to many of the world’s holistic health systems, such as naturopathy, homeopathy and Traditional Chinese Medicine, the body has a natural tendency to strive toward equilibrium or ‘homeostasis’, the maintenance of which is the key to good health. When equilibrium is disrupted, holistic practitioners work in close partnership with the patient, focusing on all aspects of the patient’s life to promote self-healing. A common misconception is that holistic healing is the sole preserve of complementary practitioners. In fact, many conventional doctors have a holistic approach, considering patients in the context of their lifestyle, and emphasizing health education and self-care. Psychiatrists and psychologists also give a distinct nod to holistic principles.
On the other hand, not all complementary therapies are inherently ‘holistic’ or ’spiritual’ - terms often used to distinguish them from ‘uncaring’ medical science — nor are they necessarily ‘anti-scientific’ or ‘anti-intellectual’. Some complementary practitioners, for example, might focus on certain physical symptoms in a similar way to conventional doctors, and therapies such as osteopathy and chiropractic are in many ways as practical and grounded in anatomy and pathology as conventional medicine. Because of this confusion of meaning, conventional and complementary practitioners interested in holistic principles often prefer to talk of ‘integrated’ medicine.
An integrated approach can, and often does, combine the best in mainstream medicine and complementary therapy. For instance, while a non-holistic conventional doctor would treat only the symptoms of asthma, prescribing drugs to suppress them, a doctor with an integrated approach would treat the symptoms with medication but also address underlying causee, such as an allergic reaction or anxiety. Cognitive behavioural therapy might be suggested to evolve strategies for coping with asthma attacks, hypnosis to relieve stress, or the purchase of special bedding and vacuum cleaners to minimize housedust mites if they trigger attacks. A complementary practitioner, meanwhile, might prescribe a herbal remedy to relax bronchial muscles, a diet to eliminate food intolerances, acupunture to restore the flow of qi(’life energy’), or massage with essential oils to ease tension and induce relaxation.
Topics: Health |
November 26th, 2007 at 11:44 am
[…] our physical health? At the very heart of science lies a phenomenon that supports the theory of holistic medicine. Belief in a treatment, whether on the part of the patient or practitioner, or simply faith in the […]