What is holistic medicine and does it work?

Holistic medicine professionals believe that the whole person is made up of interdependent parts and that if one part does not work properly, all other parts will be affected. This way, if people have imbalances (physical, emotional, or spiritual) in their lives, this can negatively affect their overall health. The word holistic means “dealing with the whole. From this definition, we understand that holistic medicine implies the well-being of the whole person.

A holistic practitioner will treat not only the physical ailment or condition, but also the emotional, mental, and even spiritual aspects that aggravate the condition. Holistic medicine is an approach to healing that considers the whole person; not just the body, but also the mind, spirit, and emotions. It seeks to find a balance in the physical and emotional state of the body that optimizes health and well-being. Holistic medicine is a healing method that focuses on the person as a whole, rather than just treating a specific health condition.

Holistic providers also aim to prevent health problems from developing by covering the health of body, mind and spirit. Holistic medicine is an attitudinal approach to health care rather than a particular set of techniques. It addresses the psychological, family, social, ethical and spiritual, as well as biological dimensions of health and illness. The holistic approach emphasizes the uniqueness of each patient, the reciprocity of the doctor-patient relationship, the responsibility of each person for their own health care and the responsibility of society for health promotion.

A holistic doctor usually has a medical history, but focuses first on prevention and treatment second. Some people believe that the word holistic should be spelled “holistic,” which means that the doctor has information about a patient's lifelong situation. If you visit a holistic doctor, you can expect them to ask you a lot of questions that you don't think are directly related to the condition you have come for treatment. While holistic medicine has many benefits, keep in mind that it's not necessarily a substitute for traditional health care.

Percival also suggested a holistic approach to patient care in his book, the first textbook on medical ethics, first published in 1803. Patients tend to feel more satisfied if a doctor takes a holistic approach, feeling that their doctor has time for them and their problems. However, they also have a holistic health philosophy, which means that they believe that the body functions as interconnected systems and that optimal health for the whole person includes the balance not only of the body, but also of the mind and spirit. Naturopathic medicine often uses holistic medicine philosophies to treat the whole person's body, emotions, and spirit. Smith T, Patel T, Akpan A, et al; An Outreach Review of Holistic Community Interventions for Older People with Multimorbidity.

Today, holistic professionals have to undergo rigorous training similar to that of a doctor, but with a focus on herbal therapies, environmental issues and nutrition, in addition to conventional medication. Due to its restorative and self-healing approach, naturopathy is also often used in integrative medicine and holistic medicine, which encompasses conventional medicine in combination with other medical modalities to achieve comprehensive health of the person. CentreSpring MD, formerly known as Atlanta Center for Holistic and Integrative Medicine, provides the best healthcare by using an integrative approach to finding the patient center, its core, allowing you to move toward health. It should be noted that they seemed to be practicing holistically, but not necessarily labeling their practice as “holistic”.

Because of this, many people are recognizing the need to restore and maintain a person's holistic and holistic health. Look for one that offers certification and degree programs in a variety of holistic and alternative medicine therapies. .

Lynette Onusko
Lynette Onusko

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