Holistic Healthcare in a Nutshell

Holistic Health is rising once again, as more and more people will turn to alternative or natural treatments to reverse illnesses or habits, to maintain health or to become even healthier than before on all levels, physically, mentally and spiritually. So, what exactly is holistic health and where does it come from?

Holistic health care addresses the entire body, mind and spirit to bring it to its optimal level of performance. As Socrates said back in the very early days in the 4th Century B.C. "the part can never be well unless the whole is well." Holistic healing can be categorized in 5 major areas:

Alternative Medical Systems: These include holistic and naturopathic medicines from  Western and ancient Eastern medicines (Chinese & Ayurvedic)

Mind Body Intervention: These include therapies affecting the mind and spirit which will then have a therapeutic effect on the body. Examples in this category are color-, aroma-, dance-, art-,music – and hypnotherapy.

Biologically-Based Therapies: Use of natural substances to improve and enhance the bodies function as a whole including mind and spirit. These therapies include, herbs/herbal products, food, vitamins and other natural substances.

Manipulative and Body-Based Methods: Focus on the healing through the body’s movement and muscle work such as massage therapy, chiropractic and osteopathic manipulation.

Energy Therapies: Work to balance out energetic flow in the body and thus improve performance of body/mind and spirit. Techniques include Chakra healing, Yoga, Qigong, Tai Chi etc, Crystal healing, reiki etc..

In the earliest times of human history people relied on natural resources to keep themselves healthy and to treat ailments and diseases. Techniques like aroma therapy, food, massage therapy and many other have been recorded from ancient civilizations throughout times. All knowledge is believed to have its roots from these three major ancient traditions/regions:

Ayurveda – An Ancient East Indian Healing tradition, focusing mainly on energy and herbal/food healing for the main goal to find balance on all levels (mind.body/spirit)

Herbal Medicine - Practiced from Mid East to Far East - Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda. Healing properties of plants used as medicine.

Western Herbalism- Originated in ancient Greece and Rom and later spread through Europe and eventually to the entire American continent.  Healing properties of plants used as medicine.

Holistic health care had its rough eras throughout our history; especially in Europe and America, where it was banned because of certain religious beliefs and also had its setback once scientific medicine took over and it was glorified to the extent that it was believed to be more effective over natural treatments. (around 1920’s-1970’s)

Since the 70’s holistic healthcare once again gained attention and has been on the rise. There have been many studies, reports, researches and testimonials that prove that holistic health is more beneficial to keep people healthy and prevent diseases from occurring, whereas scientific medicine mainly focuses on eliminating a problem or even just symptoms with the great possibility to cause more harm than good. This explains the holistic health motto: “first, do no harm”.

• sources:

http://www.examiner.com/holistic-health-in-national/the-history-of-naturopathic-medicine

http://www.naturalhealers.com/qa/holistic-health-history.html

http://www.healingchoicesonline.com/