Holistic healing means taking an holistic approach when seeking
treatment for imbalances and choosing to live a more balanced
lifestyle. What primarily distinguishes holistic healing apart from
alternative medicine, complementary medicine, and integrative medicine
is that physical health is not necessarily the main focus. Even so, it
is often the experience of physical discomfort that will first prompt a
person's pursuit of holistic healing.
It is true that our pains and other physical discomforts demand our
attention. This is where the saying "sticking out like a sore thumb'"
originated from. It is difficult to ignore the obvious when we are
physically hurting. Common sense tells us that we should seek help to
alleviate our discomforts. Holistic healing is not an "alternative" to
conventional medical care. Sometimes going to a medical professional is
the best solution to addressing a dis-ease.
Physical illnesses are the symptoms of a greater imbalance that may or may not have a root cause in the physical.
Holistic or "wholistic" healing addresses all parts of the
individual, not just the physical aspect of a person where manifested
illnesses are most apparent. Holistic healing is not intended to serve
as a band-aid or a one time fix. It is an ongoing journey of discovery
in search of more answers and ultimately; living better, being
healthier, and striving for wholeness.
- Basic Holistic Health Checkup
- Six Steps from Dis-ease to Living Better
Holistic Healing Goes Beyond the Mind-Body Connection:
Holistic healing is really a lifestyle approach. The holistic
approach goes far beyond the Mind-Body connection of finding and
maintaining wellness. Overall wellness AND "wholeness" is highly valued.
All parts of a person's life (physical healing, mental health and
wellness, emotional well-being, and spiritual beliefs and values) are
considered. Taking a holistic approach involves seeking the tools that
will help us attract our desires and find personal power.
A person who embraces the desire to find wholeness within his own
being soon learns the importance of tending to relationships, caring for
the planet and our environments, having compassion for humankind in
general, and accepting and tolerating differences among a diverse
population of people.
- Ways to Calm an Anxious Spirit
- Self Empowerment
Role of the Holistic Healer:
The holistic healer recognizes that our discomforts or pains are
merely symptoms of an imbalance. The imbalance could be a physical
issue, the result of abusing the physical body through an unhealthy
diet, lack of exercise, or too little sleep. Or, the imbalance may be
the result of mental, emotional, or spiritual needs not being met. No
aspect (mind, body, spirit, or emotions) of a person is overlooked when
an holistic treatment is sought.
The holistic healer looks at the "whole person" in order to make his
or her complete evaluation and uses all information gathered before
suggested treatments to the client are offered. Keep in mind, not all
holistic healers are equal, each has his or her own specialty or
expertise to offer. It will benefit you to shop around for a good fit.
Choosing to go to a holistic healer is no different from choosing a
medical professional. You decide.
- How to Pick the Perfect Holistic Health Practitioner for You
- Business Strategies for Holistic Practitioners
Types of Holistic Healing Therapies and Treatments:
The types of holistic therapies available are extensive. Among them are:
- aromatherapy
- Ayurveda medicine
- natural diet
- exercise
- spiritual counseling
- vibrational medicine
- homeopathy
- acupuncture
- naturopathic medicine
- bodywork
- energy-based therapies
- prayerful intention
- Chinese medicine
Definition of Alternative Medicine
Alternative Medicine is a term used when therapies are presented as an option to conventional or Western medical treatments.
Definition of Complementary Medicine
Complementary Medicine is a term used when therapies are being used in
conjunction with conventional or Western medical treatments.
Definition of Integrative Medicine
Integrative Medicine was the new "buzz" term first used primarily by
mainstreamers in the 1990s. This was a time when more medical
professionals were opening their eyes to the Mind-Body connection.
Alternative therapies were no longer being judged as quackery or
far-afield from acceptable. Some therapies were being integrated into
the mainstream. Massage therapy, acupuncture, meditation and
visualization, and chiropractic medicine were among the first therapies
to be integrated into established medical care programs.
