Holistic Medicine
The basics.
Holistic medicine is a system of healthcare that based itself on the need to treat the whole person, which includes the physical, mental, emotional and spiritual parts.
Holistic medicine focused on education and the personal responsibility we all have in regards to our own health and well being.
Although holistic medicine has been associated with alternative medicine, complimentary medicine, and natural healing, the holistic approach encourages the use of drugs and surgery when all other alternatives are found to be ineffective.
It really is about using everything that is available to us that will promote good health and even healing.
Holistic medicine teaches us that our entire being, made up of physical, mental, emotional and spiritual areas, needs to be balanced in order to obtain and sustain proper health.
It believes that these areas are fully connected and when one area is out of balance and is suffering, it effects the other areas as well.
For example, the fact that our bodies have a physical response to the thoughts we think or the emotions we feel or the fact that prolonged resentful, angry feelings can actually manifest itself into a physically sick body and even disease.
The same holds true with stress, anxiety and depression. There are very real physical responses that are felt within the body when the mind is not balanced.
The Mind Body Connection is real one! There are many well-known stress related illnesses, learn more by visiting The Affects of Stress on your Health.
In taking the holistic approach, it is important in treating each area for full recovery.
So how does one use holistic medicine in helping themselves get better?
Consider Your Body
Answer these questions:
- What are your body symptoms?
- What is available to you that will help your physical ailments?
When you do your research, you will find that there are many different options available to you. Everything from physical exercises, natural stress relief, as well as learning to eat the right foods for good health. If these safer alternatives don't help, then you always have the option to see your doctor for a conventional medicine.
Consider Your Mind and Emotions
Answer these questions:
- What are you thinking?
- What negative things are you holding onto?
- What is available to you that will help your mental and emotional symptoms?
Again, so many options are before you! Self-talk methods, talk therapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, are some common ways to deal with the mind and emotions. Consider what your needs are before you make a choice.
Common negative emotions are guilt, anger, grief and perfectionism. For more on these negative emotions, visit Emotional Wellness.
If you feel you cannot do it on your own, get help! There are people who are skilled in helping you in this area.
Consider Your Spirit
Answer these questions:
- What are your spiritual beliefs?
- Where does your faith rest?
It is important that you use your faith, especially in times of difficulty. Connecting with someone or something that is bigger than ourselves helps a person to be at peace and become more acceptant of things they cannot change.
Some may help their inner spirit by going to church and reading the bible, while others may simply pray and meditate on "god" according to their understanding.
What Matters Most
Be educated when using holistic medicine! Take control of your physical, mental, emotional and spiritual health. Look at your options and make the best decisions for yourself. The entire purpose of Sound-Mind.org is to help you see the many different options that are before you. They are all very important.
If you have tried many things and you are still not finding the help you need, it could be that you are neglecting one of the areas listed above. Don't just try one thing but be open to trying different things. Recovery is not black and white! What works for you, might not work exactly the same for someone else, so be open to the fact that you are unique and it may take some time finding what helps you the most.
Additional Resources:
American Holistic Health Association The free, impartial wellness resource connecting you to the power of choice. An informative website that offers a Free Holistic Healing and Natural Health Resources from articles, videos, and teaching.
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