Health care is a major concern for nearly everyone in the modern world. As the number of options grow, so can the confusion about which choices are best for each person. An increasing number of people are turning to the less traditional methods of holistic health care to meet their needs. While this term is widely used, there is still a considerable lack of clarity on what it actually is.
The key to understanding what holistic health care is lies in the term "wholeness". The goal of this model, as with any others, is to prevent and treat illness and disease. The difference between this and traditional Western medicine is in how it is approached.
While conventional health care focuses mainly on the physical aspects of disease, holistic disciplines widen that view. It encompasses the mental, emotional, environmental, nutritional and spiritual aspects of the patient in addition to the physical. The aim is to preserve, maintain and restore health in all of these areas. Ideally, all of these aspects are fully integrated into the treatment regimen, with no single part of the person being neglected.
Another difference is the emphasis on the patient playing a vital role is their own treatment. Rather than being one who receives help from the physician, the person being treated is seen as part of the medical team in a sense. They are expected and encouraged to be an active participant, not a passive receiver. They will be taught methods to help themselves to work in conjunction with the treatments that they are being given.
Yet another distinction lies in where the attack is being focused. The emphasis here is on getting at the root of the issue and working on the underlying issues that are causing the problems, not simply on trying to make the symptoms go away. A big part of this is the patient making changes to aspects of their lifestyle that may be contributing to their unhealthy condition.
Of the many types of holistic health care that exist, chiropractic care is one of the more well-known. One who goes for such a treatment is likely to have adjustments made to their spine where the physician determines to be the origin of the problems. They are also liable to be instructed on a variety of basic exercise that they are to do at home that will play an important role in their healing.
Another relatively familiar option is massage therapy. While many view massage as a luxurious way to relax, its benefits go well beyond that. This type of therapy is being employed as effective treatment method for many different types of disorders.
Along with these two types come a multitude of others. Acupuncture and reflexology have gained a solid foothold in the Western world, while aromatherapy and hypnotherapy are doing the same. A number of energy-based techniques are gaining popularity too, including therapeutic touch, energy balancing and Reiki. Even these are just the tip of the iceberg of the offerings that one can find.
The demand for holistic health care is on the increase. As more people look for new alternatives to care for themselves, these types of approaches are gaining esteem and acceptance. This is likely to continue as more people experience benefits that are mental, physical, spiritual and beyond.
The key to understanding what holistic health care is lies in the term "wholeness". The goal of this model, as with any others, is to prevent and treat illness and disease. The difference between this and traditional Western medicine is in how it is approached.
While conventional health care focuses mainly on the physical aspects of disease, holistic disciplines widen that view. It encompasses the mental, emotional, environmental, nutritional and spiritual aspects of the patient in addition to the physical. The aim is to preserve, maintain and restore health in all of these areas. Ideally, all of these aspects are fully integrated into the treatment regimen, with no single part of the person being neglected.
Another difference is the emphasis on the patient playing a vital role is their own treatment. Rather than being one who receives help from the physician, the person being treated is seen as part of the medical team in a sense. They are expected and encouraged to be an active participant, not a passive receiver. They will be taught methods to help themselves to work in conjunction with the treatments that they are being given.
Yet another distinction lies in where the attack is being focused. The emphasis here is on getting at the root of the issue and working on the underlying issues that are causing the problems, not simply on trying to make the symptoms go away. A big part of this is the patient making changes to aspects of their lifestyle that may be contributing to their unhealthy condition.
Of the many types of holistic health care that exist, chiropractic care is one of the more well-known. One who goes for such a treatment is likely to have adjustments made to their spine where the physician determines to be the origin of the problems. They are also liable to be instructed on a variety of basic exercise that they are to do at home that will play an important role in their healing.
Another relatively familiar option is massage therapy. While many view massage as a luxurious way to relax, its benefits go well beyond that. This type of therapy is being employed as effective treatment method for many different types of disorders.
Along with these two types come a multitude of others. Acupuncture and reflexology have gained a solid foothold in the Western world, while aromatherapy and hypnotherapy are doing the same. A number of energy-based techniques are gaining popularity too, including therapeutic touch, energy balancing and Reiki. Even these are just the tip of the iceberg of the offerings that one can find.
The demand for holistic health care is on the increase. As more people look for new alternatives to care for themselves, these types of approaches are gaining esteem and acceptance. This is likely to continue as more people experience benefits that are mental, physical, spiritual and beyond.