What is holistic medicine?
Holistic medicine addresses the entire person including the mind, body and spirit. Holistic medicine can encompass a range of conventional and alternative natural therapies that look at not only symptoms but the underlying causes. Symptoms or illnesses are not viewed or treated in isolation but seen as a sign of imbalance or dysfunction in the body.
Why choose holistic medicine?
Holistic medicine also has a particular focus on the education of the patient and their own involvement in the healing process. Holistic medicine will often involve personalised treatment plans that recognise the individual’s personal needs and requirements. Overall, holistic medicine works to treat and prevent disease and promote optimal health and wellbeing by including physical, nutritional, environmental, emotional, and spiritual and lifestyle elements.
A holistic GP
A holistic doctor takes a “whole body” approach and will not only treat your physical health but will also look for ways to improve your emotional and spiritual health and wellbeing. Unlike most GPs, a holistic doctor will look at a range of factors, such as diet, exercise and lifestyle factors and even consider various natural therapies. Therapies many be used in conjunction with each other to get to the root cause of the problem.
Natural therapies that take a holistic approach
There is a range of natural therapies and alternative medicines that take a holistic approach to health. These may be recommended as a way to achieve total health and harmony across all aspects of your wellbeing.
Ayurveda is an Indian therapeutic practice that’s over 2500 years old. Ayurveda teaches Beauty, health, happiness and longevity are achievable only by understanding how all aspects of one’s life contribute to balance of the body and mind. Ayurevda is a holistic medicine that marries physical, emotion and spiritual health.
Ayurvedic treatments incorporate rejuvenation therapy, vitamin supplementation, massage, meditation, body care, diet, exercise, yoga and herbal medicine, which work to have profound and long-lasting effects on the body, mind and spirit.
Homoeopathic remedies are made from a collection of plants, herbs, minerals and animal parts to restore harmony and help the body heal itself. Homoeopathy is another form of holistic medicine that aims to stimulate a healing response to disease by administering specially prepared substances that mimic the symptoms of disease in healthy people.
Homoeopathy is able to assist with symptoms of a range of illnesses including allergies, asthma, eczema, hay fever, headaches, stress and respiratory infections. Homoeopathy takes a holistic approach to health by considering the whole person, including personality, lifestyle and hereditary factors as well as the history of the disease.
Naturopathy is another alternative medicine that favours a holistic approach. Naturopathy uses nutrition and natural remedies and draws on the body’s ability to heal itself. A naturopath will use various techniques and modalities, including blood analysis, herbal medicine, iridology and more. Naturopathy favours minimal use of surgery and drugs and advocates natural means to support the body and restore balance.
