Holistic Health is a concept that is found in both modern day medicine as well as alternative medicine practices. In general the concept is to practice healing with consideration for the whole of the human being. In modern medical practice, treatment should take into consideration the person’s physical, psychological and sociological condition for treatment. In alternative medical practice a holistic approach takes into consideration the whole of the human as a being that is part of a physical, mental, emotional, spiritual entity, involved in sociological and environmental conditions.http://medicineworld.org/alternative/holistichealth.html

Holistic health has been the standard practice by healers and medical experts for thousands of years as a natural course of treatment. Early healers and medical doctors considered the person not just the body or the affliction. Western modern medical practice had in part retained this practice, though for a long time much of the holistic aspect was lost to the exacting detail of diagnosis and medication (pharmaceuticals).http://medicineworld.org/alternative/holistichealth/a-short-history-of-holistic-medicine.html

Today, medical western medicine is again incorporating holistic approaches to its practice. According to a study cited by Dr. Dorothy M. Neddermeyer, almost one third of students currently enrolled in American medical schools, such as Georgetown, Harvard, John's Hopkins, and Yale Universities are enrolled in holistic methods and procedure courses. http://ezinearticles.com/?Holistic-Health-Care-Increasing-in-Popularity-Worldwide&id=373550

Holistic Health practitioners understand that the body, mind, spirit and environment are all connected and that the health of an individual is dependent on the complex way these all interact with each other. The Holistic Health practitioner must therefore become knowledgeable in the multidimensional nature and make up of human beings. Taking into perspective that the health of an individual goes beyond the symptoms of dis-ease and disease alone the Holistic Health practitioner examines the physical, mental, emotional, spiritual, sociological (cultural) and environmental dimensions of the patients life.

Holistic health care practices include:

• Acupuncture, Acupressure, & Meridian Tapping
• Aromatherapy, Essential Oils & Flower essences
• Ayurvedic medicine
• Bio Therapy and Bio-energy Therapy
• Bio-feedback
• Chelation therapy
• Chiropractic
• Herbal Well-being, Herbology, Herbal Therapy
• Homeopathy
• Hypnosis and self-hypnosis
• Iridology
• Massage and Massage Therapy
• Meditation, Guided meditation & Consciousness techniques
• Movement therapies such as QiGong, Chi Kung, Tai Chi and Yoga
• Naturopathy
• Nutrition therapy and counselling
• Osteopathy
• Reiki
• Reflexology
• Spiritual Well-Being
• Stress Management
• Therapeutic touch
• Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)

The content in this page is not a substitute for professional medical or legal advice. Please contact your doctor and attorney before using the information presented here.