What is the definition of holistic medicine?
Holistic Medicine is the art and science of healing that addresses care of the whole person – body, mind, and spirit. The practice of holistic medicine integrates complementary, alternative and conventional therapies to promote optimal health and to prevent and treat dis-ease by addressing contributing factors.
In practice this means that every person is seen as a unique individual, rather than an example of a particular disease. Dis-ease is understood to be the result of physical, emotional, spiritual, social and environmental imbalance. (The term 'disease' simply means 'without ease', and describes a body that is not experiencing a state of 'ease' that is
natural, or innate. Therefore, many holistic practitioners focus on
creating the opportunity for the body to help heal itself, in order to
return to its natural state of 'ease'.) Healing therefore takes place naturally when these aspects of life are brought into proper balance. The role of the practitioner is as guide, mentor and role model, the patient must do the work - changing lifestyle, beliefs and old habits in order to facilitate healing.
What are some of the basic principles of holistic medicine?
Optimal health is the primary goal of holistic medical practice. It is the conscious pursuit of the highest level of functioning and balance of the physical, environmental, mental, emotional, social and spiritual aspects of human experience, resulting in a dynamic state of being fully 'alive'. This creates a condition of well-being regardless of the presence or absence of disease.
Prevention and Treatment. Holistic health care practitioners promote health, prevent illness and help raise awareness of dis-ease in our lives rather than merely managing symptoms. A holistic approach relieves symptoms, modifies contributing factors, and enhances the patient’s life system to optimize future well-being.
Integration of Healing Systems. Holistic health care practitioners embrace a lifetime of learning about all safe and effective options in diagnosis and treatment. These options come from a variety of traditions, and are selected in order to best meet the unique needs of the patient. The realm of choices may include lifestyle modification and complementary approaches as well as conventional drugs and surgery for more acute or urgent cases.
Individuality. Holistic health care practitioners focus patient care on the unique needs and nature of the person who has an illness rather than the illness that has the person.
Relationship-centered Care. The ideal practitioner-patient relationship is a partnership which encourages patient autonomy, and values the needs and insights of both parties. The quality of this relationship is an essential contributor to the healing process.
Source: American Holistic Medical Association (AHMA)
"Although Western medicine can be miraculous in its ability to save lives, it is notably vacuous in its repertoire of natural agents to bolster immunity and balance one’s physiology. Therefore, it is imperative that the health benefits of natural therapies, herbs and supplements, and nutritional and lifestyle strategies be made available to as many people as possible."
- Kevin Doherty, LAc., Dipl.Ac., MSOM