How Holistic Medicine is changing the world

By: V.Machado

Holistic medicine, also known as alternative medicine, is a method of healing that takes into consideration the entire person. This includes the patient’s body, mind, spirit, and emotions. There is a belief behind this form of healthcare in which all these parts are connected to make the whole, contrasting the method of modern medicine which focuses on a single part and the symptoms felt there. The main goal of this practice is the prevention of future diseases while curing any current ones a patient may be experiencing. Focusing on five main areas: physical, emotional, social, spiritual, and mental. It is an overarching wing of medicine that presents the patients with a natural choice, considering all aspects of their health.

Before getting into the different types of holistic medicine, it is important to understand its origin. It was first seen over 2,000 years ago in China; it is known as its traditional form of medicine. However, the practice wasn’t adopted by other cultures. Nonetheless, in the 1960s (in the western world) people began thinking modern medicine was too centered on drugs and artificial products, resulting in the alternative healing resurfacing. This soon began popularizing and spreading across the world. Many cultures and religions have been practicing these methods for centuries, Buddhism is an example of a religion that favors this method over the traditional.

Countless types of holistic health care are practiced around the world, the most famous being reflexology; the application of pressure in specific points of the hands, feet, and ears which are connected to specific organs and different areas in the body. It is believed that specific points in each of the body parts above work with a singular organ, applying pressure while releasing the stress may prevent diseases and maintain health. Another method that you may have heard is aromatherapy, which uses natural plant extracts (including essential oils) to promote well-being and a better psychological state. Not only that but it has also been used to prevent high blood pressure and, even, insomnia. Essential oils on their own are also a method of healing, for example, peppermint oil is used to treat abdominal pain. Other methods under this wing include meditation, acupuncture, hypnotherapy, body massage, amongst various others.
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Holistic healing has growing importance around the world, centers for it are emerging everywhere. Moreover, more people are becoming inclined with this spiritual method, urging to steer away from conventional artificial forms of healing. Despite being effective, it is a matter of belief, many people don’t think oils or other methods rather than medicine can prevent and heal people from diseases, so they don’t vouch for this form of healthcare.