Holistic medicine is something we hear a lot about. It can be very confusing just to understand what it is and what it isn’t. Put simply, holistic medicine is a very broad term, related to holism. That is - treating one’s health as part of a person’s place in a larger - overall context. To varying degrees, it’s concerned with one's physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual health.
A Wider Lens
While modern, allopathic medicine likes to be super specific (one specialist for eyes, another for digestion, etc), holistic medicine is more concerned about context, and how the body functions as an integrated whole. A holistic practitioner might ask questions about your digestion, even if you’re coming in for back pain because we’re looking for clues as to what’s going on as a whole.
Another aspect of holism is the person’s place in the context of their lifestyle. So holistic providers might ask more questions about your diet and lifestyle than allopathic providers. Again, we’re zooming out the lens of focus compared to the specificity of modern medicine.
A softly flowing steam
Secondary to these aspects, holistic practices have some of the following qualities. They tend to be slower-acting than modern medicines (especially surgery and prescription drugs) but also can lead to longer-lasting effects. It is more “gentle” in that it works with the body’s ability to heal itself. Even with herbal medicines, the idea is to work with the body’s natural abilities, and provide a boost, or nudge them in the right direction.
Because of this, holistic medicines are great in the early stages and as a means of prevention and wellness. They can safely address many current issues, but keep in mind, that they may need a series of treatments to treat the root cause for lasting improvement.
Working with “modern” medicine
While some conditions are not curable, they can still be managed with regular holistic therapies. That is why many holistic medicines are sometimes called “Complementary” medicine because they work great with modern medicine. For example - post-surgery recovery, health issues during pregnancy, and reducing the negative effects of cancer treatment. Holistic medicine is not meant to replace allopathic medicine but can work very well with it. However, it’s also great for prevention, especially with stress-related illnesses.
That being said, holistic medicine is a very broad category. There are many traditions of holism from different cultures. There are also new and modern types as well. It includes everything from Acupuncture to Chiropractic, to Reiki, homeopathy, Sound Bowls, infrared lights, etc. Get the picture? Hopefully, this helps put things in context while you’re looking for the holistic practice most suitable for you.
And remember, at Commack - Community Zen Acupuncture we make regular acupuncture affordable and accessible. Getting onboard is as easy as an email or phone call.
Regards!
Michael Savalli LAc
934-221-7111
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