What Is the Holistic Health Approach?

Today, health can be measured in many different ways. Also, it’s often categorized into a wide range of numbers and diagnoses that don’t always give the best image of what a healthy mind and body look like. 

While the modern-day western medicine that we have right now has brought life-saving and wonderful improvements, one common drawback of this kind of medicine is that it’s an isolated approach to health. This means that it looks at the parts of the body for individual symptoms instead of the entire system. In these instances, a holistic health approach can be very beneficial. 

If you’re not familiar with this type of health approach, then keep on reading and get to know more about this type of approach.  

Holistic Health Approach: What It Is?

A holistic health approach is essentially an approach to life. Instead of focusing on certain parts of the body or diseases, this approach to health will consider the whole person and how they interact with their environment–socially, physically, mentally, and spiritually. 

This type of holistic healing usually involved several complementary medicines as well as substitute healthcare methods that overlap modern-day western medicines but go beyond the singular treatment of signs in order to support not just the body but the overall wellness of the person. 

Here are some alternative healthcare practices often found within this approach:

• Massage
• Chiropractic
• Meditation or yoga
• Herbalism
• Therapy
• Acupuncture
• Physical Therapy
• Nutrition
• General Western Medicine 

Benefits Of The Holistic Health Approach

When the above-mentioned alternatives come together for a holistic health approach, people are more likely to experience wellness on a more profound level, allowing for a healthier and more joyful lifestyle.

Here’s a list of benefits when you practice a holistic health approach:

Prevents Disease

As mentioned, the holistic health approach focuses on treating people as a whole instead of just a set of symptoms. Meaning to say, one of its major health benefits is the long-term prevention of diseases. This health approach will lessen the need for costly and repeated treatments as it focuses on the main cause of an illness and avoids symptomatic treatment.

Also, holistic health practitioners are more likely to promote preventative procedures like pap smears, breast exams, regular cholesterol testing, immunizations, and processed foods. 

Improve Mental Wellbeing

Mental health directly controls our cognitive capabilities, affecting how our brains work. Moreover, it plays a crucial role in how we process stress and emotions. 

Because of this, holistic practitioners, like Body Positive Works, advise their patients to make mental health their top priority. This can be attained through mindfulness as well as actively seeking out an educational opportunity to further better one’s mental health. 

Good For Spiritual and Emotional Wellbeing 

Our emotional health is also connected with our physical health. The manner where the body is processing emotional stress is the same as it processes physical stress. Remember that excessive stress can lead to physical symptoms of a disease.

A holistic health approach, like the practice of meditation and personal counseling, can have positive effects on one’s emotional wellbeing. 

The same thing goes for your spiritual wellbeing, but it’s worth mentioning that it’s not essentially related to religion. It just speaks to the soul and what type of connection you have with the most fundamental and deepest part of your being. 

Most of the time, holistic therapies are mostly spending time meditating, outdoors, in nature, and practicing one’s faith, especially if you’re religious.

Improve Physical Wellbeing 

When it comes to an overall physical being, most people only think about their physical health. But aforementioned, there’s so much more to it. It’s understandable that your physical being represents your physical health. This is because of the symptoms and signs of stress and diseases. 

A holistic health approach will encourage optimal physical health by encouraging enough sleep, exercising regularly, and eating a well-balanced and healthy diet. Moreover, practitioners advise their patients not to eat processed foods and go for natural ones instead. Alternative medicines, like natural herbal remedies, are also advisable. 

Conclusion 

Does the idea of a holistic health approach appeal to you and you’re already planning to consider it? If yes, you must choose a reliable holistic doctor or practitioner for you to reap all the benefits associated with this approach.

Don’t go to just anyone. As with all medical experts, some are great at their fields while others are not as good. So, before you choose a service provider, get recommendations from people you trust or those who have experienced holistic medicine. You can even contact trustworthy health organizations for additional recommendations.