Holistic health

Holistic health is a philosophy of medical care that views physical and mental aspects of life as closely interconnected and equally important approaches to treatment. While frequently associated with alternative medicine, it is also increasingly used in mainstream medical practice as part of a broad view of patient care.

History

Holism as a health concept has long existed outside of academic circles, but only relatively recently has the modern medical establishment begun to integrate it into the mainstream health care system. In the United States, the first National Conference on Holistic Health was conducted by the Health Optimizing Institute and The Mandala Society with the University of California, San Diego School of Medicine in June 1975. This continued there for ten years with about three thousand health professionals participating each year. After the second year it was not under the Medical School.

The recording of these Conferences that was the emerging of Holistic Health in American is in the nine volumes of The Journal Of Holistic Health provided by the Mandala Society. Over 150 authorities in aspects of Holistic Health participated and are recorded in the Journals.

The Mandala Society Conferences and work supported the creation of the Association For Holistic Health in 1976 and the Holistic Medical Association in 1978

Many regional Holistic Health Associations followed with the American Holistic Health Association being established in 1989.

Historically, Holistic health has not been widely practiced in North America and has not been legitimized as a valid process. According to Robbie Davis-Floyd in “Medical Anthropology- Modern Midwives, Issue 20”, she states that there are “links between tradition, ancestry, home remedies, the earth and the biomedical systems”.

Philosophy

Holistic health is not itself a method of treatment, but is an approach to how treatment should be applied. Holistic concepts of health and fitness view achieving and maintaining good health as requiring more than just taking care of the various singular components that make up the physical body, additionally incorporating aspects such as emotional and spiritual well-being. The goal is a wellness that encompasses the entire person, rather than just the lack of physical pain or disease. This means that not feeling sick, does not necessary mean you are well, just that you are between Well and Sick. When symptoms develop, it is often long after the cause of the symptoms occurred. It is often used in contrast to the medical model that focuses on treating symptoms and syndromes without attempting to address functioning beyond the absence of disease, the Holistic approach focuses on the cause.

Alternative Medicine and menopause

In “Gender and the social construction of illness”, the authors give alternatives that have worked in place of hormone replacement therapy. Mood enhancers and tranquilizers may work for some women, but herbal remedies, dietary supplements, exercise and yoga are alternatives that have been helpful to other women.

Soy products are infused with essential vitamins and minerals that can help with the effects of menopause. According to Soybean Chemistry and Technology (Markley and Goss, 1944 p.36-52) the author spells out for us the essential vitamins that the soybean provides us with. The vitamins that compose the soybean are A, B complex, C, D, E and K. In “The Nutrition Detective: A Woman’s guide to treating your health problems through the foods you eat”, the author, Nan Kathryn Fuchs explores the “menopause diet.” According to Fuchs, hot flashes and vaginal itching can be alleviated by combining vitamins E and C. Moodiness and depression can be a sign that one needs more vitamin B or a form of B complex, which can help the liver break down estrogen. By eliminating caffeine, sugars, animal fats, refined foods and chocolate, a woman can be sure to reduce “symptoms” of menopause (Fuchs, 1985 p.137).

Treatment of patients

“Dimensions of Holistic healing- New frontiers in the treatment of the whole person”, the authors define Holistic health as “treating the whole person, helping the person to bring the mental, emotional, physical, social, and spiritual dimensions of his or her being into greater harmony, using the basic principles and elements of holistic healing and, as much as possible, placing reliance on treatment modalities that foster the self regenerative and self reparatory processes of natural healing,” (Otto and Knight, 1979 p. 3).

See also

• New Age Spirituality

External links

• American Holistic Health Association
• Holistic Care
• The Academy of Natural Healing, NYC
• An Interesting link to a Holisitc Center, CAN