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Pros and Cons of Holistic Medicine

Holistic medicine is deeply engrossed with the philosophy that the body, mind, and spirit are all equally important parts of the human person and that all three should be treated if a person is ill. Holistic medicine has become increasingly popular.

  1. What is Holistic Medicine?

    • Holistic Medicine generally relies on herbal remedies and natural foods to prevent and cure diseases. Holistic medicine avoids the traditional medical model, which focuses on just the symptoms of a disease, but instead it focuses on the cause of the problem. For instance, when someone is suffering from lower back pain, a patient will not just be given pain medication. Instead, a holistic approach suggests that the patient take something to ease the pain and then explore the root cause of the back pain. Exploring the root cause can range from looking into the patient's posture to getting new shoes that correct how the patient walks.

    Pro of Holistic Medicine: Cost

    • Many holistic treatments cost less than their prescription counterparts. Prescription medication has to undergo a manufacturing and development process, which holistic medication does not have to follow. Some argue the potency of holistic medicine tends to be stronger because holistic medicine has to be fresh. Particular compounds break down with exposure to light, air and moisture.

    Pro of Holistic Medicine: Less Exposure

    • Holistic medicine has limited exposure to these elements, usually only a week or up to a month. Prescription medications, on the other hand, may go months, or even up to a year, of being potentially exposed to these elements. Sealed bottles greatly limit prescription medications' exposure to light, air and moisture, but it is not 100 percent effective in preventing compounds from breaking down over long periods of time.

    Con of Holistic Medicine: More Than the Herbal Remedy

    • One disadvantage of holistic medicine is you don't always get just the herbal remedy, but you might get pieces of bark, twigs and other things that were not intended within the herbal remedy. Holistic medicines are not processed, but instead they tend to be handpicked and sorted. Handpicked and sorted generally means that small bits of unintended matter get by. Dr. Vanessa Arellano, a doctor of herbal medicine, also suggests that some herbal remedies might increase the risk of high blood pressure when taken over a long period of time.

    Con of Holistic Medicine: Scams

    • Another disadvantage of holistic medicine is there are scam artists out there. People who practice true holistic medicine really want people to get better and take time to research, understand and believe in their practice. However, there are people who claim to practice holistic medicine, but they are just trying to make a buck. A good resource to get reliable information and find a holistic physician is the American Holistic Medical Association.

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