Holistic Approach to Treatment of Patients

The holistic approach to patient care incorporates the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual health of the individual. It explores the connection between mind, body, spirit and environment. Holistic healing includes a wide range of therapies with inherently complex philosophies about the prevention and treatment of illness. Questions still exist as to the safety of complementary and alternative medicine (otherwise known as CAM), which are an integral part of holistic healing and whether they really heal the conditions and diseases they are treating (see Reference 3).

Holistic Therapies

• The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine (NCCAM) defines complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) as "a group of diverse medical and health care systems, practices, and products not presently considered to be a part of conventional medicine." According to NCCAM, there does exist traditional scientific evidence as to the effectiveness of CAM therapies, but many questions still loom as to the validity of CAM therapies by conventional scientific studies. CAM therapies are continually evolving as certain treatments are proven safe and effective and incorporated in conventional health care, changing the way doctors approach illness (see Reference 3).

Holistic Treatment

• The objective of holistic treatment is to treat the main illness by boosting the immune system, increasing overall health. The theory further asserts that this will also affect secondary illnesses without treatment due to the strengthened immune system. Holistic therapy attempts to alleviate the underlying causes of disease. The holistic approach is a specific holistic treatment plan for each patient according to his or her individual needs. These therapies go beyond standard care for illness. (see Reference 1).

Holistic Healing

• There are numerous body, mind, and spirit therapies currently being used in holistic healing to correct imbalances in the physical and spiritual energy fields of the patient. The goal of these therapies is to relieve energy blockages in the body and promote physical, mental, emotional and spiritual healing.

  Holistic body therapies include but are not limited to: acupressure, acupuncture, aromatherapy, biofeedback, chiropractics, homeopathy, massage therapy and yoga (see Reference 2).

  Mind therapies include but are not limited to: art therapy, guided imagery, hypnotherapy, life coaching, meditation, and psychotherapy (see Reference 2).

  Spiritual therapies include but are not limited to: astrological counseling, channeling, mediums, past life regression, psychics, shamamic healing and spiritual counseling. (see Reference 2).

The Holistic Approach

• According to The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine, there are three standard approaches to holistic care: complementary medicine, which includes conventional medical treatment in conjunction with holistic therapies; alternative medicine, which is used in the place of conventional treatment; and integrative medicine, which combines mainstream medical therapy with holistic treatments for which there does exist some substantial scientific evidence as to the safety and effectiveness of the holistic approach (see Reference 3).

5 Main Categories of Holistic Healing

• The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine defines holistic therapies into five major categories.

  Alternative medicine: complete medical systems built upon theory and practice. Many of these systems were developed separate from and earlier than many standard medical approaches use in the U.S. This includes homeopathic and naturopathic medicine. Non-western systems include traditional Chinese medicine and Ayurveda (see Reference 3).

  MInd-body interventions: mind-body medicine uses many techniques to increase the mind's ability to affect physical healing. Techniques of which that are now mainstream include patient support groups and cognitive behavioral therapy. Other mind-body therapies include meditation, prayer, mental healing, and therapies for creative outlets such as art, music, or dance (see Reference 3).

  Biologically-based therapies: uses substance found in nature such as herbs, foods, and vitamins. These therapies have not yet been proven scientifically (see Reference 3).

  Manipulative and body-based methods: uses manipulation and/or movement of one or more body parts. Examples include: chiropractics, osteopathic manipulation, and massage (see Reference 3).

  Energy therapies: There are two types of energy therapy; biofield therapies and bioelectromagnetic therapies.

  Biofield therapy manipulates the purported energy fields that surround the body by applying pressure and or manipulating the body by placing hands in or through these energy fields. Examples include: reiki and therapeutic touch.

  Bioelectromagnetic therapy includes the unconventional use of electromagnetic fields such as: pulse fields, magnetic fields, alternating current, and direct current fields (see Reference 3).