More Americans than ever before are turning to holistic medicine. A big reason for this shift is the rising cost of… pretty much everything, but especially healthcare. There are many ways to take care of our health without turning to conventional medicine and racking up mountains of expensive doctor’s bills. Of course, there are times when a doctor is necessary, because (despite what Pinterest may say) mixing lemongrass, extra virgin olive oil and turmeric into a spray bottle is not going to fix a broken leg. Through preventative care and taking a proactive approach to your health, illness and disease can sometimes be averted.
Since most of us were wee lads and lasses we were taught to focus primarily on the physical aspect of our health. If you cut your knee as a child, you knew that a Band-Aid was coming to the rescue. We were taught to floss and brush our teeth, bathe and shower, and the list goes on and on all surrounding the physical realm of our health. These daily actions were ingrained in us as a “must” from childhood. If our health were a pie, the physical aspect is just one slice of what makes up the entirety of our health care needs.
Most Americans did not learn to be mindful and meditate in our youth. There was most likely not a “what-are-your-fears-and-anxieties-about-the-future” conversation at the dinner table while you were growing up (emotional moments from the TV show “Full House” don’t count). The physical world was impressed upon us as vitally important, yet our emotional and spiritual needs were left mostly in the dark.
What Is Holistic Healthcare?
Holistic medicine differs from conventional medicine with its “whole-body” approach to caring for yourself. Instead of focusing solely on the physical body, holistic medicine integrates the mind, body and soul. Holistic medicine incorporates many different forms of therapeutic treatments in order to obtain optimum health1.
These are the five main components of holistic health:
- Physical
- Emotional
- Social
- Spiritual
- Intellectual
For ideal health, all of these areas need to be cared for in equal measure. Each of the five components has an effect on the other. You can’t take care of your physical self and ignore your emotional needs, just as being socially active and neglecting your physical health would be unproductive2.
Preventative Measures You can Take To Remain Healthy
Preventative medicine is holistic health care that teaches us ways to remain healthy by creating positive habits. Preventative care can reduce the risk of diseases, illness, disabilities and death, yet millions of Americans are opposed to preventative care for a variety of reasons. Some of these reasons include the cost of services, lack of transportation to providers or lack of awareness3.
Many practices of proactive, preventative self-care can be done at home with little to no cost. Here are some examples of preventative health care:
- Getting Enough Sleep
- Creating Healthy Eating Habits
- Positive Thinking
- Quitting smoking
- Exercise
- Dancing
- Yoga
- Meditation
- Reducing Stress and Anxiety In Ways That Work For You
- Taking Supplements and Nutraceuticals
- Practice Relaxation Techniques
- Participate in Therapy
Having an open mind to ideas that may be unfamiliar to you is the first step to preventative care. You may have tried meditation in the past and found the results to be lacking, but therapeutic techniques can become effective as we age and our perspective on life changes.
It is estimated that 200-500 million people meditate worldwide. The value of the worldwide meditation market is set to reach $9 billion by 2027 4. It might be worth sitting calmly and thinking about your “happy place” for a while because it seems to be benefiting a ton of people!
There is a perceptive truth found in a quote by Henry David Thoreau:
“None are so old as those who have outlived enthusiasm.”
Finding joy and enthusiasm in each day, discovering life’s little pleasures and moments of contentment are just as important as having your annual physical. This is not how most Americans perceive health care or “self-care.” There needs to be a change in our mindset in order to reap the benefits from holistic medicine. Ensuring your emotional, intellectual, social and spiritual well-being are just as healthy as your physical well-being could change your life in more ways than you could ever imagine.
References:
- What is holistic medicine?, https://www.healthline.com/health/holistic-doctor#:~:text=Holistic%20medicine.
- Take a Holistic Approach to Self-Care, https://www.nwphysicians.com/take-a-holistic-approach-to-self-care/.
- Preventative Care, https://health.gov/healthypeople/objectives-and-data/browse-objectives/preventive-care.
- 27 Meditation Statistics: Data and Trends Revealed for 2022, https://www.thegoodbody.com/meditation-statistics/.
