Holistic medicine is considered a science as well as an art in the ability to heal a person from a center of well being. By including the mind and spirit in the care of the body, holistic medicine focuses on the ability to obtain a personals health on an optimal level. Conventional medical therapies as well as alternative therapies are used to help a person achieve the best quality of life possible.
Prevention of disease is just as important as treatment, and the underlying cause of disease is a concern in holistic medicine. Safety and the inclusion of the patient on the treatment and prevention of disease through education are major focuses, as well as providing the patient with options for treatment and allowing the patient that choice..
By analyzing the environmental, physical, lifestyle, emotional, nutritional, and spiritual needs of a patient, the holistic doctor is able to provide a complete picture of the needs of an individual, and can help create a plan of treatment that is whole. The patient then participates in the healing process to be motivated to achieve their own well being by preventing further damage.
If a patient is properly educated on their self-care as well as on lifestyle changes, they can prevent the onset of disease, as well as prevent existing disease from becoming worse. Holistic medicine still relies on conventional drugs and surgery if necessary, but the basis is safety and patient choice.
The treatment of symptoms is not the primary function of treatment for holistic medicine as patients may be familiar with in traditional medical settings, because finding the underlying issues that cause disease is more important than the treatment of the symptom by itself.
A large amount of study on the part of the holistic doctor goes into determining the lifestyle of patients who suffer from disease in order to improve the lives of those patients to fight disease. The cost effective choice is to assist patients with prevention to help them live better lives.
When a patient suffers from an illness, something in the life of the whole person is off balance, and when the focus is placed on balancing that individual´s life through their environmental, physical, lifestyle, emotional, nutritional, and spiritual needs, they are better able to prevent all diseases and illnesses on their own. This means that the relationship between the patient and doctor must be excellent so that the patient is influenced by the example of the doctor. Treatment options begin with a foundation in the patient´s ability to include the healing powers of humor, love, enthusiasm and hope in their life while releasing harmful emotions such as greed, hostility, fear, depression, anger, shame and grief.
Tags: conventional drugs, holistic doctor, lifestyle changes, medical settings, medical therapies, medicine safety, mind and spirit, optimal level, patient choice, spiritual needs