Holistic Medicine - An Alternative To Traditional Heath Care

The way that holistic medicine works is by looking at the body as a whole, rather than in parts, like traditional medicine. The holistic therapies consider mind, body and spirit all together. Traditional medicine would look at high blood pressure and prescribe something to lower it. The holistic treatment would be to find the cause of the high blood pressure and treat it at the source. Is that person under a lot of stress? Try relaxing more and getting a body massage to relive pressure. Is that person with high blood pressure eating the wrong things? Holistic treatments would recommend an organic diet and plenty of exercise. The idea for holistic treatments is that no body issue is caused by just one thing, and there are many ways to treat each problem. The holistic approach also emphasizes proper nutrition for everyone, and the importance of avoiding chemical substances which can upset the body. Avoiding things, such as alcohol, is also part of the holistic system.

What are some forms of holistic medicine? Some common forms are traditional Chinese medicine, such as acupuncture, homeopathy, herbal medicine, chiropractic services, massages and naturopathic medicines. In many instances, especially in Great Britain and Europe, a system of complementary medicine is used when treatments from allopathic and holistic approaches to health are being used together in conjunction with each other. One of the main goals to the holistic approach is to improve the immune system so that a person no longer needs to get medical treatments. One of the main ways this is done is through improved nutrition, which in the holistic approach to health, and is largely vegetarian, raw and organic. This helps the body to get rid of all unhealthy things in it through a process called detoxification. If the body is free of unnecessary chemicals and the immune system is strong, then it is able to take on nearly every disease and common body issues and win.

This gives you some idea of what holistic medicine is all about. If you want to learn more, then maybe you could do a deeper study of holistic treatments through a more involved, specific search. Talking to your doctor about the holistic approach to medicine will also give you a better idea about the holistic ways and which ones would be good for you to use in your life. Even if you don't do everything, then choosing one holistic thing to do in your life is still a good idea. Something like adding massage therapy would be easy and good to add to your health treatments.

Traditional Healing in Modern Medicine

You've heard that it's takes a village to raise a child, but Dr. Mehl-Madrona believes that it often takes a community to heal someone who is ill. The indigenous ways have much to teach us. In his books and this interview he tells us stories that he's told to his patients to help in their healing process. These stories give us universal wisdom and strength.

• Discover how to use the community to help your friends and family heal
• See how to integrate contemporary medicine with traditional healing
• Learn the traditional meaning of the Four Directions
• See how you can use stories to enhance the healing process
• Discover the hidden meaning of the Native American Medicine Wheel
• Be Inspired to live in harmony with the seasons and nature
• Learn about the real meaning of “success” in healing
• Explore how to use our ancestors’ spirits in healing and story
• Find out what the benefits of ceremony can be in your life
• Learn to create your own ceremonies for daily living
• See how the Ravens Beak story relates to modern health issues

Lewis Mehl-Madrona holds an M.D. from Stanford University and has been a practicing doctor for over 20 years. An experienced healer who has led many Native American healing ceremonies, Dr. Mehl-Madrona has also headed traditional medical clinics, helping AIDS and cancer patients as well as researching the benefits of relaxation techniques to aid in the natural correction of breech positioned babies. He is currently an Associate Professor of Family Practice at the University Of Hawaii School Of Medicine. He has been studying and working in the field of Native American and indigenous healing for many years.