Holistic medicine is “an approach to medical care that emphasizes the study of all aspects of a person's health, including psychological, social, and economic influences on health status.” (www.dictionary.com) It involves treating a patient as a whole person, instead of focusing only on the sick parts. It usually includes alternative medicines, which do not follow generally accepted medical practices and may or may not have documented explanations as to their effectiveness.
There are five branches of holistic medicine:
Acupuncture – Needles inserted into the ankles, wrists, feet, back, and abdomen to promote healing and pain relief.
Aromatherapy – the use of essential oils in various scented candles, oils, soaps, and herbs to heal various diseases and revitalize body, spirit, and mind.
Homeopathy – Based on the idea that natural substances can make a healthy person sick and a sick person healthy. It is safe only if two rules are followed. 1. Remedies should be given in infinitesimal doses, so that unwanted side-effects could not be dangerous. 2. Remedies should be specific to each patient, because illness is specific to the individual.
Meditation – There are many different, even opposing definitions of Meditation. The most usual description says that "Meditation is a state of just being without any interference from the body or mind". This is can be accomplished by focusing one of the senses so that everything else essentially “floats away.” Free of thoughts, feelings and actions, the meditator has the ability to concentrate on the present moment of stillness, to. It is often use to relieve anxiety and stress.
Reflexology – Reflexology is a therapeutic method of healing and pain relieving by pressuring particular reflex areas in hands and feet. Reflexologists press on the reflex areas and encourage the human body to self-correct, to prevent illness, and generally to reinforce itself reaching holistic health.
The Question: Is holistic and alternative medicine scientifically sound?
According to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention, more than 62% of adults have tried some form of alternative medicine, but does that mean they’ve had success? According to Dr. Steven Lamm, author of “The Hardness Factor,” published in Men’s Health Magazine, certain alternative medicines do have merit. For example, acupuncture can be helpful in relieving muscular skeletal pain and arthritis, but not for things like migraines and obesity. “It’s hard for docs to really prescribe alternative medicines because we are not taught to understand how sticking a needle into someone's head could help migraines,” he says.
Another example is chiropractic manipulation, a popular form of alternative medicine. It can also be helpful for muscular skeletal problems. “But,” he warns, “It is dangerous when these doctors tell you that they can heal anything serious like asthma or high blood pressure, there is no data to suggest this.” The one thing that did surprise me is his conclusion when it comes to meditation. It seems that this form of holistic care can lower blood pressure, relieve stress, and help with anxiety disorders. “I think this therapy is underutilized…There is really no downside because it promotes wellness, in some cases meditation is the best source of preventative medicine.” (www.msnbc.msn.com)
After researching the different forms of alternative medicine and reading what this doctor has to say about it, I think I have concluded that the best course of action is to use alternative medicine as a supplement to conventional medicine.
But what about “doctors” who claim to be able to cure serious illness with alternative medicine alone? Holistic “doctors” are board certified by the American Board of Integrated Holistic Medicine, not by the American Medical Association. “Board certification is earned by demonstrating a high level of proficiency in integrative holistic medicine. An annual examination follows a review course.” There is not mention of medical school or specific requirements as to the education of the potential “physician.” It is unethical for a holistic “physician” to claim to be able to cure serious illness when a person’s health or life is at stake. A chiropractor who claims to be able to cure asthma might encourage a person to stop taking their daily medicine, which helps prevent asthma attacks. IT IS DANGEROUS AND UNETHICAL.
It is important to realize that a certificate on the wall is not necessarily an indication of medical competence. Even if you are using alternative medicine as a secondary approach to conventional medicine, make sure you check out your “doctor” first! Know in whose trust your are putting your health. It is important to be able to have confidence in the person caring for you because, often, it is necessary to take them at their word.
While I thoroughly believe that our minds and bodies are connected and that the health of both is important, I encourage everyone to do serious research before seeking holistic or alternative help.
Click Here for more information about the holistic certification process.
Sources:
www.merriam-webster.com
www.holisticmedicine.org
www.dictionary.com
www.buzzle.com
www.msnbc.msn.com
If you like what you read (or hated it!) or if you just have something to add, please leave me a comment and, as always, suggest an idea for my next topic.
DOs (Doctor of Osteopathy) are certified as physicians... they undergo much of the same training as MDs, just in a different program type. They learn holistic medicine, including skeletal manipulation. I wouldn't call them quacks. They are also not 'alternative' medicine providers.
There is a place for alternative medicine, but I still go by the evidence-based medicine model. If it hasn't been proven to work, I won't recommend it. Of course, I can't stop someone from going that route despite my advice, but I still wouldn't recommend it.
~C
Check out the latest entry in the Between The Lines column!
Want the highest rated list to change? RATE those blogs, then!
Thank you for commenting, I appreciate your input. This is the kind of feedback I was hoping for!
I apologize if the word "alternative" offended you. I was speaking in generalization and, obviously you do not fall into the category that I was describing. It can't be denied that there are unethical people who take advantage of the ease of certification. My only point is to know your doctor and educate yourself as to his/her background and methods.
PS. I never used the word "quack." :)
Of course I don't fall into the category of alternative medicine... I'm not a practitioner of any type. I just draw blood. And the word 'alternative' doesn't offend me... as I said, it has it's place. DOs, trained just like MDs, use manipulation and practice holistic medicine all the time. It's just a shame that allopathic schools haven't caught on to that trend again yet. Things like aloe placed on a burn have been used for years, and there's still a place for many of these treatments in today's society. However, there are treatments that are harmful and completely unfounded as to their efficacy. Yet, people believe that when allopathic medicine doesn't work for them, that these alternative treatments are the real treatments. That's why I say there are a lot of quacks out there (and yes, I'm aware that you never called them that; that's my interpretation of them).
Maybe one of these days I'll start a new series about unfounded claims that are made by some of these quacks.
~C
Check out the latest entry in the Between The Lines column!
Want the highest rated list to change? RATE those blogs, then!
now get blogging....:)
"O, I'm sorry you took that, -I meant that for the Devil, and you have stepped in and taken the blow. Don't get between me and the Devil, brother, and the you won't get hurt." --Billy Hibbard
I would love it if you would write about what's true and what isn't. There is so much misinformation out there, it would be really nice to get the scoop from someone who knows.
I like how you made the distinction between what can or can't be treated by alternative medicine, and I agree, it should be adjunct therapy. massage is a form of alternative medicine, and i know it works, it gets toxins out of our blood, it relaxes us, loosens us up so breath better and better posture, which helps the joints and its a great thing! but people who ignore traditional medicine are idiots. that might not be fair, because for some it isnt available, or they can't afford, or they don't know better, like people who go to their shaman instead of a clinic to heal. but still, one shouldn't ignore the common opinion of experienced professionals. do the holistic to feel better, but not to replace medical treatment. its true, if we all got massages weakly, we'd probably see a big drop in pharmaceutical company stock, which is one of the reason i think the medical community is so hard on alternative therapists, but also, they need to be, because too many of these "therapists" tell lies and make promises they can't keep, so its a catch22. doctors don't want people to find other treatments, that would threaten their job,,,though many don't know they feel this way, its just part of their conditioning, as they go through school and trying to pave their way in the medical world. I can't wait to see some restrictions on midwifery lifted so we can make giving birth a better experience for mamas and babies. why do doctors insist on old medicinal models that are proven to be in direct opposition to what nature tells us to do when we go into labor? its ridiculous.
"O, I'm sorry you took that, -I meant that for the Devil, and you have stepped in and taken the blow. Don't get between me and the Devil, brother, and the you won't get hurt." --Billy Hibbard
There are certainly some treatments that aren't exactly "mainstream" but which still offer very real benefits for the patients that seek them. But there is also a lot of chicanery which masquerades as "alternative medicine" but which isn't really "medicine" at all. For example, and another, and another.
Snake Oil salesmen abound in the holistic community, and some of what they are selling is down right dangerous. I would suggest that anyone who is interested in pursuing an alternative treatment should only do so in consultation with a licensed physician.
TTFN,
Blackout
---
Patriotic Atheism
---
Check out Progressive PRIDE, a Gay-Straight Alliance for the Progressive U community.