Holistic medicine is the practice of medicine that treats the body, mind and spirit. Comprising both alternative and complementary medicine, this course of treatment is also known as "integrative medicine." Holistic medicine is also concerned with preventive medicine. Holistic practitioners, many of whom are medical doctors, envision their role as healers as one that not only reduces disease, but also supports the individual in making sustainable life choices that will enliven their years ahead.
Influences by Eastern Medicine
Holistic medicine is deeply influenced by Eastern medical systems, such as Ayurvedic and Chinese medicines. Both of these medical cultures have operated for thousands of years with the understanding that although health is biological, healing is also a psychological process. Both Ayurvedic and Chinese medicines have well-developed treatment plans involving the use of herbs and diet changes, methods which have become more accepted in Western medical practice. For example, in 2001, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services conducted a survey of Ayurvedic treatment studies, finding that treatments for diabetes, depression and cardiovascular diseases have enough medical evidence to warrant more research into possible intergrative applications. (
Mind-Body Practices
Holistic medicine treats the whole person, including the mind. Healing can also be improved when patients are responsible for their own healing regimen. Meditation, for example, is well-known for reducing anxiety and improving mood. Creative outlets, such as art therapy, can also improve the quality of life for those suffering from incurable and painful diseases. For instance, Tallaluh Lyons, M.Ed, combines meditation, music therapy and dreamwork to help cancer survivors in Atlanta's Piedmont Hospital manage their pain and reduce stress.
The Power of Touch
Another modality of healing in holistic therapies includes massage and energy medicine. These fields, while radically different in terms of training and philosophy, are based on the power of human touch for improving health, healing and well-being. A study in 2004 by researchers from the University of Iowa analyzed the body of current medical research on massage therapy, finding that massage reduces anxiety, heart rate and blood pressure. Meanwhile, these researchers found no evidence of massage to improve mood or pain. In this way, medical research gives credence to alternative therapies, while at the same time debunking myths.
Energy medicine is probably the least accepted holistic treatment by medical authorities. Practices such as qi gong and Reiki are claimed to improve health by altering energy fields around the human body. However, no scientific evidence has confirmed that the energy fields are correlated with the body's electro-magnetic charge, not if manipulating this charge can affect health beyond the level of placebo. Nonetheless, national medical boards, such as the American Board of Integrative Holistic Medicine and the American Holistic Medical Association, include energy work within their range of certification.
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