Holistic health care is a medical approach that emphasizes preventative healing, rather than just ‘diagnose-prescribe’. Holistic health practitioners and preventative healing are the optimal way to healthy, disease-free aging. It’s crucial to helping you steer clear of the dangerous prescription drugs.

In this week’s Joy of Nesting, you’ll learn:

• What are the principles and benefits of holistic health?
• What are the different types of holistic health practitioners and practices?
• And how to incorporate holistic health into your daily life.

 

 

The principles and benefits of Holistic Health

• Treatment fixes the cause of the condition, not just easing the symptoms.
• Treating the patient means helping them be their own advocate.

By following these principles, holistic health can offer the following benefits:

• Improved physical health.
• Enhanced immune system and natural healing abilities.
• Reduced stress and inflammation.
• Prevention of chronic diseases.
• Improved, optimized aging.

Holistic Health Practitioners and Practices

Holistic health care and preventative healing encompass a variety of disciplines, traditions, and cultures that aim to heal people. Some of the common types of holistic health practitioners and practices are:

• Holistic doctors: These are medical doctors who use both conventional and alternative therapies to treat their patients. They may prescribe medications, but also recommend lifestyle changes, nutritional supplements, herbal remedies, or other natural therapies. They may also refer their patients to other holistic practitioners, such as chiropractors, acupuncturists, or massage therapists.
• Osteopathic doctors: These are doctors who have a similar training and scope of practice as medical doctors, but also emphasize the role of the musculoskeletal system in health and disease. They use hands-on techniques, such as manipulation, massage, and stretching, to diagnose and treat various conditions, especially those related to the spine, joints, and muscles.
• Naturopathic doctors: These are doctors who use only natural therapies to treat their patients, such as nutrition, herbal medicine, homeopathy, acupuncture, and hydrotherapy. They also focus on prevention and education, and help their patients to adopt healthy habits and lifestyles.
• Chiropractors: These are practitioners who specialize in the diagnosis and treatment of disorders of the spine and nervous system. They use manual adjustments, or spinal manipulation, to correct misalignments or subluxations that may cause pain, inflammation, or dysfunction in the body. They may also use other modalities, such as massage, ultrasound, or electrical stimulation, to enhance their treatments.
• Acupuncturists: These are practitioners who use thin needles to stimulate specific points on the body, called acupoints, that are connected to different organs and systems. They believe that this can restore the balance and flow of vital energy, or qi, in the body, and thus promote healing and wellness. Acupuncture is based on the principles of traditional Chinese medicine, which also includes other practices, such as herbal medicine, moxibustion, cupping, and tai chi.
• Massage therapists: These are practitioners who use various techniques, such as kneading, rubbing, tapping, or stretching, to manipulate the soft tissues of the body, such as muscles, tendons, and ligaments. They aim to improve blood circulation, relieve tension, reduce pain, and promote relaxation and well-being. Massage therapy can be used for various purposes, such as relaxation, rehabilitation, or sports performance.
• Homeopathic doctors: These are doctors who use highly diluted substances, called remedies, to treat their patients. They follow the principle of “like cures like”, which means that a substance that causes a certain symptom in a healthy person can cure the same symptom in a sick person. They also believe that the more diluted a remedy is, the more potent it becomes. Homeopathy is based on the idea that the body has a vital force that can heal itself, and that the remedies can stimulate this force.
• Ayurvedic doctors: These are doctors who use the ancient system of medicine from India, called ayurveda, to treat their patients. They believe that health depends on the balance of three energies, or doshas, in the body: vata, pitta, and kapha. They use various methods, such as diet, herbs, yoga, meditation, and cleansing, to restore this balance and prevent or cure diseases. They also consider the individual constitution, or prakriti, of each person, and tailor their treatments accordingly.
• Reiki practitioners: These are practitioners who use a form of energy healing, called reiki, to treat their patients. They believe that they can channel universal life force energy, or ki, through their hands, and transfer it to their patients. They claim that this can heal physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual issues, and enhance the natural healing abilities of the body. Reiki is based on the teachings of a Japanese monk, Mikao Usui, who discovered this technique in the early 20th century.

Integrating Holistic Health Care into Your Life

Holistic health is not only a matter of visiting a practitioner or taking a remedy. It’s a way of living that supports your overall well-being. You can incorporate holistic health into your daily life by following some simple tips, such as:

• Drink plenty of water to hydrate your body and flush out toxins.
• Eat a balanced and nutritious diet, rich in fruits, vegetables, whole grains, plant-based proteins, and healthy fats.
• Avoid processed, refined, or artificial foods, such as sugar, white flour, trans fats, additives, and preservatives.
• Get enough physical activity, at least 30 minutes a day, of moderate to vigorous intensity.
• Choose an activity that you enjoy, such as walking, jogging, cycling, swimming, dancing, or playing a sport.
• Listen to your body and respect its signals and needs.
• Use natural and organic products for your personal care, such as castile soap, coconut oil, and crystal deodorant.
• Seek help and guidance when you need it, from a holistic practitioner or a trusted source. When I lost my husband Jim, weekly counseling was an absolute Godsend. 

By following these tips, you can improve your holistic health and enjoy a happier and healthier life.

Holistic Health is a Journey

Remember, holistic health is not a destination, but a journey, and you are the driver. You have the power and the responsibility to take charge of your health and well-being, and to make the best choices for yourself. Health is not only a gift to yourself, but also your relationships and family.

Taking excellent care of yourself means knowing what your body needs and then providing it consistently throughout the year. With 2024 here, get your health and wellness program back in place with my 7-Day Wellness Challenge!

 

7-Day Wellness Challenge

Create an exceptional lifestyle with optimal foods, joyful workouts and effective tools and tips to help you stay consistent, get yourself results and enjoy life to its fullest. 

Introducing The 7-Day Wellness Challenge, an owner’s manual for your body that guides you in developing healthy habits and easy-to-implement action steps and routines.

• Seven condensed lessons and two bonuses.
• Optimal eating plans with game changing salads, plant-based meals, green juicing and the basics to making healthy foods taste really delicious.
• Fun and effective workouts; at-home equipment recommendations and scheduling tools.
• Mindset and budgeting tips for spending more on organic, healthy foods.
• Trusted, health related resources and book recommendations for working with your medical professional and being your own health advocate.

Learn the 7 steps to a beautiful, health centered lifestyle here!

Bye for now!

Shiree’

For more on wellness design and easy home makeovers, check out my post “Give Your Home a Wellness Makeover in One Weekend” plus, the link to my interview with award winning anchor Deirdre Fitzpatrick!