Dr. Sean Explains How Holistic Healthcare Complements Modern Medicine
Typically, when someone thinks about healthcare, it brings to mind noisy waiting rooms, doctors in white lab coats and drugs – lots of drugs. But healthcare has changed over the years and there are many viable alternatives; those who are providing care focused on disease prevention; providing a complementary alternative to traditional healthcare, for example. Holistic healthcare providers offer many options, and you should seek out a healthcare provider that meets your needs and who will support your health in a way that best resonates with you.
In the traditional, medical healthcare system, doctors are particularly skilled at reacting to acute problems; treating patients when symptoms are full blown and serious health problems have developed. Holistic practitioners provide less invasive, often less expensive, and more permanent solutions by focusing on preventing the development of chronic disease altogether.
Treating the Cause
Holistic practitioners use a combination of therapies including mechanical alignment, emotional balance and proper nutrition/digestion. Many of these techniques are rooted in traditional indigenous medicine.
A good holistic practitioner will seek to get to the root of the problem and will address the three major areas of stress that lead to chronic disease, namely mechanical, emotional and nutritional stress. When we are chronically stressed, regardless of the type of stress, we are constantly releasing too much cortisol, which is a steroid hormone. This causes different responses to happen in the body, such as increased glucose, inhibited insulin production, narrowing of the arteries and more. Stress is linked to most chronic diseases, including diabetes, cancer, and heart disease among many others. In short, chronic stress causes our bodies to continuously prepare and react to an emergency, even when there is no emergency. This causes certain reactions in our bodies that can cause permanent damage.
The 3 Stresses That Cause Disease
NUTRITIONAL
Out of the three types of stress, nutritional stress is typically the most easily addressed, because these are issues that people have the most control of. In their role as educators, holistic practitioners advise patients on how to lose weight, what types of food are best for long-term vitality and they promote proper nutrition as a pathway to sustainable health. A good holistic practitioner has taken the time to learn from centuries of wisdom about foods found in nature that support health while minimizing the use of invasive, heavy-handed drugs.
MECHANICAL
The second area that a holistic practitioner can help with is by treating mechanical (physical) stress. Those with a background in chiropractic and/or acupuncture or a specialization in musculoskeletal issues can do a great deal to heal mechanical or anatomical health issues such as traumas to the joints, muscles or bones.
EMOTIONAL
The third area that a holistic practitioner will focus on is the emotional health of a patient. While mainstream medicine focuses on fixing the body after the fact, a holistic practitioner understands the critical role that our emotional lives play in overall health. Countless studies have shown that depression, apathy and other emotional stresses can have a tangible, negative impact on our physical health, so it is just as important to address one’s emotional health as a part of any holistic health care program.
Holistic practitioners acknowledge the help that modern medicine provides for acute care, but they also respect the centuries old relief brought about by more traditional modalities for chronic issues.
If you are considering your healthcare options and would like to consider an alternative to the medical-minded mainstream healthcare practice, consider a holistic practitioner who understands the importance of preventive healthcare and addressing the three types of stresses that are linked to chronic disease.
