Holistic medicine:

philosophical approach to health care which treats the patient as a whole person, not simply as a disease process or a collection of symptoms. Holistic health care practitioners may combine allopathic medicine with complementary therapies, taking into account the emotional, spiritual, social, nutritional, mental, environmental, and physical aspects of health and illness.

(See also: Holistic medicine, Alternative Medicine, Body Mind and Soul)

Holistic Medicine: The philosophy of holistic medicine states that the practitioner must use safe methods of diagnosis and treatment while emphasizing the care of the whole person, including physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects. Most forms of natural medicine adher to this basic definition of holistic medicine.

(See also: Holistic Medicine, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

holistic medicine:

1. Alternative medicine.
2. That form of alternative medicine which focuses on
1. personal accountability for one's health;
2. the human body's ability to heal itself; and
3. balancing the body, mind, and spirit with the environment.

Holistic medicine includes among others acupuncture, biofeedback, faith healing, folk medicine, meditation, yoga etc.

(See also: Holistic medicine, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

Holistic health is a non-medical philosophy of well-being that considers the physical, mental, and spiritual aspects of life as closely interconnected and balanced [1]. Advocates of the holistic health philosophy typically seek or use a wide variety of alternative practices, the most common of which include acupuncture, chiropractic, naturopathy, and homeopathy. Advocates of alternative medicine often employ the use of the holistic health philosophy to claim that conventional medicine does not address the needs of the patient a ...

Read more here: » Holistic health: Encyclopedia - Holistic health

Anthroposophical medicine is a holistic and salutogenetic approach to health. It thus focuses on ensuring that the conditions for health are present in a person; combating illness is often necessary but is insufficient alone. The approach was founded in the 1920s by Rudolf Steiner in conjunction with Ita Wegman, who carried the impulse forward after Steiner's death in 1925. Steiner called the new medicinal possibilities an extension of existing possibilities; thus, conventional medicines and therapies are also employed, though generally this is the case when anthroposophical medicine's a ...

Including:

• Anthroposophical Medicine - Links

Read more here: » Anthroposophical Medicine: Encyclopedia - Anthroposophical Medicine

Osteopathic medicine (known as osteopathy in the past) is a branch of medicine which views the human body holistically, and emphasizes the prevention and treatment of illness and injury through the use of manual and physical therapies, along with traditional medical practices such as drugs and surgery. Doctors of Osteopathic medicine (D.O.s) educated in the United States are fully licensed physicians equivalent to M.D.s. Osteopaths educated in the United Kingdom and elsewhere have a scope of practice limited mainly to musculoskeletal conditi ...

Including:

• Osteopathic medicine - History
• Osteopathic medicine - Osteopathic Principles
• Osteopathic medicine - Techniques of Osteopathic Medicine
• Osteopathic medicine - Scope of Manual Therapies
• Osteopathic medicine - Cranial Osteopathy
• Osteopathic medicine - Visceral Osteopathy
• Osteopathic medicine - Osteopathic Medicine Around the World
• Osteopathic medicine - Osteopathic Medicine in the USA
• Osteopathic medicine - Osteopathic Medicine in the UK Australia Canada and NZ
• Osteopathic medicine - Osteopathic Medicine in the European Union

Read more here: » Osteopathic medicine: Encyclopedia - Osteopathic medicine

Holistic medicine: A treatment approach that considers the person as an integrated whole—body, mind and soul. Thus optimum health involves all three elements and their care.

(See also: Holistic medicine, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

HOLISTIC MEDICINE

Holistic medicine recognizes that the mind, spirit, lifestyle, environment, and other aspects of a person’s existence significantly affect the functioning of the physical body. Thus, in evaluating and treating illness and prescribing preventative intervention, this approach treats the whole person, addressing more than just the symptoms or disease. Holistic practitioners may utilize a combination of conventional treatments along with alternative therapies.

(See also: HOLISTIC MEDICINE, Alternative Health, Massage, Bodywork, Body Mind and Soul)

Holistic Medicine - Therapies that treat the whole person's mind and body, as opposed to just the part of the body where symptoms occur.

(See also: Holistic Medicine, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

HOLISTIC MEDICINE: A descriptive term for a healing philosophy that views a patient as a whole person, not just a disease or a collection of symptoms.

In the course of treatment, holistic medical practitioners may address a client's emotional and spiritual dimensions as well as the nutritional, environmental, and lifestyle factors that may contribute to an illness. Many holistic medical practitioners combine conventional forms of treatment with natural or alternative treatments.

(See also: Holistic medicine, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

MEDICINE, HOLISTIC/WHOLISTIC: Wholistic medicine is a broadly descriptive term for a healing philosophy that views a patient as a whole person, not as just a disease or a collection of symptoms. In the course of treatment, wholistic medical practitioners may address emotional and spiritual dimensions as well as the nutritional, environmental and lifestyle factors that may contribute to an illness. Many wholistic practitioners combine conventional forms of treatment with natural or alternative treatments.

(See also: Medicine, holistic/wholistic, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

Holistic health , Holistic medicine , Holistic therapies, Wholistic health, Wholistic medicine, Wholistic therapies:

Health as viewed from the perspective that humans and other organisms function as complete, integrated units rather than as aggregates of separate parts.

See also: Holistic therapies, Wholistic health, Wholistic medicine, Wholistic therapies)

2005-04-23

For more dictionary entries, see » Holistic Medicine Dictionary

HOLISTIC HEALTH/HOLISTIC MEDICINE

Describes the perspective that considers all parts of the body, mind and spirit as a Whole, and is treated as such. Cause and not effect is duly considered the pathway to cure, utilizing non-invasive, and a natural means, which is more inclined to be in harmony with the Whole.

(See also: HOLISTIC HEALTH, Alternative Health, Holistic Health, Body Mind and Soul)

AYURVEDIC MEDICINE

Ayurvedic (pronounced eye yur VEH dik) medicine stresses a holistic approach to health. It means “science of life.” It places equal emphasis on body, mind and spirit and its main goal is to restore the innate harmony of the individual.

Ayurvedic medicine defines disease as the result of climatic extremes, bacterial attack, nutritional deviance, and stress, as well as other forms of emotional imbalance. Optimal health is achieved by cultivating mental and physical habits that are conducive to physical and spiritual well-being. Treatment often includes yoga, diet, and the development of positive attitude

Ayurvedic medicine evolved among the Brahmin sages of ancient India some 3000-5000 years ago. There are specific aspects of this system of medicine that distinguish it from other approaches to health care. It focuses on establishing and maintaining balance of the life energies within us, rather than focusing on individual symptoms.

"Constitution” is the keystone of Auruvedic medicine. Constitution refers to the overall health profile of the individual, including strength and susceptibilities. Ayurvedic doctors determine each metabolic body type and then specify a treatment plan to guide one back into harmony with the environment. 

Underlying Ayurveda is the view that everything is composed of five basic elements: ether/space, air, fire, water and earth. These are similar to the elements in traditional Chinese medicine. These elements combine to form the metabolic body types, or doshas (pronounced DOE shas). Ayurveda describes three body types. Even though each person’s metabolic type is determined by a predominant dosha, all three doshas are present in varying degrees in every cell, tissue and organ of the body.

The three doshas are vata, pitta and kapha. Vata is motion that activates the physical system, physical activity, and nerve force. It allows the body to breathe and circulate blood. The seats of the vata are the large intestine, pelvic cavity, bones , skin, ears and thighs. Pitta processes food, air and water and is responsible for charging the endocrine and enzymatic activities throughout the body. The seats of the pitta are the small intestines, stomach, sweat glands, blood, skin and eyes. Kapha involves the structure of bones, tendons, muscles and the fat that holds the body together. It offers nourishment and protection. The chest, lungs, and fluid surrounding the spinal cord are the seats of kapha.

When the doshas are balanced in accordance with the individual’s constitution, the result is vibrant heath and energy. When the balance is disturbed the body becomes susceptible to disease. Imbalance in the doshas is the first sign that the mind and body are not perfectly coordinated.

Ayurvedic medicine believes that once people understand the characteristics and qualities of their body type they can make changes in their lifestyle and environment to restore dosha balance. Ayurveda seeks to heal the fragmentation and disorder of the mind-body complex and restore wholeness and harmony to all people of all ages, from young children to the elderly.

(See also: AYURVEDIC MEDICINE, Alternative Health, Holistic Health, Body Mind and Soul)

CHINESE MEDICINE

Is a gigantic subject, which can include far more than we can cover in this paragraph. Taoist healing techniques may well be the oldest treatise on holistic healing in our modern world (within the last ten thousand years).

The Yellow Emperor, the father of Taoism developed the Yang Shen Shu, or The Tao of Revitalization about six thousand years ago. This was a system of internal organ exercises to maintain the correct balance of Qi (Chi or Energy, Life Force). Also during this time the knowledge of plants, trees, fungi and herbs, together with the wisdom of application was developed to a very high degree.

The Chinese have always been in the forefront of holistic medicine with the well-practiced philosophy of preferring prevention rather than cure. This comprehensive system looks to the complete person, as body, mind and spirit, and maintaining the balance thereof. The basis of Chinese Medicine is the balance of Yin and Yang Energies. The balance of the dualistic polarities is the cornerstone of our physical creation, in an unenlightened state of consciousness. SEE CHI KUNG AND TAI CHI.

(See also: CHINESE MEDICINE, Alternative Health, Holistic Health, Body Mind and Soul)

ORTHOMOLECULAR MEDICINE: a form of nutrient therapy that uses combinations of vitamins, minerals, and amino acids normally found in the body to maintain good health and to treat specific conditions, such as asthma, heart disease, depression, and schizophrenia. "Orthomolecular" means an approach based on a correct (ortho) balance of substances present in the body.

(See also: Orthomolecular medicine, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

AYURVEDIC MEDICINE: practiced in India for over 5,000 years. Ayurvedic tradition holds that illness is a state of imbalance among the bodyÕs systems and can be detected through such diagnostic procedures as reading the pulse and observing the tongue.

Nutritional counseling, massage, natural medications, meditation and other modalities are used to address a spectrum of ailments, from allergies to AIDS.

(See also: Ayurvedic medicine, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)

holistic psychiatry: Form of psychiatry that may include biofeedback, bodywork, energy healing (see vibrational medicine), and homeopathy.

(See also: Holistic psychiatry, Body Mind and Soul, Alternative Health, Alternative Health Dictionary)

African holistic health (African holistics, African holistic science, African medicine): Subject of African Holistic Health, whose fourth edition was published in 1993. The paperback's author, herbalist and massage therapist Dr. Llaila [la-ee-la] O. Afrika, developed this ethnic variation of naturopathy. Its design is to treat the physical, mental, and spiritual causes of dis-ease.

(See also: African holistic health, Alternative Health, Body Mind and Soul)