5 Best Holistic health Practices for Your Well-being
- Post Written by Jai Kai on November 3, 2009
- Follow Me on Twitter
5 best holistic health practices photo courtesy of Yelahneb
In today’s age of pollution, stress and disease many of us are looking for the best ways to not only treat but also prevent illness. Holistic Health practices integrates healing modalities that balance your whole personality; physical, mental, emotional and spiritual.
Aside from conventional medical doctors prescribing a common drug to treat symptoms of a disease, there are several other great practices to keep your health and wellness at optimal levels.
This article is a simple guide describing 5 of the most popular and successful holistic health practices to improve your well-being and ultimately your success.
1. Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
Doctors of TCM are trained in the ancient healing arts used by revered Chinese doctors and herbalists for thousands of years. Schools and colleges often require up to 2000 hours or several years of study and training to become a professional TCM doctor
Depending on the complexity of your condition a TCM session can take as little as 10 minutes and up to 1 hour if acupuncture or massage is required (and no those needles sticking into you don’t seem to hurt). Some practitioners offer a form of massage called Tui-na or Shiatsu. Both of these techniques can help relieve pain.
A doctor in TCM will usually ask about your medical history and symptoms and then begin your treatment by examining your tongue and pulse. The rhythm of your pulse, and the color, size and coating of your tongue can reveal information about the health of your internal organs.
Most TCM doctors will prescribe herbs and offer dietary suggestions based on TCM principles. They may also have you practice various methods of Qigong (graceful movements and controlled breathing techniques) to balance your inner energy known as “Qi” or “Chi”. Some TCM doctors specialize in certain areas such as pre-natal, PMS, menopause, high blood pressure and cancer.
2. Naturopathic Medicine
Naturopathic doctors (NDs) are general practitioners of complementary medicine. Like medical doctors, to become an ND, one must complete 8 years of schooling – the last 4 at an accredited college. NDs take a holistic approach to patient care by treating the root cause of the disease.
Usually a first visit will last from one to one and a half hours during which an intensive medical history is taken. Often a blood analysis and diagnostic test for heavy metals, hormone levels and food allergies will be given.
Individual treatments may then include nutritional counselling, prescription of herbs, supplements and homeopathic remedies (see Homeopathy below). Some NDs specialize in women’s health, cancer and other specific conditions.
3. Homeopathy
Most Homeopathic practitioners have attended medical school and are conventional medical doctors. They treat patients with heavily diluted preparations called “remedies” which are thought to cause effects similar to the symptoms presented. Homeopathy may use products of animals, plants, minerals, and synthetic substances in its remedies.
An initial consultation with a fully trained homeopath could take several hours to identify symptom patterns and then prescribe the right remedies. Homeopathic medicines seek to stimulate symptoms, not suppress them, so that the body will overcome the disease naturally. Therefore, if symptoms are aggravated briefly, this usually means that the medicine is working.
Homeopathic medicines are not harmful because they are so greatly diluted. They are safe, non-toxic and non-addictive. They are prepared in laboratories licensed by the Department of Health, to stringent standards of quality. Homeopaths have been known to treat and cure acute and chronic conditions – everything from colds and flu to arthritis pain, heart disease, and depression.
4. Herbalism
Registered and qualified herbalists practice in many different styles and traditions including Ayruvedic (ancient Indian) herbs, Chinese medicine and herbs, First Nations (Native American) herbs and Western herbs. They all use some form of plants or plant extracts to treat and prevent health conditions. Some Herbal formulas will include fungal (mushroom) products, bee products, as well as minerals, shells and certain animal parts.
A first visit with an herbalist is usually at least an hour to determine the right type and amount of herbs needed for your condition or ailment. Follow up visits are usually shorter. Taking some herbs regularly may also enhance your health and state of well being.
The herbal medicines prescribed by herbalists come in tea, tincture, liquid extract or supplement form. In addition to herbal formulas prepared to work synergistically, some herbalists may also make dietary or exercise recommendations.
5. Chiropractic
Chiropractors require special skills and knowledge for spinal manipulation and adjustments. They generally require 4 years of intense training and 3 to 4 years of undergraduate study at an accredited college or university. Chiropractors use a “drug –free” approach which includes assessing, diagnosing and treating neuromuscular skeletal injuries, sport injuries as well as optimize health and performance.
A first visit takes between 30 minutes and one hour and often includes a postural assessment. Follow-up treatments often take anywhere from 15 – 30 minutes. Chiropractors asses and treat problems related not only to the spine but also the hips, pelvis and extremities that effect the nervous system.
In addition to spinal manipulation, some form of soft tissue therapy, stretching and corrective exercises are often prescribed. Regular adjustments can help prevent back and knee pain.
More and more people are now seeking alternative medicine and holistic health practices to treat the body as a whole –mind, body and spirit. The best thing for you to do is to try out a few of the practices listed above and find out which ones work best for you.
Make sure you find a qualified doctor or practitioner who has had optimal training. Shop around and find the right person you resonate with and, trust with your health and well-being
Some people might argue that many of these practices are not covered on your health plan and that they are too expensive. But my question to you is… “Is it worth your health”? After all how can you enjoy your success and be happy if you don’t have your health?
I welcome your feedback on any of these practices and how if any of them helped you achieve a state of excellent health and well-being.
15 Comments on “5 Best Holistic health Practices for Your Well-being”
1 Trackbacks/Pingbacks to “5 Best Holistic health Practices for Your Well-being”
- Tweets that mention 5 Best Holistic health Practices for Your Well-being | SharingSuccess.tv -- Topsy.com
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Jai Kai, aman. aman said: RT @SharingSuccess 5 Best Holistic health Practices for Your Well-being | SharingSuccess.tv http://bit.ly/1pEa2R [...]
Hi Jai Kai, I’m very lucky to live in a city where these approaches you list are within half a mile from my house. And the fact that more and more folks are turning to these alternative practices is a testament to our ever-growing sense of responsibility to take stock of our health. Not to discount traditional western medicine as it has its merits, but it’s great knowing that we have a few choices and good health is, for the most part, within reach.
I really liked your blog! good
Great blog Jai… I use chi gong therapy for my back, I find that it is the only my back feels better.
I just found this great YouTube channel with lots of holistic health videos! Thought I would pass it on. http://www.youtube.com/wellnesswithrose
Hi Jai Kai, some great tips here for the newcomer to holistic health practices.
I have been seeing a homoeopath (English spelling:-) ) for 10 years now and in that time I have not taken any man-made medicine.
I really do believe that there is room for all alternate methods as they actually go to the root and do not just mask the causes.
I do foresee more and more people using such so called “alternate” methods – and it is such articles that will get the word out:-)
Cheers for the useful info – I enjoyed reading it! I always love looking at your blog.
This is likely one of the best posts I’ve seen in a long time! Thank you for all the detail. FYI – I found some good tips and advice on back pain relief here: info-backpain.com/back-pain-relief
@Molly I am glad you enjoyed this post and this blog. Let me know if there are any other topics you are interested in especially with health and wellness which I enjoy blogging about.
@ Louis – thanks for the link on back pain. I am glad you enjoyed this post.
Thank you for the great post!
Cheers for the informative page – I enjoyed reading it! I always love browsing your blog.
Foremost, let me commend your uncloudedness on this subject. I am not an expert on this subject, but after studying your article, my understanding has developed well. Please allow me to take hold of your rss feed to remain in touch with any forthcoming updates. Fabulous job and will extend it on to supporters and my web site readers.
How-do-you-do, just needed you to know I have added your site to my Google bookmarks because of your extraordinary blog layout. But in earnest, I think your site has one of the cleanest theme I’ve came across. It really helps make reading your blog a lot easier.
@ Amaryllis rebloom – Thank you for you comment and i am glad you found this article helpful. I have actually studied and experimented with all of these holistic practices.
I am not new to blogging and truly value your site. There is much innovative subject that peaks my interest. I am going to bookmark your web site and keep checking you out.