Holistic Health & Holistic Healing
Antoaneta Sawyer, Ph. D.
The term holistic health or holistic healing comes from the word whole, meaning complete. There is no one standard definition of holistic health, holistic healing, holistic medicine or holistic therapy. To doctors or healers, the term holistic health refers to using some form of natural therapy that does not include conventional medicine. Holistic therapy often includes mind-body medicine, acupuncture and any modality that looks to treat the whole person-mind/body/spirit with non-invasive measures.
The root meaning of the word "health" is wholeness, and of the word "holistic," which pertains to the view that the integrated whole has a reality independent of and greater than the sum of its parts. Apparently "holistic healing" and "holistic medicine “ were terms first used by the South African philosopher Jan Christian Smuts (1926). In his book, "Holism and Evolution," which he created as an antidote to the then, and still, prevailing analytic reductionism of contemporary science and western allopathic medicine (the orthodox conventional medical system of ‘sickness’ care in America).
Health is not just the absence of pain or other symptoms, nor is it just the presence of a fully "normal" set of biostatistical laboratory test results such as blood pressure, pulse rate, hemoglobin level, etc. Rather it is a state of wellbeing, physically, mentally, emotionally, socially and spiritually, with a sense of fulfilling one's mission in life. There is little holistic healing in the USA, inasmuch as most healing ignores the emotional, spiritual and karmic aspects of wellness. To some people "holistic healing" means using nutritional supplements in place of, or in addition to, medical drugs, and to others "holistic healing" might mean using the services of a chiropractor, acupuncturist, homeopathic or naturopathic doctor, etc., instead of, a medical doctor. In this latter sense apparently one-third of the USA public currently is involved with "holistic health."
Some treatments attempt to improve the overall health of the individual, under the theory that this will allow the body to more effectively fight off mood problems (depressions). Such theories suggest that when an individual's health becomes taxed, the "weakest link" is th? one that is likely to snap. For some people, this means that high blood pressure or heart problems will occur; for others, that cancer will form; and for still others, that mood problems will result. It is generally recognized that periods of emotional or physical stress tend to worsen mood disorders (especially depressions) in many manic-depressives, for example, and that learning to deal better with stress (perhaps through psychotherapy) and proper nutritional and exercise habits may to some extent help to keep the disease under control.
Many doctors or healers seek out a holistic health school to train in holistic medicine or holistic therapy. A Naturopathic medical school trains students in the art and science of Naturopathic Medicine, a holistic medicine approach where, in addition to the basic medical sciences, doctors are trained in holistic therapy and holistic health including: therapeutic nutrition, botanical medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Traditional Indian Medicine (Ayurveda), homeopathy and mind-body medicine.
The curriculum of the Holistic Colleges as for example CCNH is one of the strongest in holistic healing and holistic medicine among the Naturopathic medical schools. Students are trained in all of the Naturopathic modalities with a very strong foundation in traditional holistic therapy. Students are trained to become healers or traditional naturopaths proficient in all holistic healing modalities as defined by Naturopathic Medicine.
