The cost of health care has steadily risen over the past decade. Without medical, dental and prescription drug insurance, many people simply can’t pay for necessary treatment. Holistic alternative medicine could help defray many medical costs because of its focus on preventing illness; it is much less expensive to prevent an illness or injury than it is to treat one.

The Canadian Holistic Medicine Association describes holistic alternative medicine as a system of health care which fosters a cooperative relationship among all those involved, leading to an optimal attainment of the physical, emotional, social and spiritual aspects of health. Rather than seeing a patient just as “the kidney failure in room 602,” holistic alternative medicine the entire personal spectrum of every person including environment, nutrition, and lifestyle.

Thus, holistic alternative medicine focuses on the “whole person,” not merely the person’s particular physical or emotional needs.  Medication and surgery is a part of holistic treatment, if there is no other choice. Susan Walter, President of the American Holistic Association fully explains holistic alternative medicine on their official web site, AHHA.com. It is easiest to view holistic alternative medicine as effective treatment for all of you, not just the part of you that isn’t working correctly.

How Does Holistic Alternative Medicine Work?

The many principles of holistic health are sometimes referred to simply as alternative medicine. But holistic alternative medicine is much more than this. Some forms of alternative medicine, such as aromatherapy, herbal preparations, meditation, Feng Shui, Reiki, acupuncture, homeopathy and others, may not be compatible with traditional medicine. In contrast, Animal-Assisted Therapy was once considered as alternative medicine; today, AAT is rapidly becoming a traditional therapy based upon its years of proven effectiveness. Holistic alternative medicine also values AAT as contributing to a patient’s overall physical and emotional health.

Holistic alternative medicine not only treats patients in the “whole person” context, it also focuses on a patient’s personal responsibility to achieve whole health and balance. For example, if you see a holistic practitioner because of a severe cough and you smoke two packs of cigarettes a day, the holistic alternative medicine practitioner would immediately advise you to stop smoking and provide you with many traditional and alternative ways for you to stop making yourself sick by smoking cigarettes.

The same approach applies to those who are addicted to alcohol and/or other drugs. A traditional medical approach to addiction is effective; a holistic practitioner of alternative medicine can often help you identify the emotional, social and spiritual issues that contribute to addiction and is essential knowledge and understanding your addiction.

Skilled holistic alternative medicine professionals concur with the physician’s oath to “first, do no harm.”

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