Many people wonder about the relationship between prescription drugs and holistic health. In this article, we will explore the benefits and limitations of both approaches. Before we dive into the details, let’s understand what each approach has to offer. Generally speaking, a holistic health practitioner will use a combination of different forms of healing and encourage patients to make lifestyle and dietary changes to improve their health. Both methods are effective at treating a variety of health problems.
Holistic medicine involves treating the whole person, including mind, body, and spirit. Holistic practitioners look for underlying issues, such as lifestyle factors and preferred spiritual practices. In addition to prescribing a medication for pain, a holistic practitioner may prescribe lifestyle modifications to treat underlying causes, like nutritional deficiencies. Holistic doctors believe that addressing these issues is essential for overall wellness. Although there is a growing difference between these approaches, the key is in understanding what they have to offer and finding a balance that works for you.
The use of herbal remedies in conjunction with conventional medicine raises concerns among many physicians, but many believe they can help patients. According to Michael Levine, MD, medical toxicologist, herbal remedies can offer relief for some symptoms. However, they are not regulated by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Complementary holistic health care approaches have been shown to improve the overall health of seniors in assisted living settings. Various nontraditional techniques, such as biofeedback programs, can help with various health problems. For example, biofeedback can treat mild hypertension by reprogramming the body to respond to our thoughts. Furthermore, neurodegenerative diseases are very prevalent among the elderly population. Yoga and meditation can offer remedial benefits for Alzheimer’s and other neurodegenerative conditions.
One of the problems with alternative therapies is that people who have been successful with them may extrapolate their results to more serious diseases. Many critics of these therapies argue that they rely on the placebo effect to define success. As such, these treatments may result in people foregoing more effective treatments and incurring an opportunity cost. Many people spend time and money on unreliable treatments that fail to work. In this way, they may not benefit from the full range of available options.
Alternative medicine includes herbal dietary supplements, chiropractic care, and energy therapies. While most of these methods have uncertain effects, some have shown to relieve pain and nausea. In addition, they are often used as complementary treatments to conventional medicine. More than a third of U.S. adults have heard of some form of alternative medicine, while 54% say they’ve never heard of it. In general, alternative medicine is beneficial for a number of conditions, but it should be consulted with a medical practitioner first.