When an individual requires treatment for a mental, physical or emotional issue, it is generally assumed that the professional providing the treatment must be from a traditional field of medicine. The treatment prescribed by such professionals is often based on a medical model of diagnosing a patient or client's problem and prescribing a treatment regimen that depends on prescription medicine and counseling if the problem requires it. However traditional approaches to treatment often neglect the whole person's needs. For example, a person who is suffering from a life-threatening illness might get the medical treatment that has always been prescribed for such a condition, yet other factors that could enhance progress or quality of life may be overlooked. These include nutrition, stress management, relaxation techniques, and exercise. Holistic approaches to treatment, whether for a medical condition, mental illness or emotional distress, focus on treating the whole person.
A person who is diagnosed with a serious illness will usually go through a range of emotions, especially if the diagnosis is unexpected. There may be shock, anger, feelings of helplessness, and depression as a result of learning the news. Often family members are left to help the individual get through this difficult period. However family members may be uncertain of how to respond and help their loved one. In this type of situation, not only does the patient or client need more than medicine, but the family would benefit from help as well. A holistic therapist could help the patient and family members put the situation in perspective. Positive approaches used by holistic therapists might include instruction in stress management. Stress management is known to help people respond to treatment better and lessens anxiety in cases of serious illness. It can decrease the need for certain medication as the individual learns better coping skills. This is an example of how a holistic therapist can help an ill individual. In this situation a holistic therapist might teach the family how to care for themselves so that they may be better caregivers.
Another example of holistic therapy is using better nutrition to help treat certain medical condition. Research has shown that there is a link between good nutrition and good health. Vegetables and fruits are loaded with phytochemicals or natural substances that play a role in reducing the risk of diseases like cancer and heart problems. A holistic therapist would assure that a patient's nutritional needs are assessed and help the patient develop eating habits that include a variety of healthy foods including vegetable, fruits and plenty of whole grains. Holistic therapists may also recommend the use of herbs and plants to treat illness rather than traditional pharmaceuticals.
For the individual who wants to exercise all of his or her options for treatment of an illness, holistic therapies and holistic therapists offer options to traditional treatment modalities. Treatment of the whole persons provides additional tools that help strengthen the mind, body and spirit and help the person and the family better able to cope with illness and disability.
