Holistic Medicine Helps with Multiple Health Issues
Since I opened my first practice in Holistic Medicine as a newly licensed Acupuncturist over 20 years ago, the phrase “Holistic Medicine” has come to mean many different things to various groups. Many wonder not only what “Holistic Medicine” really is, but why can holistic medicine treat so many health issues simultaneously.
Holistic Medicine Supports the Body’s Healing Process
Holistic Medicine, in all its forms, works through addressing the individual patient’s needs and stimulating their own healing mechanisms. The main difference between holistic techniques and conventional medicine is the emphasis on treating “the diagnosis” versus the whole patient with their underlying health issues.
Holistic Medicine Treats the Entire Body
When physicians become focused on finding and treating a diagnosis, we forget that we are treating a patient in their entirety, and not just their diagnosis. Our holistic patients frequently express that they feel they are being listened to and understood for the first time. As we evaluate the entire patient, we search for the underlying cause of all health challenges. As we identify the root of problem “A”, we frequently find the root of problem “B”, “C”, and “D”, and treat accordingly.
Holistic Medicine Designed to Treat Underlying Issue
Because holistic modalities are designed to treat underlying conditions, they are not always aligned with medical insurance. Think of medical insurance like automobile insurance. When an accident occurs, auto insurance is to pay for the resulting damage. Auto insurance is not designed to cover the underlying cause of the accident, such as bald tires or worn brakes. Medical insurance is similar. Medical insurance is coverage for an acute or specific, readily diagnosable medical issue. Medical Insurance is not designed to uncover and resolve underlying health issues or poor maintenance.
The Healing Response
The healing response with holistic medicine is contingent on both the technique used and the innate health and well-being of the individual. I use an analogy of a plumbing system with my patients. When we are young and healthy, we have nice, clean pipes. As we age, there is wear and tear on this system.
When we begin healing in a nice, healthy system, our results are rapid. If we have corroded plumbing, we may have a delayed response. Health issues resulting from chronic poor health tend to heal slowly and may only result in a reduced progression of health issues in severe cases.
Why Symptoms Disappear and Reappear
Visualize health as a chart with 100 being perfect health. Symptom “A” may not appear until health is reduced to 80. Symptom “B” may not appear until health is reduced to 60. If we wait until our health is reduced to 40 before we begin the healing process, we are going to take more time to reach that 60 health level for symptom “B” to go away.
Unfortunately, we tend to think only in terms of “my symptom went away” at 61 on the scale, and so we are healthy at 61. Frustration occurs when our health soon falls below 60 again. That is when we may feel that “holistic medicine didn’t work for me.”
Holistic Medicine for All Health Challenges
Because holistic medicine works by stimulating the body’s only healing mechanisms, results are dependent on the modalities used as well as the underlying health and healthy lifestyle choices of the individual. Results with holistic medicine are focused on treating the person in their entirety while addressing the underlying causes of their health challenges.
For more information, contact Dr. Mary Tobin at Tobin Holistic Medicine at 714.256.2287 or visit www.tobinholisticmedicine.com.
