What holistic treatment do you need?

What is a holistic treatment?

“Holistic medicine” is a form of healing that takes the whole person into consideration – mind, body, spirit, and emotions – in the quest for optimal health and wellness. A holistic treatment can come in many different forms, and they don’t always have the word ‘holistic’ in the title, which can make things confusing.

The most popular ones you would tend to encounter in a health and/or beauty centre would be; holistic massage, shiatsu, yoga, acupuncture, acupressure, reflexology and reiki. There are many other types of treatments, sessions and healthy ways of life that each have their own valid place in the holistic lifestyle that has finally flourished in the mainstream.

All of them have the same end goal which is to bring the human self into a balanced state. When our energy is balanced, and all of our systems are working harmoniously, we can experience true wellness and inner peace.

One of the main attractions of holistic treatments, is that they are free of prescription drugs and medical procedures. The majority of them are entirely safe and suitable for most people of all different ages. Surgeons and doctors alike are increasing their amount of referrals to holistic practitioners, and it is becoming increasingly normal for the two sides of the health industry to combine their patient care for optimal results.

It is also widely acknowledged that patients who participate in holistic health care have a much faster recovery rate post-surgery. 80% faster in fact, which is a number that highly acclaimed doctor’s are throwing around in interviews and TV appearances. There is no denying that holistic health care actually works and is extremely beneficial for the individual. The more mainstream it becomes, the more people learn about it, try it and soon experience a better quality of life. There are some brilliant practitioners out there who have helped millions of people word-wide, so it’s up to the person seeking treatment to make sure they are receiving it from a qualified, recommended and trusted therapist.

Which one is best for you?

Now, although it’s great that there are so many treatments to choose from and places to find them, it can also be overwhelming. Most of us don’t have endless money and time that we can spare testing them out one by one. The really best way that you can find a treatment that’s best suited to your needs and personal preferences, is simply by discussing it with a professional. A professional who is an experienced practitioner that deals in holistic health. They will help guide you in the right direction, depending on what your ailments are and what you’re going through currently in life. It’s always a good idea to be honest and open with a health practitioner in any case, but ultimately you decide what you want.

Practitioners come in many forms, they could be a multi-talented physiotherapist or massage therapist who knows all types of traditional and holistic massages. Perhaps a master of reiki, a yoga teacher or professor at a health and beauty school. Ask around, google it, do some research and find out what’s available in your local area. I guarantee you won’t come back empty handed. These health nuts are all over the place like the best plague that ever happened! So get on the band wagon!

Even if you’re in prime health, feeling great and full of energy, holistic therapy is a form of preventative medicine. It keeps you mentally, physically and emotionally in check, and your body will always thank you for it after a good session. Taking myself as an example, I am always in need of a full body massage, even after a full body massage. It’s just never enough! It’s definitely my drug of choice since I have always suffered with back problems. I even have a savings column especially for my bi-monthly treatments. I think I just need a continual 10 hour massage, looped with lashings of acupuncture and reflexology, the therapists can take shifts or something, I haven’t worked out all the logistics just yet…

For a lot of people, it’s not just their sore muscles that are the problem. Perhaps they suffer more psychologically, becoming emotionally off-balance. I like to turn to reiki or crystal healing when emotions need a lift or inspiration needs a boost. Yoga is a great tool for keeping your mind and body grounded and peaceful, helping you to gain control over your thoughts and actions and getting you fit in the process!

Crystal healing is one that’s a go-to support and protection system fuelled by your own intention, which can help any aspect of life you need it to. Even deeper things like unresolved issues, anger problems, deep depression and debilitating anxiety can all be helped with the right treatment.

The School of Natural Health Sciences offers over 50 holistic health courses – if you simply take a look at the list of what’s on offer you can get an overview of the healing properties of each therapy. From Aromatherapy to Holistic Dowsing, from Meditation to Drug & Alcohol Counselling – there’s something for everyone!

Sufferers of PTSD, migraines, insomnia, IBS, addiction, and more, have all been well documented to improve with the help of holistic therapies. Often, they find that prescription drugs did not help them, so they look elsewhere to find relief, and end up on the ‘alternative medicine’ side of the health world. This is not to say that psychologists and doctors should be avoided, on the contrary, but everyone’s experience is different and using prescription drugs to solve mental issues is not an exact science. The most respected doctors in the field will tell you that drugs are always the last resort, and should be approached with great care and meticulous observation.