Most people believe there is a dividing line between conventional medicine and holistic care.
That could not be further from the truth! Holistic medicine, at it's very core, is nothing more than looking at the entire body rather than focusing specifically on symptoms.
Conventional medical wisdom says "If you have pain, take this painkiller." It's fast, effective, and logical. Holistic medicine says "If you have pain, what is causing your pain? Let's see if we can remove the -source- of the pain."
While holistic health care does use alternative therapies like massage, acupressure or acupuncture, herbal medicine, or psychological care, it does not exclude the use of very important medical advancements like antibiotics, prescription painkillers, chemotherapy, or surgery. It just prefers to use those powerful remedies as a last resort rather than a first.
Holistic medicine says "Why take an anti-nausea pill like Dramamine, which causes drowsiness and can impare judgement and make everything seem "fuzzy", when you can take ginger? In a study published by the British Journal of Anaesthesia in 1997 (1), ginger was administered in a series of 6 different trials, including seasickness, morning sickness, chemotherapy induced sickness, and post-operative sickness.
In every case, those treated with ginger were significantly better than those treated with a placebo. In the post-operative sickness trials, the women treated with ginger ranked better than even those treated with metoclopramide, a prescription anti-nausea pill.
It would be important to mention, at this point, that the side effects of metoclopramide include nausea, vomiting, diahhrea, headache, drowsiness, or dry mouth. (2) The side effects of Dramamine, the most common over the counter anti-nausea medication are drowsiness and dry mouth, blurred vision, and constipation and stomach upset, (3) along with a few others. The most commonly reported side effects of ginger are mild heartburn, and burping. (4)
But holistic medicine does not say "All medications are bad." In fact, holistic medicine is an excellent complementary care to more traditional therapies, like chemotherapy or long-term medication use.
There is no miracle cure, either in the holistic world or the conventional medicine world, for cancer. When a child gets leukemia, the only thing to be done for them is chemotherapy, a terribly destructive but effective treatment which destroys cancer cells in the body. Unfortunately, this treatment can't tell the difference between a cancer cell and some healthy cells. Patients undergoing chemotherapy often go bald because the chemicals eliminate not just the cancer, but the hair and blood cells as well, leaving them pale, and weak.
While this treatment is effective, it's very damaging to the body. Holistic medicine doesn't offer a replacement for chemotherapy, but it does offer some relief for the body against the rigors of treatment. Gentle, balancing herbs such as ginger and mint can sooth nausea caused by the chemicals, and proper nutrition can give the body a much needed boost to continue creating blood cells destroyed by treatment. Diahhrea can be eased with cinnamon and applesauce (a delicious way for -anyone- with that condition to treat it!) and ginseng can help the body regain energy lost during the long fight with cancer.
However, just because holistic medicine promotes a gentle, balanced approach does not mean that it can be taken lightly. Herbal medications are still medications, and some herbs are restricted for use only by a licensed practitioner.
Holistic care isn't just for when you get sick, though. Garlic, a flavorful and commonly used herb in cooking, is incredibly good for the heart. Anti-biotic, anti-bacterial, and lipid-lowering, garlic has been used since Ancient Egypt to promote good health and strength. The Journal of the Royal College of Physicians reports a 12% reduction in total cholesterol over a placebo, after only four weeks! Not to mention that the effects were likely to persist as long as the study was in progress- that is, as long as the subjects continued to take garlic! (5)
Not everything about holistic medicine is smelly or tea-based, though. A hardening of the arteries is a common effect of old age, but don't worry too much! Rather than waiting until it's already began to deal with it, why not eat dark chocolate?
That's right, dark chocolate. Mary Englar, PhD, RN of the University of California performed a study on 21 healthy adults measuring the effect of dark chocolate on the heart. The first group was given a 1.6oz bar of unaltered Dove dark chocolate every day. The second group was given the same amount of chocolate, with the flavanoids removed.
At the end of the test, the flavanoid group did significantly better on the test than the non-flavanoid group. Those flavanoids promoted flexible heart and vessel walls, which in turn leads to better heart health!
Don't get too carried away, though. More isn't neccessarily better- chocolate is high in calories, so be sure to maintain a balanced diet. (6)
Balance is what holistic medicine is all about. A balanced diet, rich in lean protiens and vegetables and low on fats and sugars; a balanced exercise program and an active lifestyle; a balanced supplement of vitamins; all of these things promote a balanced body, and a balanced body can maintain good health.
FOOTNOTES
(1) Ernst E, Pittler MH. Efficacy of ginger for nausea and vomiting: a systematic review of randomised clinical trials. British Journal of Anaesthesia 2000; 84(3): 367-71.
(2) webmd.com;
Link(3) webmd.com;
Link](4) webmd;
Link(5) Silagy CS, Neil HAW, 1994, The Journal of the Royal College of Physicians, Vol 28 No 1:39-45
(6) Engler, M.B. Journal of the American College of Nutrition, June 2004; vol 23: pp 197-204. News release, University of California, San Francisco.
(7) The New Age Herbalist; Mabey, Richard; 1988
(8 ) www.chemotherapy.com;
(9) www.greenjournal.com;
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