Holistic & Conventional medicine???

Hehe...Just because my blog was named The heart, mind and soul blog, it doesn't mean that I'm a psychologist dear, although my display name "psychorobust" eventually makes people thinks I am.. It's just a personality in me, or maybe a "psychologist-in-da-making" (maybe one day..hehe..) But, I guess I can help a bit to make u understand about Holistic & Coventional medicine oaite..



HOLISTIC medicine is an approach to health that deals with the patient as a whole and not merely with the physical symptoms of illness. It defines health as a state of complete physical, mental and social well-being and takes into account the underlying feelings and emotion of an individual in addition to treating the symptoms of his illness.



The holistic approach is used in many alternative forms of therapy such as homeopathy, naturopathy and acupuncture. Holistic practitioners view health as a balance of the mental, emotional, spiritual as well as physical aspects of a person. All these aspects are interrelated and any disharmony is thought to stress the body and perhaps bring about illness. In asition, the mind and body are brought to have a natural capacity to self-regulate toward equilibirium, or "homeostasis", the maintenance of which is the key to good health. Thus, when equilibirium is disrupted, holistic practitioners work in partnership with the patient, focusing on all aspects of his or her life, to restore balance and promote self-healing.



Conventional Western Medicine, in contrast, defines health as an absence of disease. The main causes of illness are considered to be pathogens such as bacteria and viruses, and chemical imbalance in the body. Scientific tests are often used in diagnosis, and drugs and surgery are among the main tools for dealing with health problems.



A common misunderstanding is that holistic medicine only applies to alternative practitioners. In fact, many conventional doctors take a holistic approach, considering patients in the context of their lifestyle and emphasising health education and self-care. Psychiatrist and psychologists also approve the use of holistic principles. On the other hand, not all alyternative therapies are "holistic," nor are they necessarily "unscientific". Some alternative practitioners, for example, might focus only on certain physical symptoms in a way similar conventional doctors. Therapies such as osteopathy and chiropathic, which involves the manipulation of the musculo-skeletal structure,are in many ways as practical and grounded in anatomy and phatology as conventional medicine.



With the growing interest in holistic medicine, many healthcare systems are now moving towards a complementary or integrated approach in medicine. This approach combines the best in mainstream conventional medicine and alternative therapy. For instance, while a conventional doctor with an integrated approach would not only treat symptoms with medication, but also address underlying causes, such as allergic reaction or anxiety, and investigate the patient's emotional makeup. The doctor might suggest counselling as a strategy for coping with asthma attacks, or the purchase of secial bedding to minimize house dust mites if they trigger attacks. A complementary practitioners might prescribe a herbal remedy to relax bronchial muscles, a diet to eliminate food intolerances, acupuncture to restore the flow of energy, or essential oil massages to help the patient relax.



So, how's that?? Does that help?? Do let me know..I'm waiting forward to your response dear..Hope you won't get more confuse after reading this k..