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Holistic medicine focuses on health and healing (rather than disease and treatment). It refers to caring for the whole person - viewing patients as whole people with minds, emotions and spirits as well as bodies. It considers the context of the person's and their family's values, culture and community and as such it is the highest ideal of conventional medicine. Integrative medicine refers to a consideration of a broad range of therapies - selecting those that have the best safety and effectiveness in the context of holistic care. It involves doctors and patients working together to maintain health by paying attention to lifestyle factors such as diet, exercise, quality of rest and sleep, and the nature of relationships. Goals can be considered as: 1. Curing disease 2. Managing / minimizing symptoms 3. Preventing disease 4. Promoting wellness or resilience and minimizing stress or toxins 5. Achieving inner peace and harmony
Therapeutic options are many and include: Biochemical - medication, herbs (eg. St. John's Wort, Echinacea), dietary supplements Lifestyle - diet, exercise, mind-body (eg. hypnotherapy for migraine headaches) Biomechanical - massage, chiropractic, osteopathy, surgery Bioenergetic- acupuncture, reike, therapeutic touch, prayer, ritual, meditation, craniosacral therapy, homeopathy
See also- happiness and well being
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