Within the wider medical profession, holistic medicine refers to a particular approach to health that emphasizes all underlying factors of a patient’s life and situation in addition to treating an individual condition the patient happens to have at the time. It also is an evolution from previous thinking with simple links between a separate mind and body and disconnected diagnoses and data points, and sees human health as part of an integrated system. While it may seem like a more recent innovation, it is sensible and scientifically sound.
The most salient aspect of holistic health to most people is physical health, which is not surprising as concrete symptoms that can be shown and interpreted directly are easier to address and quantify. While just one component of holistic medicine, it is still important and integral. Certain practices that can help most people maintain their physical health include having enough sleep, eating a nutritious diet with organic and plant-based products, eating every few hours to maintain blood sugar, doing at least half an hour of physical movement daily, and limiting smoking, alcohol, and processed and oily foods.
Another often overlooked aspect of holistic medicine is emotional well-being, mismanagement of which can manifest as physical symptoms if not dealt with properly. Some ways that are effective in supporting emotional wellness include seeking out therapy when needed, cultivating mindfulness and stress reduction in order to more effectively manage the stresses of daily life, and maintaining a diary or journal to express your emotions, thoughts and ideas. Recording and counting blessings can help generate positivity during trying times.
As human beings are social creatures, it is not surprising that having meaningful connections with friends, community, and family is vitally important for overall health. For this reason, religion can make people happier because it provides a social support system, regardless of the particular faith professed. As a result, making more time for personal rather than purely online interactions, getting involved in local community efforts and volunteering, and setting boundaries with toxic individuals are all things that can improve social wellness and therefore overall happiness.
While spirituality and religion are often seen as interchangeable, they are distinct. While religion refers to the traditions and social rituals, spirituality refers to the underlying sense of connection with oneself and the surrounding world. Since the former is more tangible, it has often eclipsed the importance of spirituality in the popular mindset. Nonetheless, an alignment of oneself with the world around us is important for our overall wellness, while dissonance can lead to serious issues. Some ways to renew one’s spiritual health include spending more time outdoors in nature, meditating daily, and, for those who happen to be religious, practicing one’s faith.
Last but not least is the realm of mental health, which is referred to often in society as interchangeable with emotional health. The difference however is that while emotional health largely involves daily moods, mental health refers to cognitive function. The ways to optimize mental health are many, and include challenging oneself with problem solving and chances to learn new things, eating nutritive foods with antioxidants and omega-3 fatty acids to lower inflammation and support brain function, avoiding drug abuse and addictive behaviors, and prioritizing the health of the gut via consumption of things like bone broth and foods rich in prebiotics as well as probiotics that ensure a healthy balance of bacterial flora in the gut, which is connected directly to mental health.
Much like the human body is composed of different interconnected systems working together, so overall health is achieved by way of different types of health.
