So, you may have heard of holistic medicine and you’re probably wondering what it is. As our population ages, more and more seniors are turning to holistic medicine as a way to maintain their health and well-being. While there is no one-size-fits-all answer to the question of whether holistic medicine is right for you, it’s important to understand what holistic medicine is and the potential benefits it may offer.
We’re going to explore what holistic medicine is, discuss some of the most common therapies used in holistic practices, and look closely at the benefits. So if you’re curious about holistic medicine or just want to know more, keep reading to learn more.
What is Holistic Medicine?
Holistic medicine is a form of care that takes into account the whole person – mind, body, and spirit. It focuses on treating the person as a whole, rather than just their symptoms. This approach can be beneficial for seniors, who may have multiple health concerns. There are approximately 6,000 naturopathic doctors throughout the U.S. With this form of care, this type of doctor works to diagnose, treat and then prevent any illnesses you have whether acute or chronic.
How Can Holistic Medicine Help Seniors?
There are many ways that holistic medicine can help seniors. Some approaches, such as acupuncture or massage therapy, can help to relieve pain and improve circulation. Others, such as meditation or yoga, can help to reduce stress and improve overall well-being. Nutritional counseling or supplements can help to improve different areas of your healthcare.
Regardless of the condition that you have or even if you’re just interested in maintaining your health, a holistic approach may be the best way to go. Using alternative remedy options along with other traditional treatments can be beneficial as well.
What Are the Different Types of Holistic Medicine?
There are many different types of holistic healing methods. Some common approaches that we briefly mentioned can include acupuncture, massage therapy, meditation, yoga, and nutritional counseling. Seniors can benefit from any or all of these approaches, depending on their individual needs. There are others that may benefit you as well such as:
- Chiropractic care
- Naturopathy
- Herbal medicines
- Craniosacral therapy
- Crystal healing
- Hydrotherapy
- Aromatherapy
These are still only just a few and there are many more. A good place to start would be to consult with your physician first. This can be beneficial so that you can learn what you should be targeting. While a holistic approach focuses on more than just symptoms, it’s useful to know what issues you have and what’s recommended to promote healing.
This will give you a good starting point and will help you to pick the approach that is the most appropriate for your body and what you need.
What Are the Benefits of Holistic Medicine?
There are many benefits to holistic medicine. This approach can help seniors to improve their overall health. It can also help to reduce stress, pain, and anxiety. Additionally, there are many more benefits that are undeniably useful. Some of them are:
- Improved lifestyle changes and habits
- Disease and disorder prevention
- Reduced level of anxiety and stress
- A natural form of healing for the body as a whole
- Improved physical and mental well being
- Improved social well being
- Ability to take control of your health
With a holistic approach, you are able to look more at the larger picture and not just what’s wrong today. This method allows you to get rid of tunnel vision when it comes to your healthcare and can be a great option for long-term healing.
How Does Holistic Medicine Compare to Traditional Forms of Care?
Holistic care overall focuses on not just treatment but prevention as well. Conventional medicine is more geared towards providing treatment for different types of pain or specific ailments. Holistic medicine, however, focuses on multiple facets of a person including but not limited to emotional, mental, and spiritual well-being as we mentioned.
This form of medicine may also be a good choice for anyone that doesn’t want to take medications consistently. However, it would be best to always consult with your physician and a holistic medicine professional depending on what you need the care for. A holistic approach is actually a good method to combine with any other treatments that you may be getting. This is a good way to promote overall wellness and to promote prevention while still getting other care that you may require.
Additionally, complementary medicine was found to be between 53% and 63% less expensive than that of conventional medicine. That is another upside considering the price of healthcare today. For seniors living in Florida, there are multiple resources that can be used whether it’s consulting with a holistic medical professional, working on your wellness independently, or using virtual methods.
How Can Seniors Benefit From It?
Seniors can benefit from holistic medicine in countless ways. This approach can help to reduce stress, pain, and anxiety. The reason it’s such a popular approach among the elderly is that the method itself helps to fix much more than physical ailments. When you focus on more than the physical, you’re also looking past the mental aspects as well. What is targeted throughout holistic care is your well-being from multiple directions:
- Physical
- Emotional
- Mental
- Spiritual
- Social
Every person will have a different type of experience because every person is different. A holistic approach is a great form of personalized care because it stimulates pathways to recovery based on your body, your experiences, and any condition you may have.
Consider It for Your Health
Holistic medicine can be a beneficial form of care for seniors. This would be a good way to take a new approach to your health and promote wellness through a different form. One out of every three people throughout the U.S. is actively seeking holistic health solutions.
We now know that it’s not hard to see why. With holistic medicine consistently gaining popularity, seniors in Florida can take advantage of the practice and find new ways to enjoy life being more in touch with what you need and what you can gain after focusing on all facets of your health.
