5 myths of Holistic Health

Almost half of all Americans have been diagnosed with a chronic disease costing the U.S. to spend 78% of its total healthcare expenditure managing them. Meanwhile, they still cause 7/10 of all deaths. Why are we having so little success in treating chronic illness? The answer: using the wrong approach in the management and treatment of chronic illness. The Western healthcare system trains and practices using the acute-care approach for both acute and chronic illnesses, utilizing what’s called a poly- pharmacy treatment protocol. Polypharmacy is prescribing multiple medicines, a different medicine for each symptom, with the CDC reporting over 24% of Americans take more than 3 medications daily and the number is rising. With the rise of chronic illness in areas of autoimmunity, obesity, allergies, chronic pain and more, patients are seeking out complementary and alternative treatments, realizing something isn’t working in the western practice of medicine.

Unfortunately, there is an almost complete separation our society has made between western medicine and holistic medicine. With the rise and dependence of our society on pharmaceuticals to provide instant relief, “pop the pill and feel better in 30 minutes”, it has negatively overshadowed people’s views on holistic medicine, believing that holistic medicine doesn’t work. This leads western practitioner to dismiss people seeking answers in Holistic. Holistic medicine has gained many misconceptions in its practice and the need to see it’s merit and positive contributions to health will aid in combating disease.

1. Holistic Healthcare is a Trendy New Fad!

The Holistic Healthcare approach dates back to the beginning of time! Cultures have been treating with natural remedies from the ancient Indian system of Ayurveda to Traditional Chinese medicine to indigenous Medicine, all addressing the body as a united system creating balance. Most of the world treated with natural remedies until the 1940’s with the therapeutic use of antibiotics. Then began the treatment model the US healthcare system still uses to this day: the acute-care approach, which worked great for infection and sepsis. However, with the rise of chronic disease, patients and healthcare practitioners are beginning to realize that we need to adjust our approach.

2. It Just Doesn’t Work!

Pharmaceutical companies have always created new drugs on naturally occurring compounds. For example, Aspirin’s pain relief was founded by salicin, the compound in willow bark. Willow Bark’s salicin concentration is too low by itself to have pain relieving effects but mother nature comes to the rescue again by adding flavonoids and polyphenols with the salicin in the willow bark in order to produce effects pain relieving effects in patients.

3. It’s All about Taking Lots of Daily Supplements!

A patient that follows a truly holistic approach to healthcare most likely won’t need to take any daily supplements. The main point of the holistic approach is to get everything your body needs to create balance from the diet, social behaviors, environment, and spirituality. Herbal remedies or extra nutrients may be needed at times to help the body come back regain balance after a trauma for specific times.

4. Holistic Isn’t Science based!

Holistic medicine is heavily based on our body’s ability to rest, reset and repair itself. This is done when cortisol levels drop, and the parasympathetic part of our nervous system is initiated. When initiated the body is able to activate pathways to digest, make and store energy, activate healing, and detoxify itself.

5. You Can’t have Both!

Sadly, there has been a great divide between western medicine and Holistic medicine, limiting to one philosophy of medicine and disregarding any merit in the other. The times seem to be changing with the increased prevalence and difficulty of treating chronic disease. We need to learn the balance of the two, accepting the positives of both systems to hopefully create more preventative measures and treatment options for the future!