Holistic health
Holistic health is a concept in medical practice upholding that all aspects of people's needs including psychological, physical and social should be taken into account and seen as a whole. As defined above, the holistic view is widely accepted in medicine.[1] A different definition, claiming that disease is a result of physical, emotional, spiritual, social and/or environmental imbalance, is used in alternative medicine.[2]
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Alternative/complementary medicine [edit]
In alternative medicine, it is believed that the spiritual aspect should also be taken into account when assessing a person's overall well-being.[3] Several disciplines in alternative medicine use the holistic health approach, including but not limited to:
- chiropractic
- osteopathy
- naturopathy
- ayurveda
- traditional chinese medicine
- meditation
- acupuncture
- homeopathy
- crystals
- holistic nutrition
- natural diet and herbal remedies
Criticism [edit]
There have been several published scientific studies that dispute the efficacy, beyond the Placebo Effect, of (alternative) holistic medicine in treating any known disease.[4] The American Cancer Society recommends that if holistic medicine is to be used at all, it should be used only in conjunction with conventional medicine and not as a replacement.[5]
References [edit]
- ^ Biomed Central The perceived meaning of a (w)holistic view among general practitioners and district nurses in Swedish primary care: a qualitative study
- ^ American Holistic Medical Association
- ^ American Holistic Medical Association
- ^ Holistic Medicine, American Cancer Society
- ^ Guidelines for Using Complementary and Alternative Methods, American Cancer Society
External links [edit]
Medical publications [edit]
- http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1744-859X-9-S1-S35.pdf
- http://www.webmd.com/depression/features/holistic-medicine
Alternative publications [edit]
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