3 Holistic Health Modalities for Healing & Rehabilitation

Today, there are a number of people seeking holistic health treatments, either as an alternative or supplement to conventional medicine. Unlike conventional medicine, which typically targets a particular part of the body for a particular ailment, holistic medicine focuses on the health of the entire person including the body, the mind, and the emotions.

In addition, holistic medicine places special emphasis on the relationship between the healer and patient. Three holistic health modalities that are widespread in today are acupuncture, massage therapy, and chiropractic care. This article provides a basic overview of each and discusses the potential each has for faster healing and rehabilitation.

Acupuncture 

Practiced in China and other East Asian countries for centuries, acupuncture involves the insertion of needles into certain parts of the body to promote the healthy flow of energy in the body. The practice of acupuncture is rooted in the idea there is a natural energy called chi that flows around the body in pathways called meridians.

Many physical and even mental ailments are believed to the result of something blocking or unbalancing the flow of chi, and the goal of the acupuncturist restore the natural circulation of chi to their pathways in the meridians. Needles are used to do this as well as heat, pressure and laser light.

In the West, acupuncture is used for a variety of purposes. For instance, it has provided relief from nausea and vomiting following chemotherapy treatment as well as relieved from dental pain following surgical procedures. Acupuncture has also been used to stimulate nerves, muscles and connective tissue and is considered a general therapeutic treatment for a variety of ailments including headaches, menstrual cramps and lower back pains.

Massage Therapy 

Like acupuncture, massage therapy is form of holistic medicine that has been practice for centuries. It involves the pressing, rubbing, and vibrating of various parts of the body, particularly the muscles and soft tissues. Some people receive a massage for general relaxation and stress control, while others do so to relieve symptoms of a specific condition such as a sports injury.

Massage therapy has been effective for treating a number of conditions such as lower back pain, neck pain, other kinds of physical pain, even anxiety and depression. Why massage therapy relieves pain and other symptoms for so many people is not entirely known, but one theory is that the stimulation provided by a massage blocks pain signals that are sent to the brain.

Chiropractic Care

Modern chiropractic medicine dates back to 1895, when a grocer named Daniel David Palmer performed his first adjustment. The treatment consists of the alignment of parts of the skeleton system, most commonly the spine, in order to promote normal nervous system functioning. A typical visit to a chiropractor consists of a diagnostic imaging to see what area of the body might benefit from treatment and then one or more sudden and controlled manual adjustments.

Chiropractic is care universally recognized for treating lower back pain and is also effective for treating neck pain and headaches. It can also be helpful for treating muscle spasms and leg pain. The procedure usually involves multiple visits over the course of several months in order fully treat the condition.

Holistic health treatment, or holistic medicine, is not only holistic in terms of the way they treat the individual. Such treatment is also holistic in the way they are often used in conjunction with each other, as using more than one of them can increase effectiveness. However, before starting one or more of the holistic medicine treatments, a person should consult with the professionals in the holistic medicine fields to ensure that the care is right for them.