Throughout the course of documented history, people of innumerable cultures have put their faith in what medical practitioners today call holistic medicine. Holistic medicine involves a wide assortment of therapeutic viewpoints, methods, and treatments. It commonly refers to theories and ideas that are different than typical medical practices. Believers of holistic medicine put their methods and practices to use in a range of assorted ways. Holistic therapies that are used unaccompanied by traditional medical treatments are often referred to as alternative; when used in combination with other alternative therapies, or in addition to traditional therapies they are stated as complementary. Some therapies are totally freestanding of the realm …show more content…
Throughout history, many nations have used folk medicine remedies that were most likely passed down from their elders. A large number of these remedies include the use of plants and plant products in some capacity. Even tracing back to ancient tribes, they did copious research and methodically collected information on herbs and then put together well-defined herbal recipes for medicines with what they found. Without a doubt, well into the twentieth century much of the pharmacology of scientific medicine was derivative of herbal lore (Cannon, 2014). As hospitals become more exorbitant and the VA remains backlogged, Americans are intelligently starting to experiment with and rely on holistic remedies including acupuncture, meditation, biofeedback and chiropractors, which other cultures have been using for …show more content…
According to Sun, Li, Liu, Zhang, Mei and Yang (2013), acupuncture is based on the belief that energy, which the Chinese call Qi (pronounced 'Chee '), circulates along meridians in the body in the same way that blood flows. They stated that a diagram of the meridian system looks similar to those of our circulatory and nervous systems and when the flow of energy becomes blocked, an inequality is created, resulting in pain or disease. According to them, acupuncturists stimulate a number of specific points on the body to restore the proper balance and energy flow along the before mentioned meridians and have found that manipulating various places throughout the body can alleviate pain or tension in an entirely different section of the body. Puncturing the skin with a long` and thin needle is the usual method, but acupuncturists may also stimulate the acupuncture points with acute and precise finger pressure (Sun et al, 2013). Although most practitioners of modern medicine do not really comprehend the notion of Qi and how it works, there are certainly a number of indications that acupuncture can affect the release of a variety of different chemicals in the body, helping to alleviate stress and pain. According to Adams and Lien (2013), research has
The aim of acupuncture to heal explicit pathologies has not been determined but it does reestablish systemic equilibrium to the patient’s reservation of Qi. For the body’s system to be recalibrated with its Qi, needles are implanted at certain meridians in order to
There are three claims for why acupuncture is effective: reflexes, hormones, and energy transfer. When the needle is inserted into the skin, the nerves send signals that travel up the spinal cord, into the brain, and block the pain center in the brain. This prevents pain and other signals from entering and exiting the brain and severity of the symptoms is suppressed. This allows the body to heal itself while the individual is unaware of any pain or other distress (http://www.acupuncture.com/Acup/Works.htm).
Acupuncture: The practice is the insertion of fine needles into acupuncture points (a.k.a. acupoints) just beneath the body surface. Needles varies in length between 13 to 130 mm (0.51 to 5.12 in), shorter needles for face and eyes, and longer needles for more fleshy areas; the diameters vary from 0.16 mm (0.006 in) to 0.46 mm (0.018 in), thicker needles for more robust patients. Acupuncture points are very precise locations and lie on channels of energy. The practice of acupuncture is based on the fact that the stimulation of specific areas on the skin affects the function of certain organs of the body and that health results from a balanced flow of Qi (a.k.a. ‘Chi’) which is circulated through the blood stream through 14 energy ducts called
Mathews, Holly F. "Introduction: A Regional Approach and Multidisciplinary Persepctive." Herbal and Magical Medicine: Traditional Healing Today. Ed. James Kirkland, Holly F. Mathews, C. W. Sullivan, III, and Karen Baldwin. Durham: Duke UP, 1992. 1-13. Print.
The philosophy and practice is composed of many different systems of traditional medicine, which are all influenced by prevailing conditions, environment, and geographic area within, where it first evolved into WHO (2005). Although it is a common
Acupuncture is a traditional Chinese medicine involving the insertion of super fine needles superficially into the skin to correct the energy flow in the body. Many people believe this practice is painful, while others see it as a waste of time, or useless. Testimonials prove this to be false, but those who have not tried the practice are skeptical. The long history of acupuncture has lead to many misconceptions about the process. There are many benefits to acupuncture that can be shown through an understanding of its process.
Acupuncture is an ancient Chinese method of "encouraging the body to promote natural healing and improve bodily function" (1) that dates back as far as 4,700 years ago. Now for the past 25 years it has appeared in the U.S. as a popular form of alternative medicine, and it is "a licensed and regulated HealthCare profession in about half the states in the U.S." (3). It is most often called upon for problems such as lower back pain, migraines, arthritis, and additional non-fatal aches and pains. Some people say it works, others are still skeptical. Since this method does not seem to be based on "actual science", is it merely a placebo effect? Can a medical practice dated nearly five millenniums ago still prove to be valid?
Acupuncture is a very efficient method to cure several diseases. The Cambridge Illustrated History (1996.p.302) summarized that acupuncture can help both physical symptoms and mental conditions. On the one hand physical symptoms (such as headache, sprains, strokes etc) can easily be cured thanks to acupuncture. On the other hand we find that mental condition can be curried by the previous method. Brigham (2000) argued "conditions that are said to benefit from these treatments include the effects of daily stress, headaches, neck and shoulder pain, aches and pains, allergies, menstrual etc,"(p.
My topic is about how holistic medicine is used. I became interested in this topic because all I knew about medicine was the modern western practices. As an occupation when I am older I would like to go into the medical field. This influenced me to want learn about what other medical treatments were used and then I learn what holistic medicine is. All I know about holistic medicine is that it is an alternative form of healing and incorporates the entire person. Also, I know that there are many different natural treatments that are incorporated into holistic remedies including acupuncture. Through my research I am planning on discovering what holistic medicine is, what holistic practitioners believe, what different treatments there are, what one must to do become a holistic specialist, and what the different factors that are included in holistic medicine.
There are varying descriptions from Holistic Medicine, Alternative Medicine, Natural Medicine to Complementary Medicine. They all embrace the concept of interconnectedness and that the whole is greater than the sum of the parts. All aspects from the animal to human bond, environment, and lifestyle are considered when treating the
About 40% of Americans use some type of method outside the mainstream of conventional medicine. When hearing medicines that are being described outside the mainstream, you hear terms like complementary, alternative, or integrated medicine (CAM). Complementary medicine is usually referred to as medicine being combined with conventional medicine. Alternative medicine is usually ref...
When you are sick you take medicine, but there are many remedies for the same problems. The use of herbal remedies traces back to the Chinese in the use of Traditional Chinese Medicine, as well by a compiled book in China written back more than 2,000 years ago (Wachtel-Galor & Benzie, 2011). Modern medicine has roots that are more recent in the development and production of synthesize drugs (Wachtel-Galor & Benzie, 2011). The old generations took herbal remedies to improve their health, but now as time and people, progressed modern medicine comes on top. Herbal and modern medicines have good and bad points, but one has qualities that are more effective.
Frequently a person believes that herbal medicine is more naturally safe and soothing than drugs. Nevertheless, there’s no reasonable defense about this. Though many consumers trusted herbal medicine much more than the synthetic medicine because it’s safe and effective, but like anything else, it has its own limitations too. There are several hostile issues related to herbal medicine that has been quite alarming. Notwithstanding, majority of the most popular herbs are at least nearly safe.
On the other hand, the World Health Organization (WHO) defines traditional medicine as: The sum total of the knowledge, skills, and practices based on the theories, beliefs, and experiences indigenous to different cultures, whether explicit or not, used in the maintenance of health as well as in the prevention, diagnosis, improvement or treatment of physical and mental illness. (Zhang, 2000, p. 1) Traditional medicine is very different from modern medicine, and without disputing the benefits to modern medicine, it is essential to recognize the positive impact traditional medicine has upon people worldwide. A large aspect of traditional medicine is the usage of medicinal plants, which are the focus of this report.
Health is considered a complete wellness of a body including physical, mental and social well-being and Holistic Health is considered a wellness of a whole body including mind, body and spirit. According to American Holistic Medicine Association “Holistic medicine is the art and science of healing that addresses the whole person – body, mind and spirit” (Wollumbin, page 3). Holistic Health is an alternate way to treat, prevent, and wellness of an illness and achieves the best possible level of health. It focuses on the whole body rather than just symptoms or diseases. It is an approach to heal the physical, psychological, environmental, spiritual, nutritional health of one’s being. For each individual, the definition of holistic health is different and in simple words it is an alternate way of treatment where physical, mental, emotional and spiritual works equally together to attain a health. In western medicine, standard treatment is given with drugs or surgery according to symptoms or diseases or injuries where a doctor or a physician determines the ways of treatment and the patient has to follow the recommendations. Whereas, holistic health is a complete opposite way to treat the illness where patients cooperate in their illnesses, take the responsibility of their treatments, make their own decision for own level of well-being and thoroughly participate in their health care plan.