• Embed Doc
  • Copy Link
  • Readcast
  • Collections
  • CommentGo Back
Download
 
A Better Definition of Holistic Health
March 21, 2009 @ 1:08 am by Samir BharadwajThe problem with definitions is that they mean less and less with every new one invented.This is especially true for nebulous terms such as
holistic health
. It is not an insubstantialconcept, but it is very difficult to describe. The other problem with definitions is that theymostly end up being descriptions, and some descriptions of things are just not very helpful.You could describe a desert as a large land area of sand. That might serve as a fittingdefinition, but would it give you any actual understanding or insight into what a desertreally is? Probably not.
Description without insight is hollow and academic
, which iswhy we need to find a better definition of holistic health.
The traditional definition of holistic health
Dictionaries and encyclopedias define holistic health in a variety of ways to encompassdifferent things, depending on how close to scientific and medical orthodoxy the editorsstood. It comes down to
looking at human health as the health of the whole individualrather than the well-being of parts
. The variations come in while defining what makes upa whole individual. Some say it’s the whole physical human being who is so much morethan the sum of various biological systems. Some claim it also includes the psychology of the individual. And some go further in wanting to heal the whole being, which involves the body, the mind, and the spirit.These are all good descriptions, but what I’ve said here is a distillation down from a lot of mumbo-jumbo you will find everywhere. Some of it is good and true, but it’s alldescription and doesn’t tell you much about the essence of holistic health and why it’s agood or bad thing for you to take it seriously and practice it. When it comes to the lessorthodox views of medicine, another term rears its head which must be dealt with, and thequestion that needs clearing is …
Is holistic health another name for alternative medicine?
Short answer: no. Once again definitions limit us, and this one is even more complicated.The term ‘alternative medicine’ is a pretty bad one, not only does it not describe anything, but even the semi-description it contains only tells you what it’s not. Alternative medicineis simply
everything else
. Here, of course, we are talking about everything else other thanwhat can officially called Medicine: Allopathy, Western medicine, scientific medicine,modern medicine. You know, people in white coats, syringes, pills and stuff.Alternative medicine encompasses all manner of wonders and blunders. It is true that
manydisciplines which fall under the umbrella of alternative medicine do take a moreholistic approach to human health
. Whether or not you believe in them, systems such asherbalism and homoeopathy take the mental state of the patient as much more of animportant diagnostic input than modern medicine usually does. You can look further and
of 00

Leave a Comment

You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...
You must be to leave a comment.
Submit
Characters: ...