In the world of medicine, there can be some disconnection between the illness and the human experiencing it, making overall health something that isn’t taken care of. However, when a medical provider takes a look at the whole person, then true, beneficial treatment can be something that helps the individual find relief, in more ways than one. Here are a few ways how holistic healthcare can make a difference in treating people:
Navigating the negative diagnosis
When it comes to holistic health, there’s something that a lot of people don’t think about. The moment someone receives an answer to a question about their symptoms, such as “what is lymphedema?” can be a difficult time for anyone.
Learning that you have an incurable disease can be a devastating experience, but most doctors don’t know how to handle this situation with care, as they only see the illness and don’t look more closely at the person experiencing it. With holistic health, treatment, and attention can pay more attention to the person’s overall life experience and ways of treating the mind while taking care of the body.
Don’t be so quick to judge
At times, a doctor may take someone’s vitals and see them for an initial physical checkup, making quick judgment calls without paying closer attention to what’s actually going on. Maybe that high blood pressure reading is due to intense anxiety that the individual has about doctors’ offices.
The individual’s extra pounds on the scale could actually be a healthy weight for them after they’ve struggled with an eating disorder for years. In a rush to diagnose illness, some doctors get it wrong because they’re making quick judgment calls that are actually inaccurate.
Mental health impacts the physical
Holistic health looks at wellness. If someone’s dealing with illness, holistic health providers know to look more closely at the person’s current life situation. Maybe they’re dealing with a broken heart after losing someone dear to them. This could lead to them not taking care of their weight and health, leading to obesity problems.
Maybe an individual is getting consistent migraines and they never used to. Instead of diagnosing them straight away with an illness that they may not have, ask them about their stress levels in their life. They could be dealing with physical symptoms from a lack of stress relief in their lives. Treating this individual may look less like prescribing medication and more like prescribing them activities that help them to release stress.
Changes in diet or supplements before meds
Holistic health seeks natural alternatives before medication is prescribed. A holistic health provider may see how medication slaps a Band-Aid on a problem that may actually have a solution based on natural resources. An individual may actually have inflammation due to their dietary issues. They could have an intolerance to a food that causes bloat.
Maybe they need supplements to make up for something that their body should produce but doesn’t. While in some cases, natural remedies and supplements may not help, it’s always a good idea to try them first before choosing to prescribe meds that could have side effects.
Encourage mental health care
While physical health may need physical healthcare, there are times when added mental health care can be important in helping someone get better from their illness. Attitude and willpower could be important aspects of healing from a sickness, especially if better health is tied up with habits. Encourage therapy for your patients when you know that better mental health could mean better physical health.
In Conclusion
Instead of just treating the ailment, holistic health is all about the overall well-being of a patient. Focusing on everything from stress levels to mental health, as well as lifestyle habits, treatment should always see the big picture instead of just the sickness that you can see at first glance. It can make a difference in the overall future and health of a patient.